There is a temptation to just check in with emails on your days off, work those extra hours and always be ‘switched on’. 

While it is essential for you to put your clients’ needs first and make them feel important, it’s equally important to take care of yourself and make time for self-care, decompressing and recharging. It’s all too easy to realise too late that you’ve burnt yourself out, and that won’t benefit your clients in the long run at all!

Here are a few strategies to put in place to set a work-life balance that benefits you:

1. Set clear boundaries with your clients and establish specific work hours. Communicate these hours with your clients so that they know when you are available and when you are not. Avoid working beyond your set hours unless there is an urgent matter that needs to be addressed. 
2. Create a to-do list and prioritise tasks based on their level of importance. By doing this, you can focus on the essential tasks and avoid feeling overwhelmed by a long list of to-do items.
3. Consider outsourcing tasks to other Virtual Assistants or freelancers. This can help you save time and focus on the tasks that are most important to your clients while still taking care of yourself.
4. It's crucial to take regular breaks throughout the day. Step away from your desk and take a walk outside or engage in another activity that helps you relax and recharge.
5. Be realistic about the amount of work you can take on and the time it will take to complete each task. This will help you avoid overcommitting yourself and feeling overwhelmed.
6. Take time for yourself every day, whether it's through exercise, meditation, or spending time with loved ones. Self-care is essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
7. Consider using time management tools such as scheduling software, to-do list apps, and productivity tools. These tools can help you stay organized and focused on your tasks.

These may all seem obvious but it’s incredible how easy it is to let these things slip out of your day to day routine and before you know it, you’re really struggling with your workload and your mental health. Remember, taking care of yourself is essential for providing the best service possible to your clients.