The What?
Work life balance is a popular term that describes how we, as individuals, can best allocate time for work and time for other life activities. The need for a balance varies greatly from person to person. So, before we discuss how you can achieve work-life balance let's find out why you should.
The Why?
No matter how many commitments you have, according to the Happiness Index Group achieving this balance is key because it helps improve health, relationship and productivity leading to improved performance.
Leading a poorer work-life balance can lead to increased levels of stress, anxiety in addition to other physical related problems. In today’s fast paced world people are both physical and mental health is at greater risk due to induced higher levels of stress.
A more balanced attitude to work is critical to us all to prevent health problems, tiredness, and being and feeling overworked leading ultimately to burn-out.
The Why Not?
OK, so sustaining a healthy life style is not easy and from time to time we will always suffer from unusual levels of stress, but gaining control over personal productivity, concentration, focus and dedication is critical for both professional and personal success.
If you run a team, creating a positive environment helps foster stronger relations with your team, increasing employee engagement, loyalty and creating brand ambassadors.
The How?
After understanding why it's important, here are top 5 tips on how you can achieve work-life balance without jeopardising your commitment to work.
1. Time off: Yes, be sure to use your holidays ideally a combination of long term (one week, two weeks) breaks and not sure long weekends.
2. Structure your day and take short breaks: It may sound obvious, but using your calendar to set reminders to take a short break mid morning and mid afternoon with intention (this is key) to clear your mind and return to approach a task with a fresh pair of eyes
3. Learn from others: Watch how other colleagues you admire approach their day and how they tackle busier times. For example, people with a strong sense of urgency is a great behavioural quality to emulate as this results in greater efficiency.
4. Say no to yourself - Many of us spend huge amounts of time at work, losing track of the delicate balance of time. Although this is greatly admirable and in many instances, necessary, learning to say the occasional no to yourself is a virtue. Resist that urge to constantly check your emails!
5. Set time aside - Whether you have a passionate hobby or personal interest, set specific time aside every week or at a regular basis to do it. Need a hobby? Read here for ideas.
TIP:
Think about your employees as customers. After all, we are more likely to say nice things regarding brands we love and repeat buy.
Facilitate a work environment that encourages short breaks, give and get regular employee feedback to better understand how and/or when they feel stress, and allow employees to disconnect by limiting the amount of communication that takes place outside of work.
There is even a law in France called the right to disconnect !
This article was inspired by the Happiness Index. For a fuller version of its post read here.