Understand work-life balance and master it in your own life

A healthy work-life balance is more important than ever in our fast-paced, constantly-connected world. The trouble is, achieving this is far more easily said than done. With expectations on workers increasing steadily, business competition heating up in many sectors and the feeling of uncertain futures looming, what can be done to ensure we are looking after ourselves?

This article outlines what work-life balance is, what factors can influence it, and ways you can begin to improve yours.

What does work-life balance mean?

Work-life balance is about creating a healthy mix of work and other aspects of your life. That could include things like family time, personal time, and hobbies. The idea is to give yourself room to enjoy these other areas of your life without feeling guilty. It’s not just about making time for these things, though – it’s also about being happy with the amount of time you spend on them. Awareness of this balance can give you a better understanding of how to live a healthier, happier life.

Work-life balance isn’t something you can achieve and be done. It is an ongoing process that needs to be worked on and maintained over time.

The importance of work

Work is vital for many reasons. It can give us meaning and purpose in our lives, allowing us to work towards values such as personal independence or community assistance. Through work, many people further develop their self-esteem and identity. This is evidenced by “what do you do?” being a common question amongst people meeting for the first time; it is fundamental to who we are. For many people, work provides a daily structure and helps us develop new skills and connect with others. It allows us to afford housing, food and other necessities. For most people, work is a necessary part of their lives.

The importance of work-life balance

Lack of work-life balance can show itself in many forms; some of the most common are:

• Increased and sustained stress levels
• A decrease in physical wellness, aches and pains, frequent illness
• A strain on close relationships
• Reduced efficiency, distractedness and fuzziness in the mind
• Inability to switch off, constant guilt over not working
• Withdrawal from social and pleasurable activities and hobbies

These symptoms of a poor work-life balance are cyclical. Unfortunately, as the symptoms creep in, they often make you even less productive, placing more strain on you to get through your work. This escalation can lead to burnout, a long-term state of stress, exhaustion, poor mental health and inefficiency. The good news is that there are strategies you can use to restore your work-life balance, but they require effort on your part and a willingness to change your habits.

What factors often hinder achieving a work-life balance?

Unfortunately, in this competitive job market, neglecting your work-life balance has become normalised. You are almost expected to work overtime, go through crunch periods, take work home, etc. The more of a workforce that buys into that culture, the harder it is for you to stand up for your rights and wellbeing. There can be some risk, mainly if you are in a casual or insecure job, of losing your position or reducing your hours if you don’t go the extra mile. These are unfortunate issues that are primarily out of your control.

On the personal side, if you have been neglecting your work-life balance for some time, you may already feel the adverse effects. The reduction of productivity, which comes from this, can begin a vicious cycle. Or time management is not one of your strengths, and you are easily distracted or inefficient.

Don’t lose hope! It is possible to work within these situations to improve your outcomes. You can take practical steps to improve your situation, as outlined below.

How to balance work and life

The first thing in adjusting your work-life balance is determining which factors are most impacting you and assessing what you can do to change. Go through the following list and find which of the steps will be feasible and are likely to work best for you.

Assess your values and prioritise against these

Personal values are a very individual thing. Some people most value family ties and homemaking, some experiences and adventure, some career-focused, and some focused on community contribution. You likely have a combination of these values and others, which can change over time. Only you can decide which aspects of life require more time and effort than the others. This can require some significant soul-searching, particularly if this isn’t something you have actively thought about before. To determine where your optimal work-life balance lies, you must assess where work and career lie in your values hierarchy.

Manage your time

Bad time management, procrastination and distractions can significantly impact what you can get done in a day. Getting on top of your time can allow you to be more productive in fewer hours, giving you more time to do the things you enjoy. Methods such as time-chunking, planning, making to-do lists, and more optimal meeting scheduling may allow you to make the most of your work hours.

Perfectionism

Perfectionism is the tendency to work on a task beyond the point where it is satisfactory, trying to make it flawless. In most cases, in many jobs, perfection is not required. Focusing on making one task perfect takes time away from completing other tasks. When you are looking to reduce work hours, this is an excellent place to do so.

Perfectionism has a lot to do with self-talk; if you are interested in reading more about that, check out this post.

Focus on just one task at a time

Multitasking may seem like an efficient way to get things done, but in reality, it can lead to decreased productivity and increased stress. When you focus on just one task, you can give it your full attention and complete it more quickly and effectively. Of course, there will always be times when you have to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously. But by learning to focus on just one thing at a time when you can, you’ll be better equipped to handle whatever life throws your way. Two strategies that work well for this include dividing the task into smaller, more manageable chunks and using a timer to block your time more effectively.

Set boundaries around working hours and conditions

When you lack boundaries around work hours, you always feel “on”. This isn’t good for your longer-term mental wellbeing. Of course, sometimes deadlines will loom, and exceptions will have to be made. But wherever possible, setting work hours for yourself for a typical day is advantageous. For some people, the traditional 9 am to 5 pm is standard, but whatever your timeframe, however many hours you need to work in the day, avoid doing or thinking about work outside these hours.

Monitor and care for your health (mental and physical)

No matter how well you manage your time, if you don’t monitor and care for your health, you will not be able to maintain a work-life balance. Your body is your machine and needs the proper fuel and maintenance to run well.

To monitor your physical health, pay attention to how you feel. If you are tired, have trouble sleeping, or experience aches and pains that are out of the norm, these could be signs of burnout associated with a poor work-life balance.

To monitor your mental health, pay attention to your mood. Do you feel anxious, depressed, angry, or stressed? Are you having trouble concentrating? If you are experiencing these mood changes interfering with your work or personal life, it may be time to give yourself a little TLC.

Take time out, schedule events and relax

Taking time out for yourself is essential when you have a demanding work schedule. This can help you stay balanced and focused. Scheduling events and time off can help you stay organised and on track. Set aside specific days or times for yourself. This way, you can ensure that you’re getting the rest and relaxation you need.

Make small, realistic and lasting behavioural changes

Any grand and sweeping changes to behaviour are unlikely to stick in the longer term. Just like a crash diet that undoes itself in short order, a complete overhaul of your working life isn’t going to be able to last for most people. The key to making a lasting change is to make small and maintainable changes over time.

Conclusion

To have a successful career and personal life, it is essential to have a suitable work-life balance. Many factors contribute to a person’s work-life balance, and finding what works best for you is vital. It’s not always easy, but with a little effort, you can find the perfect balance for your life.