In: having better boundaries

“As we head into 2024, there’s no better time to re-think our relationship with work. Let’s make 2024 the year of emphasising life when it comes to the work/life balance,” says Jasmine Eskenzi, founder and CEO of wellbeing and productivity app The Zensory. “Practise the art of setting boundaries. Start by organising your days to suit you and your wellbeing, rather than just suiting other people. Whether it’s establishing set hours to work or taking frequent breaks while working, clear and healthy boundaries can ultimately help to keep burnout away at work.”

Out: saying yes to everything

“I’m no longer busting a gut for meetings and tasks that can definitely be delayed or looked at in a more strategic way,” says Sophie Penny, an account manager at growth marketing agency eComOne. “If saying yes has held you back in 2023, make 2024 the year you start valuing your time more”

In: scheduling Wellness Wednesdays in your work calendar

“In 2023, we saw #SelfCareSunday, which is great if you have the time and means, but what about prioritising your health midweek?” asks Sonya Barlow, founder of LMF Network. “This year, it’s all about working on yourself, and what better way than to schedule 90 minutes every Wednesday – and I mean, schedule, block that time out and make sure no one double-books – to focus on your wellness. It could look like making yourself a mid-week treat for lunch, investing in a massage, going on that walk you are avoiding, reading the book you got for Christmas or catching up on your favourite Netflix series. Either way, wellness is what you make it, and this year it’s for you to schedule, organise and prioritise.”

Out: scattered meetings

“From now on all meetings are in the afternoon,” says Jenny Scott, founder of Jenny Scott Communications. “I’m keeping the mornings for ticking things off my list and getting my head down to work.”

In: in-person networking

“Fewer cold emails, please. I want to be taking time for face-to-face coffees, lunches and even runs,” says Jenny Scott.

Out: the pressure to be constantly available

“To get ahead, many of us think we have to be available 24/7. From answering emails after hours to forgoing holidays, there’s a perceived pressure that we have to always be available to keep momentum going in our careers. However, this can have a detrimental effect on our health and, as a result, the longevity of our successes,” says Eskenzi. “By consciously rejecting the idea of being available at all hours, we can boost our wellbeing and approach work with a refreshed perspective, when the time’s right.”

Scattered meetings and not saying sorry are among the work ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ for 2024, according to experts