The Importance of Work-Life Balance and How to Achieve It
The Importance of Work-Life Balance and How to Achieve It
Due to the increasing
competition and pressure from our society well as family and friends, most of
us do not longer recognize the difference between the workplace and home. It
is, therefore, important to strike a balance between work and the rest of life
so as to health, economically, and emotionally. But how do we achieve such a
balance when the work expectations we meet at our places of work seem to have
no cap? Now let us discuss what it really means to be working in achieving work
life balance and some ways in reaching it.
Why Work-Life Balance Matters
1. Preventing
Burnout:
Stress has become one
of the common problems that affect most people in organizational setting,
particularly those working in organizations that expose them to stressful
situations. In turn, always being “on” can result in perpetual stress,
anxiety, and even burnout. This means that work-life balance is achievable
because one is able to have adequate time to rest and rejuvenate, hence
improving his/her health.
2. Boosting
Productivity:
This may at first
glance contradict the general understanding, but, to everyone’s surprise,
shortening the working time can increase effectiveness. If you unplug yourself
from work for some time, you will come back to work with fresh mind, innovative
ideas and increased energy thus increasing productivity in less time.
3. Enhancing
Relationships:
Whether it be people
you are related to, people you know or other people you interact with, one has
to put efforts in order have good relationships. A balance implies that one
will dedicate ample time for such social related interactions hence promoting
emotional health and Happiness.
4. Improving Mental
Health:
Work-life balance is
brought closer to Mental health means or Brigham young university studies.
Working stress, long working hours, and continued stress may lead to anxiety
and depression. Staying positive when the rest of the world appears to be going
downhill is as simple as making your needs a priority instead of the needs of
the world, organization, or place that you belong to – at least for a while.
Tips for
achieving work life balance
1. Set Clear Boundaries
There are a number of
difficulties that one encounters in creating a work-life balance and one of
them is the issue to do with separating working time from other time. Those
employers should coordinate themselves and assign certain time periods to work
during. Do not respond to work related emails or calls during the time period
of personal and/or family time.
2. Prioritize
Self-Care
Self-care should
become a habit that cannot be skipp ed. These may consist of workouts,
mindfulness practice, engaging in a book or other creativity, or just watching
your favorite television program. Although people dread the word self-care,
adopting the habit provides a healthy outlook on life, and is great for one’s
job.
3. Take Breaks
That means that its
necessary to take breaks at regular time intervals during a working day. Take a
break from your desk, sit outside or just go for a walk or do something that
helps to clear your mind. It allows you to do away with mental exhaustion and
makes you be more focused throughout the day.
4. Flexible Work
Arrangements
If possible one
should talk to the employer and ask for flexible working hours or even home
working arrangements. Flextime let you plan your time with the observational of
personal time and work time, thus it helps to balance it.
5. Learn to Say No
We then end up
over-committing ourselves to tasks because it’s uncomfortable to turn down a
request for a favor. But, the ability to realize and refuse is essential in
order to keep the balance. Precisely assess your self-schedule and do not
overload yourself with work that you will not be able to complete or will let
your leisure time disappear.
6. Plan and
Prioritize
Time management is
key. Make a checklist of working and non-working hours to ensure the
distribution of the tasks you have to complete and the personal chores you have
to attend to, or else, do it on a weekly basis. Cut out the things that take up
the most of your time but which you do not consider to be crucial or that do
not give a great payoff, at work as well as at home.
7. Utilize Technology
Mindfully
As good as technology
may make the work more efficient, the downside is that one exercises their work
power more. Don't answer work related calls or notifications after your work
hours, and during work hours, use applications to help you with your work so
that they take less of your time.
Work life
balance in a post Pandemic World
It should be noted that COVID19 has affected the work
process in many ways. Due to the increased cases of remote working and working
from home or hybrid, the physical or logical segregation between work and home
life is almost nonexistent. Flexible work schedule is among the benefits of
working remotely personalized schedule however poses the difficulty of
determining when one is working or not.
This is something
that one needs to get rid of and to do this you should create a possible
working environment at home and stick to it as much as possible. Wear working
clothes, have fixed hours of break time and ensure your working day is brought
to a close. Final Thoughts: Balance is a Key
Therefore, it is
important that the access to such information is controlled while at the same
time making sure that the employees do not get burnt out from working hard
throughout the year.
