With 65% of Britons citing work-life balance as their biggest factor when considering a new job, it’s obvious that this is an important topic. It can be so hard to make time for yourself or your loved ones – especially with the stress and expectations from our jobs piling up. But there are plenty of ways you could turn things around and create harmony between both aspects of life!
What exactly is work-life balance?
Simply put, work-life balance is the ability to maintain a healthy relationship between our work and our outside-of-work lives. It means having enough time for both, and not letting one take over the other. The meaning of work-life balance can vary from person to person, for some, work-life balance might mean taking a few days off each week to spend time with family or friends. For others, it might mean working fewer hours each day so that they have more time for themselves. And for others still, it might mean working from home a few days a week to avoid the commute. Regardless of your stage in the working world, it’s crucial that you find a way to balance between your unique professional and personal lives.
The importance of work-life balance
The answer is a resounding yes! There are plenty of reasons for having a good work-life balance.
When we’re able to find time for both work and the things we enjoy outside of work, we’re happier and more fulfilled. We’re also less likely to experience burnout, which can happen when we’re overworked and feel like we’re never able to take a break.
Benefits of work-life balance
When we achieve work-life balance, we’re happier and less stressed, and our personal relationships are healthier. It can actually make us better at our jobs because when we have time for ourselves outside of work, we come back feeling refreshed and recharged. We’re able to put more effort into our work and be more productive when we’re there. All of this leads to a better quality of life overall.
How to balance work and life?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best way to balance work and life will vary from person to person. However, there are some general tips that can help everyone achieve a better work-life balance. That sounds great in theory, but how can we actually achieve it?
How to achieve work-life balance:
- Make time for yourself: One of the most important things you can do for your work-life balance is to make time for yourself. This might mean taking an hour each day to read, going for a walk, picking up that musical instrument you always thought you should learn, or taking a yoga class once a week. Whatever it is that you enjoy doing, make sure to schedule some time for it into your working week.
- Set boundaries with work: It can be easy for work to take over our lives if we’re not careful. To avoid this, it’s important to set boundaries with work. This might mean only checking work emails inside of work hours, or only taking work calls during certain times of the day. Whatever it is, setting these boundaries will help you to avoid getting too caught up in work and will help you to achieve a better balance.
- Learn to say “no”: One of the hardest things to do is say “no”, especially when it comes to working. But if you’re already stretched thin, then you need to learn to say “no” in order to maintain your work-life balance. This doesn’t mean saying “no” to everything, but it does mean learning to prioritize and only taking on what you can handle.
- Prioritize your health: In order to have a good work-life balance, it’s important to prioritize your health. This means eating healthy, exercising, and getting enough sleep. When we’re healthy, we’re able to function at our best both at work and in our personal lives. Tracking your daily activities, exercises, and even your sleep using smart devices can be a good way to really be on top of your health
- Take a vacation: If you can take a vacation, then it’s important to unplug from work as much as possible. This means no checking work emails, taking work calls, or anything else that will take away from your vacation time. If you can’t completely unplug, try to set some strict boundaries for yourself, such as only checking your work email once a day.
- Take a workcation: If you can’t take a full vacation, then the second best option is to take a workcation. A workcation is basically a vacation where you work from a different location, usually one that is more relaxing. This way, you can still get work done, but you’re not in a high-pressure work environment.
- Look for flexible work arrangements: This might mean working from home one day a week or having a flexible schedule. If you can, try to negotiate these arrangements with your boss. Flexible work arrangements are becoming more and more common, so don’t be afraid to ask for them.
- Take a step back to reflect on yourself: It can be helpful to take a step back every once in a while to reflect on your life. Are you happy with the way your work is going? Your relationships? Your life goals? Are you happy with where you’re at in life? By taking the time to reflect, you can make sure that you know where you are and how to move forward. Then reprioritize and take action where necessary.
- Don’t work through your lunch!: Use your lunch break to take a walk, eat healthily, or catch up with a friend. This is time for you to recharge so that you can be productive for the rest of the day. This might mean taking half an hour each day to read, or going for a walk on your lunch break.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help: If you’re struggling to balance work and life on your own, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Talk to your boss about your workload, or other things that are stressing you out. If you are stressed at home, hiring a babysitter could help give you some time for yourself. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, it’s actually a sign of strength. It shows that you’re willing to do what it takes to achieve a better work-life balance.
We should always remember that our overall happiness depends a lot on how much time we have for the things that are important to us, like our family, friends, hobbies, interests, and health. Achieving a good work-life balance means making time for the things we enjoy doing while taking care of ourselves mentally and physically. It’s not always easy, but it’s definitely worth it.
