Work-life balance and its importance: 7 ways to create a better work-life balance

Work-life balance, and It's importance

Work-life balance and its importance: 7 ways to create a better work-life balance

Work-life balance is the state of balance where a person equally prioritizes the demands of one’s career and the demands of one’s personal life. Some of the common reasons that lead to a poor work-life balance include:

• Working longer hours
• Increased responsibilities at work
• Increased responsibilities at home

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is not only important for health and relationships, but it can also improve your employee’s productivity, and ultimately performance.

Employers who are committed to provide environments that support work-life balance for their employees can save on costs, experience fewer cases of absenteeism, and enjoy a more loyal and productive workforce.

There may be some days where you work longer hours so you have time later in the week to enjoy other activities. 

Here are seven ways to create a better work-life balance-

1. Find a job that you love.

You don’t need to love every aspect of your job, but it needs to be exciting enough that you don’t fear getting out of bed every morning. Although work is an expected societal norm, your career shouldn’t be warning. If you don’t love what you do, you aren’t going to be happy, plain and simple.

You need to find a job that you are so passionate about you would do it for free. You may be working in a toxic environment, for a toxic person, or doing a job that you truly don’t love. If this is the case, it is time to find a new job.”

2. Accept that there is no ‘perfect’ work-life balance:

When you hear “work-life balance,” you probably imagine having an extremely productive day at work, and leaving early to spend the other half of the day with friends and family. While this may seem ideal, it is not always possible. 

Don’t strive for the perfect schedule; strive for a realistic one. Some days, you might focus more on work, while other days you might have more time and energy to pursue your hobbies or spend time with your loved ones. Balance is achieved over time, not each day. 

3. Prioritize your health:

Prioritizing your health doesn’t have to consist of radical or extreme activities. It can be as simple as daily meditation or exercise. 

Your overall physical, emotional and mental health should be your main concern. Overworking yourself prevents you from getting better, possibly causing you to take more days off in the future. 

Prioritizing your health first and foremost will make you a better employee and person.

4. Take a vacation:

Sometimes, truly unplugging means taking vacation time and shutting work completely off for a while. Whether your vacation consists of a one-day satiation or a two-week trip, it’s important to take time off to physically and mentally recharge. A break from work will provide you with the chance to switch off and enjoy yourself, it is also a great opportunity to recover and recharge. This is essential to help your people improve productivity and focus when they return to the office.

5. Make time for yourself and your loved ones:

While your job is important, it shouldn’t be your entire life. You were an individual before taking this position, and you should prioritize the activities or hobbies that make you happy.

6. Set boundaries and work hours:

Set boundaries for yourself and your colleagues, to avoid burnout. When you leave the office, avoid thinking about upcoming projects or answering emails. Consider having a separate computer or phone for work, so you can shut it off when you clock out. If that isn’t possible, use separate browsers, emails or filters for your work and personal platforms.

Notify team members and your manager about boundaries beyond which you cannot be accessible because you are engaged in personal activities. This will help to ensure that they understand and respect your workplace limits and expectations.

7. Set goals and priorities:

Set achievable goals by implementing time-management strategies, analyzing your to-do list, and cutting out tasks that have little to no value. 

Pay attention to when you are most productive at work and block that time off for your most important work-related activities. Avoid checking your emails and phone every few minutes, as those are major time-wasting tasks that derail your attention and productivity.