Balancing Work and Wellbeing: Strategies for Better Self-Care

Achieving a work-life balance is important for you to maintain, more so in 2025. With hybrid work on the rise, digital demands increasing, and personal pressures mounting, many New Zealanders are finding it harder than ever to look after their mental and physical wellbeing.

Whether you’re navigating a job search, adjusting to a new role, or simply trying to stay afloat in a busy environment, prioritising your wellbeing is essential for both personal fulfilment and professional success.

Here are practical strategies to help you restore balance and build a healthier relationship with work.

Disclaimer: If you’re experiencing anxiety, burnout, depression, or any other mental health challenges that are impacting your daily life, it’s important to speak to a trained professional. While this article provides general self-care and wellbeing strategies, it’s not a substitute for personalised medical or psychological advice. You can also reach out to your GP, EAP provider, or health and wellbeing organisations in New Zealand.

Understand Your Own Wellbeing Needs

Wellbeing isn’t one-size-fits-all. For some people, it’s flexibility and control over their schedule. For others, it’s job stability, meaningful work, or clear boundaries between home and office life.

Take time to define what wellbeing means to you. This might involve reassessing your current job or career path and exploring options that better support your personal goals. Hybrid work, for example, has become a key factor for many job seekers wanting to work both on-site and remote – learn more in Hybrid Work in 2025: What Job Seekers Need to Know.

Spot the Early Signs of Burnout

Burnout often creeps up gradually – missed breaks, late nights, low motivation, and emotional exhaustion can build until you’re running on empty. In our original article, we recommended tracking your day-to-day activities to help identify what’s draining your energy.

If you notice signs of burnout, it’s time to pause, reflect, and reset. You might consider changes to your workload, lifestyle, or even your role.

Had a break in your career? Our guide to explaining employment gaps on your CV shows you how to explain to employers why you had a gap in your career.

Set Clear Boundaries Between Work and Life

Healthy boundaries are the foundation of wellbeing. They help you stay focused during work hours and allow for you to rest outside of them. Here’s how to create strong boundaries:

• Turn off notifications after hours

• Avoid checking emails at night

• Stick to a regular finish time

• Communicate availability clearly to your team

Boundaries aren’t just for employees – they’re a sign of self-respect and productivity. For more on navigating new ways of working, see The Future of Work is Here.

Use Flexibility to Your Advantage

Flexible working arrangements can significantly boost wellbeing. In fact, 70% of Kiwi workers now prefer roles that offer some form of flexibility – whether it’s remote work, staggered hours, or results-based scheduling.

Many employers are adapting, too. Our article on Fostering a Culture of Care explores how companies are supporting staff through mental health awareness and inclusive policies.

Move More to Feel Better

You don’t need to train for a marathon – just getting your body moving can improve your focus, reduce stress, and boost your mood. Incorporate walking meetings, short stretch breaks, or lunchtime workouts into your week.

More workplaces are also offering wellness perks like discounted gym memberships and wellness budgets. Don’t be afraid to ask about these when evaluating a new job offer.

Build a Strong Support Network

Your wellbeing improves when you feel connected. Keep in contact with friends and whānau, or staying in touch with a trusted recruiter or mentor.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, talk it out. Isolation, especially in remote roles, can quietly chip away at your mental health. If you’re balancing work and family responsibilities, especially as a parent, check out Balancing Work and Family: A Guide for Parents.

Schedule Breaks That Matter

Taking breaks throughout your day isn’t a luxury—it’s a proven way to protect your wellbeing and maintain productivity. Regular pauses allow your brain to reset, reduce mental fatigue, and help you stay focused.

Avoid long stretches of screen time or back-to-back meetings when possible. Even a short, intentional break—like stepping outside, stretching, or having a proper lunch away from your desk—can restore clarity and energy.

Building these moments into your routine can make a big difference to how you feel and perform throughout the day.

Other ways to de-stress while away from work

There are many other ways to recharge while your away from work, these are other effective methods you can use to help you reset:

• Spending a few minutes of breathing exercises or meditation can help relax your mind.
• Engage with your passions and hobbies like gardening, cooking, playing instruments, watching sports can help you enjoy life
• Sleeping is a good way for you to rest your body and brain
• You could listen or read inspirational, motivational, and educational content to help maintain optimistic mindset
• Try the 20-20-20 rule, every 20 minutes, look 20m in the distance for 20 seconds.

These suggestions can help reduce stress, as well as help give a positive influence on your wellbeing.

Choose Jobs That Support Wellbeing

Not every job will support the kind of balance you need. When comparing opportunities, look beyond the paycheck. Consider:

• Does the company have flexible work policies?

• Do they value mental health?

• Is the workload manageable?

• Do they offer wellness benefits?

For guidance on choosing the right offer, read How to Decide Between Job Offers or Counteroffers.

Advocate for Your Needs

Self-advocacy is a powerful part of wellbeing. When negotiating a role or reviewing a contract, consider what will help you thrive – not just survive.

That includes mental health support, career development, time off, and flexibility. Our article on Mastering Wage Negotiation in 2025 provides great tips on how to approach conversations around pay and perks.

Redefine What Success Looks Like

Success in 2025 isn’t just about a promotion or pay rise – it’s about sustainability. It’s the ability to show up as your best self, consistently and without sacrificing your wellbeing.

It’s also about balance, growth, community, and purpose. At Adecco, we believe real success happens when your career and health are aligned.

How Adecco Can Support Your Journey

As New Zealand’s leading recruitment agency, Adecco is committed to helping you find work that fits your life – not just your CV. We match people to jobs that value flexibility, wellbeing, and growth. Explore more resources on the Adecco News page

Let’s work together to find a job that supports the life you want to live. Check out our currently listed jobs, or reach out to one of our branch locations.