Understanding Work Life Balance
Work-life balance is a term used for the concept that you need time for family-related or personal interests & from your work. Often, work in our lives takes priority over other aspects of life. Our willingness to thrive professionally will force us to put our own well-being aside. Kirchmeyer defined work–life balance as: ‘achieving satisfying experiences in all life domains and to do so requires personal resources such as energy, time, and commitment to be well distributed across domains’. It is important, however, to build a harmonious work-life balance or work-life integration to enhance not only our physical, emotional and mental well-being, but also our career.
Why is it important?
Work-life balance is the state of equilibrium in which the requirements of one's career and the requirements of one's personal life are equally prioritised by an individual. Sometimes employers demand more from their employees, which causes them to experience more pressure to achieve successful productivity. Therefore this leads to longer hours of work and less time spent at home, even the most active employee may still struggle to find equilibrium. A productive work life balance ensures that when they come to work, employees will be happy. This, in turn, eradicates tension in the workplace , chances of burnout, and other health related issues. It's important for employees to prioritise time for their personal interests as it helps them increase their productivity in the workplace.
An organisation needs its employees to be productive and that is exactly where the significance of work life balance lies.If the work-life balance of an employee is secure, they will be much happier at work. This contributes to greater performance. Staying late at night and doing overtime can seem to improve productivity, but the job is most likely of a lower quality in practical terms. Maintaining a good work life balance also improves your physical health. If workers are overworked, they are much more likely to be plagued with physical illnesses. This is particularly true if, during the day, they do not take sufficient breaks. Some instances include: a) Carpal tunnel syndrome: overworking may lead to soreness or worse, especially if the office environment is not ergonomic b) Higher risk of heart disease and high BP: a major contributor to these conditions is becoming sedentary. It also helps increase Creative Thinking. You have no capacity to think creatively when you're nervous, exhausted and/or anxious, but simple, creative thinking comes with equilibrium & that means a better product for work too.
Achieving work life balance when working from home:
Work-life balance is often a tough thing to do and it can be even more difficult to work from home. When home often becomes a place of work, the lines can easily blur between the two. Everyone has a different definition of work-life balance, but you should follow a few simple principles to describe it for yourself. Remote work was mostly intentional before the pandemic, and individuals who chose it usually did so believing it would fit well into their lives. Maybe they already had home offices arranged and set up with minimal distractions in quiet rooms, child care lined up for their kids, and older kids safely cared for at school.
However, because of the coronavirus, it wasn't the case with the millions of people operating remotely for the first time. For them, it was just not a choice to set up the ideal work-from-home scenario. Many more adjustments are sure to occur in the next few months (or years). From hybrid online/in-person school schedules and mixed workplaces seeking balance should be part of everybody's long-term health plan.
Here are some ways for achieving Work life Balance:
Creating a timetable and setting limits- Even if your manager doesn't follow a strict schedule, it will help you retain efficiency and relieve some of the tension that comes with working all the time by establishing (and sticking to) a daily schedule. At the end of your scheduled workday, set your work hours and log off so you can concentrate on other things.
Get fresh air- Breathing fresh air leads to improved decision-making, higher test scores and increased processing of information, and it is a perfect way to help your well-being.
Giving yourself time- Prioritizing workouts, hobbies, or meditation practice on a workday, something that gives you pleasure and relaxation can have a positive effect on your ability to maintain a stronger work-life balance while you work from home.
Ask for assistance- Just keep in mind that your mental health is also important. Don't fear reaching out for help and services to a family member, acquaintance, employer, human resources staff,
It is important to make it clear to workers that the value of work-life balance is recognised by your organisation. Encourage employees to follow best practices for work-life balance, and if they need it, provide help and advice. An ideal work-life balance for your employees at the end of the day and you will be helpful to the company as a whole.