The four most common mistakes that upset the balance in your life — check to see if you're making any of them

1. Putting others above themselves

We start with a habit that especially often affects ambitious, sensitive and loyal people - that is... most employees in good companies. Putting others above ourselves may seem like an advantage on the surface: we are helpful, responsible, we support the team and loved ones. The problem arises when we do it at the expense of our own limits and needs.

Over time, we begin to ignore fatigue, give up rest, “add” more than we can bear - and so we build a straight path to burnout.

According to the definition of the World Health Organization (WHO), burnout is “a syndrome resulting from chronic stress in the workplace that has not been effectively managed.” It manifests itself primarily:

• feeling of energy exhaustion,
• mental distance from work,
• Decrease in efficiency.
  
  

It is worth remembering that burnout is not a temporary decrease in motivation — it is a serious condition that can lead to anxiety disorders, neuroses or even depression. According to WHO data from 2023, mental disorders affect almost a billion people in the world today — and chronic stress and fatigue are among the main risk factors.
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How can you work with it?

• Learn to say “no” without feeling guilty. That doesn't mean you're disloyal — it means you respect your own boundaries.
• Make a list of your priorities — and let them be your needs. Regular sleep, healthy meals, time with loved ones, physical activity — it's not a “privilege, it's the foundation of your mental health.
• Think about where your need to “always be helpful” comes from. Sometimes it's worth discussing it with a therapist or coach — change is hard, but it's worth making the effort to fight for yourself.
• Treat yourself like your best friend. Would you force a friend to work despite fatigue, beyond his strength, or ignore his stress? No? Then why are you doing this to yourself? You don't deserve it either.
  
  

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2. Constantly being online

Hybrid work, Slack, emails, social media, notifications, “quick question on Teams”... Sounds familiar? We are available almost non-stop, and our brains are reborn. Worse, we often can no longer “switch off” even in the evening or on the weekend — and that's when we need regeneration the most.

Studies show that information overload and lack of offline time negatively affect not only our concentration, but also our mental health. The WHO emphasizes that stress - especially chronic stress - can lead to anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, sleep disorders and even somatic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease or decreased immunity.

Addiction to the phone and mobile devices has become a very common phenomenon. That's why offline time is an essential part of mental hygiene that you need to incorporate into your life. At Stara Drukarnia, we learn this together — we don't send messages after hours, we don't expect instant responses, and we give ourselves the right to disconnect when we need it. It's not a lack of commitment — it's respect for yourself and others. Any good leader will confirm these words.

What can you do to log out without remorse?

• Introduce the “digital framework” of your day. Example: from 20:00 the phone goes to the drawer - time for yourself and loved ones.
• Mute notifications. Set the “do not disturb” mode or use apps that block access to social media after a certain time.
• Schedule offline time like a calendar appointment. It can be a walk without a phone, an hour with a book or yoga by candlelight. Use these moments to realize your passions and needs.
• Start with small steps. One hour offline a day really makes a difference.

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3. No clear boundaries between work and private life

This is related to the previous point, but worth a separate analysis. We often catch ourselves saying, “We'll just sit down to email for a while,” “we'll just finish the presentation,” or “just one more meeting after hours.” The problem is that “only” begins to fill our entire day.

The lack of clear boundaries means that we do not have time to recover, move, sleep, contact with loved ones or... the usual “laziness” (which is also needed!). And when the body works too long in “standby” mode, exhaustion, rush of thoughts and stress come.

At Stara Drukarnia we place great emphasis on conscious border management. Each of us has a different rhythm, different needs and different opportunities - and the role of a leader is not only to “motivate to act”, but also sometimes to say “slow down, let go, go home.”

A wise manager doesn't exploit a team — he cares about their health and well-being. We know from experience that it simply pays off — because a motivated, rested team is an effective team. And when someone leaves because of burnout, it's not just the loss of one person — it's often the “stone that moves the avalanche”: a drop in morale, frustration, conflicts, sometimes even a wave of termination.

How do you set healthy boundaries?

• Create your “ritual of finishing work.” This may be saving tasks for tomorrow, closing the laptop, changing clothes to home ones.
• Set a specific time when you start and finish work — and stick to it. Make sure that you do not answer work calls after hours (unless the situation really requires it).
• If you work from home, organize yourself a separate place to work. Even if it's just a corner of the kitchen — let it be your “office”.
• Communicate your boundaries to the team. This creates a culture of mutual respect.

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4. Ignoring signals from the body

Headaches? Difficulty concentrating? Insomnia? Tight back? Irritability? This is not “material fatigue” - it is often very clear signals from the body that inform: “I need rest, change, care”.

Too often we ignore them. And yet the body sends these signals for a reason. Chronic ignoring them leads to psychosomatic disorders, health problems and, in the long run, to collapse. In the worst case scenario: to depression, burnout, anxiety disorders or complete loss of motivation.

At Stara Drukarnia we do not pretend that work is always easy and pleasant. But we learn together with the team how to better recognize your needs, how to rest, how to say “stop” before it's too late. It's a process — but a very necessary one.

What can you do to listen to yourself and take care of your body?

• Introduce relaxation rituals into everyday life. You don't have to sign up for a yoga class right away — start with 5 minutes of quiet breathing exercises in the morning or evening.
• Move regularly. Not for the body — for mental health. Movement relieves tension, improves mood and gives energy.
• Take care of the dream. Minimum of 7 hours, in darkness and silence. Sleep is not an invention, but the foundation of your well-being.
• Be attentive. Instead of immediately reacting to stress with nervousness or frustration, ask yourself, “What am I feeling right now? Why did I feel it? What do I need?” — it's very effective.

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Finally, a few words from us, the Stara Drukarnia team
How do we manage our balance?

At Stara Drukarnia, we know very well how much pressure can accompany everyday work. We carry out demanding projects, we act quickly, we respond to non-standard customer needs — it is impossible to do this without commitment.

But that's why we care so much about balance.

We respect free time. We appreciate passions. We leave room for regeneration.
Because one person's burnout isn't just their personal crisis — it's something that affects the whole team.

That is why at Stara Drukarnia we try to live in such a way as to avoid the mistakes we write about here: we take care of each other, healthy boundaries, offline time and a common good atmosphere that really builds and drives our team and allows us to survive stressful situations and quickly get out of various crises.

summary

Work-life balance is not a campaign slogan employer branding It is a real mental and physical need that has a huge impact on our health, relationships and life satisfaction.

To achieve it, it is worth looking at four pitfalls:

1. Am I not putting everyone above myself?
2. Can I disconnect and take care of my offline time?
3. Are my boundaries between work and life clearly defined?
4. Do I listen to what my body is saying?

If you want to see how in Stara Drukarnia we create not only a team, but also interiors that give you the opportunity to relax, catch your breath and rest according to the principle of work-life balance then come to us and stay for longer. The choice of office and its arrangement has a huge impact on the well-being of the team, if you are looking for such a place for your company it is necessary get in touch with us. A modern office building with an amazing history in the background.

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