What do you do if your work responsibilities are overwhelming your personal life?

Acredito que seja importante comunicar os seus pares/líderes que a sua vida pessoal está sofrendo impacto devido ao trabalho, e apurar se outros colegas passam pelo mesmo problema, tão logo os responsáveis possam tomar providências para corrigir esse desequilíbrio, identificando os gargalos e o que causa essa sobrecarga nos colaboradores. Muitas vezes a sobrecarga pode ser resolvida com uma melhor divisão de tarefas, negociação de prazos ou até mesmo flexibilização de horários de trabalho.

Establish clear start and end times for your workday Communicate your boundaries to colleagues and managers Learn to say no to non-essential tasks or requests Prioritize and delegate Focus on your most important, high-value tasks Take breaks use your vacation time to fully unplug from work, Engage in hobbies and activities unrelated to your job Practice mindfulness Communicate with your manager Clarify priorities and seek guidance on trade-offs Explore options for flexible hours, remote work or reduced load Reflect on your goals and values Evaluate if your current role aligns with your long-term objectives Advocate for organizational change Provide upward feedback on unsustainable workloads and expectations

Always remember that without work and the pay that goes with it, you wouldn't have a social life. So get your priorities right. If you really enjoy your work and are competent, then you are probably achieving your goals inside work hours, but I recall spending huge hours outside of normal hours simply for the joy of design engineering and helping the team. This was the general attitude and my colleages and bosses often departed late for a drink before going home- frequently as late as 10pm or 11pm. I find today's attitudes more than a bit precious tbh. Do what you love, do what you're good at, and imbalance becomes unlikely.

Um dos balizadores para o balanço entre vida profissional e pessoal é a máxima: Não viva para trabalhar. Trabalhe para viver! O trabalho deve inspirar vida com qualidade.

When work responsibilities begin to overwhelm your personal life, it's crucial to set firm boundaries. Start by clearly defining your work hours and commit to sticking to them, ensuring you're not continuously extending your day. It’s also important to learn to say no to additional tasks that aren’t essential, especially if they infringe on your personal time. Think of yourself as a system that needs proper parameters to function optimally. Make sure to communicate these boundaries clearly to your colleagues and superiors to ensure they understand and respect them. This approach will help maintain a healthier work-life balance.

If your work responsibilities are overwhelming, delegating effectively is crucial. In systems engineering, teamwork is often essential, so identify tasks that others on your team can handle. Delegating isn’t about avoiding responsibility; it's about maximizing the team's overall efficiency. Trust your colleagues to take on parts of the project. This not only helps prevent burnout but also ensures that your personal life doesn't get sidelined. Sharing the load allows everyone to work more sustainably and productively.