Managing time at the
workplace and at home is not easy and can be a lifelong endeavor. It does take
some constant thinking and re-thinking, though, especially since life life
situations and job responsibilities may change. I want to reiterate here that
the focus is not on ideal scenarios but on attaining a balance that will enrich
one’s life as well as your career.
When
dealing with boundaries, practicing self-care measures, and time management
then one can find ways on how to achieve a stable life that will improve one’s
well-being and happiness
How do you maintain your work-life balance? Share your
strategies in the comments below!
Why Work-Life Balance Matters
1. Preventing
Burnout:
Stress has become one
of the common problems that affect most people in organizational setting,
particularly those working in organizations that expose them to stressful
situations. In turn, always being “on” can result in perpetual stress,
anxiety, and even burnout. This means that work-life balance is achievable
because one is able to have adequate time to rest and rejuvenate, hence
improving his/her health.
2. Boosting Productivity:
This may at first
glance contradict the general understanding, but, to everyone’s surprise,
shortening the working time can increase effectiveness. If you unplug yourself
from work for some time, you will come back to work with fresh mind, innovative
ideas and increased energy thus increasing productivity in less time.
3. Enhancing Relationships:
Whether it be people
you are related to, people you know or other people you interact with, one has
to put efforts in order have good relationships. A balance implies that one
will dedicate ample time for such social related interactions hence promoting
emotional health and Happiness.
4. Improving Mental Health:
Tips for
achieving work life balance
1. Set Clear Boundaries
There are a number of
difficulties that one encounters in creating a work-life balance and one of
them is the issue to do with separating working time from other time. Those
employers should coordinate themselves and assign certain time periods to work
during. Do not respond to work related emails or calls during the time period
of personal and/or family time.
2. Prioritize Self-Care
Self-care should
become a habit that cannot be skipp ed. These may consist of workouts,
mindfulness practice, engaging in a book or other creativity, or just watching
your favorite television program. Although people dread the word self-care,
adopting the habit provides a healthy outlook on life, and is great for one’s
job.
3. Take Breaks
That means that its
necessary to take breaks at regular time intervals during a working day. Take a
break from your desk, sit outside or just go for a walk or do something that
helps to clear your mind. It allows you to do away with mental exhaustion and
makes you be more focused throughout the day.
4. Flexible Work Arrangements
If possible one
should talk to the employer and ask for flexible working hours or even home
working arrangements. Flextime let you plan your time with the observational of
personal time and work time, thus it helps to balance it.
5. Learn to Say No
We then end up
over-committing ourselves to tasks because it’s uncomfortable to turn down a
request for a favor. But, the ability to realize and refuse is essential in
order to keep the balance. Precisely assess your self-schedule and do not
overload yourself with work that you will not be able to complete or will let
your leisure time disappear.
6. Plan and Prioritize
Time management is
key. Make a checklist of working and non-working hours to ensure the
distribution of the tasks you have to complete and the personal chores you have
to attend to, or else, do it on a weekly basis. Cut out the things that take up
the most of your time but which you do not consider to be crucial or that do
not give a great payoff, at work as well as at home.
7. Utilize Technology Mindfully
As good as technology
may make the work more efficient, the downside is that one exercises their work
power more. Don't answer work related calls or notifications after your work
hours, and during work hours, use applications to help you with your work so
that they take less of your time.
Work life
balance in a post Pandemic World
This is something that one needs to get rid of and to do this you should create a possible working environment at home and stick to it as much as possible. Wear working clothes, have fixed hours of break time and ensure your working day is brought to a close.
Final Thoughts: Balance is a Key
Therefore, it is
important that the access to such information is controlled while at the same
time making sure that the employees do not get burnt out from working hard
throughout the year.
Managing time at the workplace and at home is not easy and can be a lifelong endeavor. It does take some constant thinking and re-thinking, though, especially since life life situations and job responsibilities may change. I want to reiterate here that the focus is not on ideal scenarios but on attaining a balance that will enrich one’s life as well as your career.
When dealing with boundaries, practicing self-care measures, and time management then one can find ways on how to achieve a stable life that will improve one’s well-being and happiness
How do you maintain your work-life balance? Share your
strategies in the comments below!
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