Work-life balance and why it is so important in today’s world

What actually is work-life balance?

We often think about work-life balance as a compromise between time spent at work and time spent on non-work activities. In an ideal world, that would mean that after work, we are able to do things that nourish us as people (e.g., spending time with friends, family or engaging in a hobby). The idea of work-life balance is easy to explain, but in a world where boundaries between work and home are increasingly blurred, it is not that easy to maintain since it is more than just taking a weekly yoga class.

Why is a work-life balance of great importance?

Wwe need a variety of activities to maintain and nurture our well-being and stay healthy and energised in the long run. The negative consequences of neglecting work-life balance can be found in the workplace as well as in private life. Adverse consequences in the workplace environment may look like lower job satisfaction, lower job engagement, bigger risk of burnout, higher absenteeism, and lower job performance. In our private lives, lower family satisfaction or satisfaction with the quality of partner relationship as well as poorer physical (fatigue, stress-related health issues) and mental health (higher risk of anxiety and depression, sleep-related disruptions) may occur.

How can we achieve a work-life balance?

There is no one-size-fits-all recipe, and you may have to play with what feels most relevant personally. It might also take time to find it, but be patient. The best way to do it is by checking in with your inner compass. One word of advice: you must start small. Your work habits have been built over time, and they are impossible to change overnight. It is also more probable that you will stick to the desired new habits if you apply small changes to your everyday life.

1. Plan your vacation and days off in advance

Sometimes truly unplugging means taking vacation time and forgetting about work completely for a while. Cutting ties with the outside world occasionally allows us to recover from weekly stress and gives us space for other thoughts and ideas to emerge. It doesn’t matter whether your vacation consists of a one-day staycation or a two-week-long trip. Establishing a plan for your personal time off, no matter how often you do it, can be the difference between using the valuable benefits you have been given and wasting them. Also, adding those days to your calendar and requesting them off in advance is a commitment. You will be more likely to hold to this and make the most of that time. It is essential to take time off to physically and mentally recharge.

2. Set goals and priorities and stick to them

Set achievable objectives by implementing time-management strategies (e.g., productivity hacks like a Pomodoro timer), analysing your to-do list, and cutting out tasks with little or no value. Pay attention to when you are most productive at work and use this time to complete your most important work-related activities. Avoid checking your e-mails and phone too often, since those are major time-wasting tasks that disrupt your attention and productivity. It might be useful to have a specified time where you check and respond to messages. Structuring your day can help you increase work performance, resulting in more free time to relax outside of work.

3. Make time for yourself and your loved ones.

While your job is of great importance, it shouldn’t be your entire life. It is important that you prioritise the activities and hobbies that make you happy and that you plan your personal time around these. When planning time with your loved ones, create a calendar for romantic and family dates. It may seem weird to plan one-on-one time with someone you live with, but it will ensure you spend quality time with them without work-life conflict.

4. Prioritise your health

Your overall physical, emotional, and mental health should be your main concern. In case you feel unwell in any of these aspects, you should contact the appropriate professionals. Overworking yourself prevents you from getting better, possibly causing you to take more days off in the future. Prioritising your health will make you a better employee and person. You will be off work less, and you will be happier and more productive when you are actually working. It is important to emphasize that prioritising your health doesn’t involve radical or extreme activities. It can be as simple as daily meditation or exercise.

Now that you understand the importance of work-life balance, it’s time to start creating a more balanced life for yourself. The good news is that it’s not as hard to achieve as you think. The key is to create it for yourself. And it all starts with your mentality. Because your mindset is what empowers you to say “no”, prioritize what’s most important and create the balanced lifestyle you want.

At Greentube, we provide both a company psychologist and doctor to our employees. In addition to this, our HR department is available anytime to offer any additional support that is needed. If you would like to find out more about what Greentube offers, please click here.

Literature

Allen, T. D., Cho, E., & Meier, L. L. (2014). Work-family boundary dynamics. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 1, 99–121.–

Ashforth, B. E., Kreiner, G. E., & Fugate, M. (2000). All in a day’s work: Boundaries and micro role transitions. Academy of Management Review, 25, 472-491.

Carlson, D. S., Grzywacz, J. G., & Zivnuska, S. (2009). Is work–family balance more than conflict and enrichment? Human Relations, 62, 1459.

Carlson, D. S., Kacmar, K. M., Wayne, J. H., & Grzywacz, J. G. (2006). Measuring the Positive Side of the Work-Family Interface: Development and Validation of a Work-Family Enrichment Scale. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 68, 131–164.

Cooks-Campbell, A. (13.5.2021). How to have a good work-life balance (hint: it’s not just about time. https://www.betterup.com/blog/how-to-have-good-work-life-balance

Greenhaus, J. H., & Beutell, N. J. (1985). Sources of Conflict between Work and Family Roles. Academy of Management Review, 10, 76–88.

Greenhaus, J. H., & Powell, G. N. (2006). When Work And Family Are Allies: A Theory Of Work-Family Enrichment. Academy of Management Review, 31, 72–92.

Michel, J. S., Kotrba, L. M., Mitchelson, J. K., Clark, M. A., & Baltes, B. B. (2011). Antecedents of work–family conflict: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 32, 689–725.

Rantanen, J., Mauno, S., Kinnunen, U. & Tement, S. (2013). Patterns of conflict and enrichment in work-family balance: A three-dimensional typology. Work & Stress, 27, 141-163.

Sanfilippo, M. (3.12.2021). How to Improve Your Work-Life Balance Today. https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/5244-improve-work-life-balance-today.html