How to Maintain Work-Life Balance in a High-Stress EPCM Role
When you work in Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Management (EPCM), things move quickly, and finding a good work-life balance can be hard. Being stressed to meet goals, oversee big projects, and handle many duties at once can easily cause burnout. But finding balance is not only possible. It’s also important for your health and happiness in the long run. This is how you do it.
When arranging your tasks, prioritize those that directly contribute to project milestones, client deliverables, and team collaboration. Setting priorities is very important when you have too many things.
- Make a To-Do List: Make a list of everything you need to do and arrange the items according to how important and urgent they are.
- Use the Eisenhower Matrix: Divide jobs into four groups: important and urgent, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and neither.
- When setting due dates, consider the complexity and urgency of the task, and allocate a reasonable amount of time for completion.
Set Boundaries
Keeping work and personal life separate is one of the hardest things about EPCM jobs. However, by setting clear boundaries, you can regain control over your time and energy, empowering yourself to maintain a healthier work-life balance. To make things clear:
- Set Work Hours: Be consistent with your plan, and don’t work past your scheduled hours.
- Designate a Workspace: If you work from home, create an area just for you that you can clean up at the end of the day.
- Communicate clearly: Tell your coworkers and clients when you’re available and your work hours.
Take care of yourself
Taking care of yourself is not a nice to have, it’s a must. The following are some ways to take care of yourself:
- Regular exercise: Working out can help you feel better and less stressed.
- Consume Well: Feed your body with healthy foods to keep your energy up.
- Need More Sleep: Aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night to help your body heal from the day’s stresses.
Assign tasks when possible
You don’t need to do everything by yourself. Delegating tasks to your team not only lightens your workload but also fosters a sense of camaraderie and support, making you feel part of a strong, collaborative community.
- Check out your team’s strengths: Find the person who best fits each job and give it to them.
- Trust Your Team: Let them do their work however they see fit. This will boost their confidence and give them more time.
- Follow-up: Check in periodically to see if things are going well and to help out where needed.
To manage stress in EPCM jobs, saying “no” to new opportunities is crucial. Look over requests carefully, consider their fit with your goals, and offer alternatives if possible. Seek professional, peer, and support from family and friends to cope with stress and work-related issues. Take breaks regularly every hour or during vacations to stay healthy and productive. Regular check-ins are essential for maintaining a good work-life balance. Change strategies if needed, and celebrate successes, no matter how small. Regular check-ins help identify areas of improvement and help maintain a healthy work-life balance. Remember to take breaks and consider your needs to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
We at Sperton have extensive experience and expertise in hiring and sourcing for various roles in EPCM. Contact us at info@sperton.com to build a perfect team for your project!