Dr Adam Fraser says the ‘Third Space’ is crucial for work/life balance

WE’VE all taken a bad day out on someone we love, but there are some simple tricks that can help restore that elusive sense of work/life balance.

The secret to work life balance

WE ALL know the feeling. A long day, a frazzled commute, a harried grocery shop and home to a fight with your partner.

Combined with the constant ping of work emails and a night sleepless with stress, it’s no wonder regaining a sense of work-life balance is a priority for so many people.

But more often than not, this becomes just another thing to be guilty about, according to Live Well spokesman Dr Adam Fraser, who said our loved ones often bear the brunt of work encroaching into personal time.

He conducted a study with Deakin University involving more than 600 executives and senior managers which showed gaining work/life balance is as much about mindset as it is time spent in the office.

“One of the things we found with managers and executives is they went home and tried to run it like their office. The biggest mistake is we don’t acknowledge the environment is different and needs us to be different.”

Instead, Dr Fraser found that the time spent between work and home — known as the Third Space — is critical for getting into the right mindset to foster quality connections with loved ones.

The study found that those who practised simple behaviours during this critical period had a marked improvement in the quality of their relationships once they walked in the front door.

Here are his top five tips for how to use this Third Space.

FLEX THOSE OPTIMISTIC MUSCLES

Most people tend to dwell on the negative things in their day which can be bad news for your family who have to deal with you when you walk in the door. Try focusing on being positive and what went well in your day, what you achieved and how things will be better tomorrow.

MOVE THAT BODY

Doing something physical on the way home can make the world of difference to your mood.

“When you exercise you brain gets rid of all the stress,” said Dr Fraser. “That’s one of the most important things you could do.”

Try biking home, going to the gym or taking the dog for a quick walk around the block when you get in and see those endorphins change your brain chemistry.

BE CLEAR ON YOUR GOALS

Take a tip from pro-athletes and get clear on what your goals are. If you want to be a loving parent or partner, focus on the best way to do this. If you live on your own think about how you can use the night to refresh for the day ahead.

CHECK THAT BEHAVIOUR

Once you’ve worked out the kind of person you want to be at home, take the steps to make it happen. There’s no use saying you’re not going to work if your phone is buzzing in your pocket every five minutes. Turn it off or do whatever you need to do to make that behaviour a reality.

DON’T MAKE IT ALL ABOUT YOU

Dr Fraser said too often people come home thinking they’ve had the hardest day in the world and it’s up to their families to make it better. However this leads to selfish behaviour and instead, it’s better to be empathetic about what’s happening in other people’s lives.

What’s your favourite activity to de-stress? Continue the conversation on Twitter @NewscomauHQ | @DrAdamFraser