With work’s constantly changing nature, employers expect more from workers, creating a 24-hour cycle of workplace culture. Though we always talk about prioritising our work-life balance, pressure to maintain efficiency and responsibilities can easily push quality family life to the back burner.
But did you know that not taking a break from work drastically impacts job satisfaction, stress levels, and a sense of happiness and health?
Indeed, lacking the ability to maintain control between your job and home life becomes a problem for everyone involved: managers, family, colleagues and your own mental and physical health.
What Is Work-Life Balance?
Having a work-life balance is an equilibrium of priority awarded to personal and professional activities. Or, at least, not feeling pressured to explain personal activities to managers or others, let alone gain permission.
Think of a work-life balance like the Chinese philosophy of yin-yang. Your professional and personal lives are simultaneously complementary, opposing and interconnected forces. So, recognising work arrangements that encourage harmony between the two worlds will ensure you thrive in both places.
Why Is Work-Life Balance Important?
A work-life balance has proven connections to improved energy, mental and physical health, personal relationships, employee wellbeing and professional growth. For managers, this means that having that conversation about flexible work arrangements boosts productivity, employee retention and satisfaction.
Fewer physical and mental health problems
Stress is the most common symptom of a poor work-life balance, which can lead to illnesses from colds to more serious respiratory and heart problems. Excess stress and poor performance lead to anxiety, depression and fatigue, and thus a vicious cycle ensues.
Fewer burnouts
Noticing a colleague feeling stressed, overworked and unable to meet demands? They may be experiencing burnout. Instead, set realistic SMART goals with people with regular check-ins and, as leaders, allow reasonable time off to re-energise your team.
Greater employee engagement
If your team is happy with their workload, is engaged with their tasks, isn’t exhausted nor think of work as a chore, you’ll see improvements in performance and productivity. Employee satisfaction is a factor for business success. Improve employee retention numbers, and you’re setting your company up for the long run with a strong, motivated workforce.
Signs You Need Better Work-Life Balance
Chronic fatigue, increased cynicism, detachment and reduced professional output are all symptoms of workplace burnout.
Or perhaps, as a professional, you are frustrated with:
- The expectations of being always online
- Our constant connection (thanks smartphone and social media!) that allows our work life to pervade into our home life
- Back-to-back meetings causing time constraints
- The constant distractions of communication technology and open-office floor plans
Any of these symptoms may suggest you have an imbalance in your work and personal life ratio.
How to Improve Your Work-Life Balance
To define what your work-life balance principles are is firstly understanding what you value. Then, you can create rules around these priorities to exercise at your place of employment and home.
Do you value your family, friends, children, being your boss, your interests, and the freedom to schedule your own time? Maybe you commit to leaving the office no later than 5:30 to be with your family in the evenings. Or you take a half-day on Fridays or work from home that day, if your office allows it post-pandemic.
These principles beneath your work-life balance values must be ingrained into your behaviour to become impactful. Take regular lunch breaks, set boundaries, practice time-management skills like time-blocking, have clear delegation paths, communicate changes to your schedules and book holidays.
The Australian government has implemented “right to disconnect” legislation where workers of non-small businesses have the right to refuse communication outside their working hours unless doing so is unreasonable. Breaches of this right can be lodged with the Fair Work Ombudsman.
The Role of Employers in Promoting Work-Life Balance
Organisations have a significant role in fostering a better work environment. Flexible working arrangements have allowed for variety in how we approach our schedules—concentrating on our needs, responsibilities and commitments. However, the rate of those working overtime has increased since the rise of remote work.
- Encourage time-off. It sounds simple but gone are the days when holidays are treated as a luxury. They are a necessity for better productivity in the long run.
- Flexible working arrangements. If your workplace requires full-time in-office hours, introduce walking meetings, team coffees or break-out areas for socialising or purchase office subscriptions for meditation apps. Or, tap into your best resource: your people. Ask what developments and activities your staff would appreciate for relaxation.
- Practice what you preach. Don’t scold your team for working after hours or over weekends if you are sending emails at that time. It sends a mixed message and pressures everyone to increase their hours.
Prioritising Balance for Long-Term Success
Most of us will spend a large portion of our lives at work. Therefore, it’s essential to prioritise our state of mind with strategies to get the best of both work and personal commitments.
If you need more motivation to practise wellness and balance work and personal commitments, Priority Management has a comprehensive range of energy management tips and training courses to adapt to your life. Say goodbye to sleepless, stressful nights and tiring days. As your trusted leaders in workplace solutions, we’re ready to help you work smarter and feel the fulfilment of life every day.