It’s common nowadays to hear the term “work-life balance”.
This whole concept has come to mean finding that balance, where you allocate time for work and other important areas of your life.
This balance however, looks different for different people. There are different ideas on what constitutes a realistic work-life balance, and is it indeed possible?
What is a good work-life balance?
For Baby Boomer and Gen X people, a good work-life balance may involve working Monday through Friday, within a fixed period of roughly eight hours and having weekends, annual vacation and public holidays off.
For upcoming job seekers, a good work-life balance may mean more than having fixed work and down time. Nowadays, work-life balance involves giving almost equal importance to the commitments a person has in their lives. This usually means having equitable time to:
- Perform a job they love. Work-life balance no longer means suffering in an environment with a boss you cannot tolerate. It means finding peace, joy or satisfaction in the profession that you chose.
- Address mental wellbeing – with such a high emphasis on mental and emotional health, work-life balance means having sufficient time to dedicate to one’s own self, hobbies, interests, family, pets or entertainment to de-stress.
- Pursue goals – many working people of the millennial and Gen Z groups hardly stay in one job for decades as their parents did. Many persons create side hustles or part-time business ventures to bring in extra funds. For these entrepreneurial individuals, balance means having sufficient time to work on their own projects and pursue their own goals.
- Have time for your priorities – Perhaps not all the time, but many people define a proper work-life balance when people makes time for their priorities. This could be loved ones, a cause they believe in, a passion project they undertake or experiences they wish to have.
Why is it important to have a good work-life balance?
Work-life balance is important for several reasons:
Time is limited.
Time has been re-classified as the most important resource a person will ever have. The fact that this resource is so limited makes it even more valuable. Today, people have realised that money can always be made, work will always be there, bills and worries will forever exist. Time, however is scarce and gets more limited with each passing day. As such, a good work-life balance maximises the value of your time to ensure you lead the most fulfilling, productive and worthwhile life possible.
Improves health & wellbeing
From an employee’s perspective, having balance is crucial for physical vitality, mental health and emotional wellbeing. A good work life-balance can offer work you enjoy, quality time with the people and activities you love, maximising your self-care and a quality of life that is enriching and fulfilling.
Improves productivity & morale
For companies and business owners, it is essential to create a culture that promotes an effective work-life balance for staff members as well as yourself. Multiple business experts point to the fact that when people are satisfied, rested, managing stress well and feel that they have a degree of time autonomy, they are more driven, productive, and effective at their jobs.
Recommendations on improving your work-life balance
Achieving this balance is not easy. Life is not easy either and can get unpredictable. It is essential to manage your time well but also to be flexible. This flexibility will be an asset in the event of unpredictable circumstances. Therefore, when adopting measures to improve your work-life balance you should definitely:
Identify your priorities
Allocate time to what is important by identifying people, tasks, activities and experiences that are important to you. Place your priorities in the order of high to low importance. This clarifies the activities or people that deserve the most time from you and where your primary focus should be.
Create and stick to a routine
It is important to have some type of routine to organise your life. Even if you’re a person who is not too keen on structure and planning, a flexible routine organises your day and makes life less chaotic. With an established routine, you can also be assured that whatever you’re doing in any given moment is priority. It is less stressful and more productive when you begin each day with priorities clearly defined and covered. A suitable routine keeps your work and life balanced.
Set boundaries
Sometimes, we have so many things to be considered “priority”. Our lives can get so busy that making time for one activity might mean saying no to five others. However, saying no is a crucial step towards achieving an improved work-life balance.
Time is limited but, many of the demands placed upon us seem unlimited. In these instances, it is crucial that your priorities are defined, time is wisely allocated so you can reschedule or refuse items that aren’t of importance, urgency or value.
Know when to unwind
To improve your work-life balance, it is essential to not overwork yourself and unplug after a long day. Bear in mind, the key to a healthy work-life balance involves knowing your limits as a human being. Understanding these limits prevents you from exceeding your energy levels for tasks that do not enrich or positively contribute to your wellbeing.
Make time for fun
Hobbies remind us to enjoy life. Hobbies such as exercise, playing with pets, travelling, sports, music, art or nature helps with our personal fitness, keeps our health in check and stress levels down. They also nurture one of the most important things in life – our relationships. When we cultivate and enjoy our relationships, we enjoy life.
When creating work-life balance in your life, regardless of what it means to you, always bear in mind that it is essential to define important priorities and organise your time into a suitable routine. This enables you to have the time and energy for doing things that truly engage, enrich and enlighten you.
