While advances in technology have made it easy to stay connected with our workplace wherever we go, this also comes with some disadvantages. People are now more stressed than ever before. Instant connectivity means that you are just a phone call or email away from the office at all times. While this makes it easy to communicate with your workplace during an emergency, this also makes it difficult to establish a good work-life balance. Here are five tips you can use in order to help you unplug from work and achieve a healthier work-life balance.

Establish Set Working Hours and Stick With Them

While it can be tempting to stay at work later than necessary, try to stick to a set schedule and leave the office when it’s time to clock out. Avoid the temptation of bringing your work home with you. While you may feel that working at home will increase your efficiency, doing this will blur your established boundaries of work and home. This is a difficult habit to break, but your mental health will thank you for it.

Prioritize Tasks in Order of Urgency

If your workweek is filled with so many tasks that you often feel overwhelmed, it’s probably a good idea to prioritize your projects. Assess your situation, and decide which tasks should be completed first during your workday. Use your deadlines in order to help you come up with your list, and check them off as you complete them. Not only will this help you stay organized, but manually checking items off your list will motivate you throughout your day and help you maximize your efficiency. This way, you aren’t bringing work home with you later.

Create a Regular Work-Out Routine

A person’s ability to balance work and home life is often affected by their stress level. Make an effort to establish a regular workout routine. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go out and get a gym membership. Try to wake up thirty minutes earlier than usual, and start your morning off with a quick jog around the neighborhood. By doing this you’ll release stress-relieving endorphins, and find it easier to cope with whatever work may throw at you.

Be Sure to Take Vacation Time When You Can

Nowadays, it’s pretty common for people to avoid taking time off work in order to get ahead at the office. While logging in more hours than your coworkers may win you accolades from management, it may be at the expense of your mental health. You’re also increasing your chances of burnout, which could ultimately affect your quality of work at the office. Be sure to use your vacation days and take mini-breaks whenever you can. You don’t have to plan an elaborate trip abroad. A simple weekend hike or “staycation” can be just what you need to unwind and recharge.

Learn to Say No

How many times have you begrudgingly accepted yet another work task when you already have too much on your plate? Taking on more work than you can handle is a recipe for disaster. Learn how to decline offers gracefully, whether it’s at work or with friends and family. Establishing these boundaries will not only allow you to focus on what’s most important to you, but it will also ease your stress and help you create a healthier work-life balance.