Work-Life Balance

 What is work-life balance?

Work-life balance is described as the amount of time individuals spend performing their job against time, they spend doing what's important to them outside of work, which might be with their loved ones or pursuing personal interests and hobbies. When employment takes up more of their time or attention, they will have less time to devote to their other duties or hobbies.

Many people strive to strike a better balance between their professional and personal lives. However, in practice, it might be difficult to attain. A tough work can sometimes provide more income to sustain a family. Work can sometimes worsen their mental health, leaving them depleted in personal interactions. (Coursera, 2024)

Reasons for unhealthy work life balance

1.    Lack of resources

Inadequate or insufficient resources might result in a disordered work-life balance. Not having enough time or hands to assist with duties (such as a personal assistant for work or a babysitter for children) is an example of such a deficit, which can lead to frustration. (Chinye, 2023)

2.    Difficulty Separating Work and Personal Life

.     As a result of remote work, it is difficult to separate work and personal life. When the workplace is also the home, it is challenging to turn off work and focus on personal life.

3.    Unclear work priorities

As employment becomes more digital, some people discover that their occupations are essentially numerous functions rolled into one and it can be difficult to pinpoint their priorities for any given day.

Example: “content creators”, could manage social media, onsite content, email marketing, and more. (Dropbox, no date)

4.    Always-on communication

If you and your coworkers are on good terms, having a group chat and following each other on social media may be enjoyable. However, this can make it too simple to revert to or never fully exit "work mode".

It's much more difficult to distinguish between your professional and personal life if you use work-related applications on your personal phone, such as Google Spaces or Gmail. These might be useful if you frequently work while on the fly. However, they make it tempting to check your work emails after hours or while on vacation simply to stay on top of your alerts.

5.    Frequently working overtime

When you work too much for too long with hardly any time off? It is a most significant sign of unhealthy work life balance. Also working from home can also increase the unhealthy work life balance when staying at the computer for much longer than planned.

6.    Job Insecurity

This is a major issue for sole proprietors, freelancers, and small company owners. Many of us consider our employment to be a part of our identity, and we see our work as validation of our achievements. Even when this is not the case, most individuals rely on their jobs for financial stability.

The labor market uncertainty affects many people today, and living in dread of losing their jobs might be worse for their health than actually losing them. Feelings of uncertainty and anxiety may drive employees to take on even more obligations at work, to the point where the work schedule begins to interfere with their personal lives. (Dropbox, no date)

7.    Company culture

Company culture has a huge impact on the way employees behave and feel. For example, When employees show up to work while being sick and unproductive and pressure to spend long hours at work, even during illness.

8.    A lack of clear boundaries between work and personal life

People in several sectors are encouraged to socialize with their coworkers. And on the surface, this sounds fantastic. Most people may benefit from having a friend or two at work, and spending time together away from the workplace can help build camaraderie and team culture.

When people routinely interact outside of work or discuss personal concerns during work hours, the distinction between their personal and professional lives might get blurred. This might make it difficult for them to psychologically "leave work at work" on weekends or when on vacation. (Weissang, 2023)

9.    Poor time management

When people waste time on distractions, procrastinating, or multitasking, it will be result in lower productivity, missed deadlines, and reduced quality of work.

10.    Reduced productivities

A poor work-life balance can cause people to miss work due to sickness, but overworking can also produce brain fog while at work. This might present headaches, disorientation, or even mental tiredness, drastically lowering productivity.(Weissang, 2023)

How to improve work-life balance

1.      Identifying causes of stress and understanding whether personal sacrifices compensate for the rewards of longer work commitments.

2.     Changes to work hours, shifting task responsibilities, and determining flexible deadlines are all actions that could be taken.

3.     Establishing boundaries at work, such as knowing when tasks are complete,

Organizational initiatives can make the task of maintaining a reasonable balance much easier, as when employers take family and community obligations into account. Organizations should, for instance, allow employees to unplug from work once they are out of the office so that they cannot be contacted for work purposes until they come back the next working day. (Thomas, 2021)

Benefits of work-life balance

Boosted Productivity

A hefty workload can reduce productivity and increase errors and blunders. Individuals who take time to recharge, rest, and indulge in personal hobbies might return to work refreshed and more productive.

 Reduced Burnout 

Burnout is the sense of physical, emotional, or mental weariness followed by diminished motivation, poor performance, and unfavorable attitudes toward oneself and others. However, you may lessen or prevent symptoms of burnout by achieving a better balance of work and personal life duties, so that everything seems more aligned.

Improved Wellness

Poor work-life balance can cause stress, anxiety, and other mental health problems. A balanced lifestyle that includes enough rest, relaxation, and time with loved ones can boost overall well-being and lower the risk of mental and physical health issues.

Higher Employee Retention

As an employer, supporting employees to achieve a good work-life balance may lead to a happy workplace. According to recent research, firms that promote work-life balance had a 25% lower employee turnover rate than those that do not. When employees feel appreciated and valued in their personal lives, they are more likely to stay with the firm for longer. (Eby, 2023)

Why is work-life balance so important?

People require diversity in their meals to be healthy and energized throughout time. People who want to achieve work-life balance must engage in a range of activities as well as relaxation. We often fall into the trap of assuming that we can always be productive, or that an eight-hour day at work equals eight hours of production. However, this is difficult for many people to attain. Those who struggle with self-care are more likely to experience burnout, exhaustion, and stress-related health conditions. Poor work-life balance can also lead to people working longer hours yet being less effective.

Employers who maintain a good work-life balance might gain a variety of rewards such as productivity increases, absenteeism decreases, and physical and mental health improves with increased dedication and drive to work. Achieving this balance can also improve their personal connections.

Summary

Work-life balance is essential for individual well-being and as well as it is a key factor in fostering productivity and success in the workplace.

Organizations should appreciate the importance of work-life balance and create initiatives to assist people in efficiently managing their professional and personal lives. They should also prioritize open communication, flexible work arrangements, and a culture that promotes self-care by encouraging employees to establish limits, take breaks, and participate in activities that promote their well-being.

Reference List

Chinye, N.J. (2023) Challenges to a work-life balance, LinkedIn. Available at:https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/challenges-work-life-balance-engr-nwoko [Online] (Accessed: 20 March 2024).

Coursera  (2024) Work-life balance: What it is and 5 ways to improve yours, Coursera. Available at: https://www.coursera.org/articles/work-life-balance [Online] (Accessed: 21 March 2024).

 Dropbox (no date) How to overcome barriers to work-life balance, Dropbox. Available at: https://experience.dropbox.com/resources/barriers-to-work-life-balance [Online] (Accessed: 22 March 2024).

Eby, K. (2023) How to improve work-life balance: 17 tips, Smartsheet. Available at: https://www.smartsheet.com/content/how-to-improve-work-life-balance [Online] (Accessed: 22 March 2024).).

Thomas, L. (2021) Importance of a work-life balance, News Medical Life Sciences. Available at: https://www.news-medical.net/health/Importance-of-a-Work-Life-Balance.aspx#:~:text=With%20a%20satisfactory%20work%2Dlife,benefit%20from%20achieving%20this%20balance. [Online] (Accessed: 23 March 2024).

Weissang, E. (2023) What causes poor work life balance?, Runn. Available at: https://www.runn.io/blog/what-causes-poor-work-life-balance [Online] (Accessed: 23 March 2024).