What is Work-Life Balance, and How to Improve It?

Life is all about balance, be it a balanced diet, balanced sleep and even balanced work; balance brings peace. However, working professionals often find themselves struggling when it comes to maintaining a Work-life Balance. Either they tend to engross themselves in work or their personal often takes a toll on their work. 

According to a survey report by Lenovo, approximately 66% of employees want a good Work-life Balance to drive decisions. Thus, it’s crucial to find the right balance to lead a peaceful and happy life. Don't know how? Read this blog to learn the Work-life Balance definition and improve your quality of life. Explore its importance and how to achieve it. 

Table of Contents  

1) Understanding What is Work-life Balance 

2) Importance of Work-life Balance 

3) How can you improve Work-life Balance? 

    a) Acknowledge that perfection is unattainable 

    b) Find a profession that you love 

    c) Give priority to your health 

    d) Don't hesitate to disconnect occasionally 

    e) Take a vacation 

    f) Make time for both self-care and your loved ones 

    g) Establish clear limits and working hours 

    h) Set priorities and goals. 

    i)  Embrace mindfulness in your daily routine 

   j) Find a hobby you enjoy doing in your spare time 

4) Conclusion 

Understanding What is Work-life Balance 

Work-life Balance in simple terms means the amount of time one spends doing the job as compared to the amount of time one spends with loved ones or hobbies. Everyone loves to have a greater Balance so that work does not take up their time to live a life. However, the term often misleads people because their careers and personal lives are supposed to co-exist in the same sphere. 

Both work and life are important aspects of an individual’s life, and one should have a distinct boundary drawn between them so that work life doesn’t mix with personal life. It is a state of equilibrium where an individual prioritises the demands of personal life necessities and work life. This equilibrium is not easy to achieve as it involves a lot of factors. There are various reasons that can cause poor Work-life Balance. These reasons are discussed below:
 

Importance of Work-life Balance 

The aim of maintaining a Balance between Work and Life is to succeed at your workplace and, at the same time, lead a happy and healthy life. Apart from that it’s crucial to maintain a Balance due to the following reasons: 

Affects mental health 

Stress is common in the modern-day corporate workspace. If you spend a lot of time working, stress will take hold of you and gradually affect your mental health. It is, therefore, essential to find time away from work to relax and calm your mind. Workplace stress can lead to anxiety, stress disorder, depression, etc. 

Having a flexible work option helps employees to have a better Work-life Balance. It results in employee satisfaction and increased productivity. Companies that don’t provide a healthy workplace atmosphere often have employees who have poor mental health. 

Affects physical health  

The stress caused by Work-life imbalance can have a significant impact on one’s physical health alongside their mental health. Workplace stress can lead to various physical health issues ranging from cardiovascular diseases to musculoskeletal and psychological disorders. Some studies have also suggested that workplace stress can lead to ulcers, cancers and impaired immune systems. 

Impacts productivity 

A work-life which is tiresome in nature can affect your performance at the workplace. This can be due to various reasons such as stress and depression. This highlights the importance of having a standard set on "how you work rather" than "how many hours you work". Communication with your employer to have a better work-life balance helps to make workplace productivity go high. 

Affects relationships  

Workplace pressure can seriously affect relationships outside of the workplace. If an individual is stressed at work, they may not be able to find time outside work to socialise with family or friends. The mental tiredness will take all the energy out of them to find time outside work. 

It is why having a positive Work-life Balance is important as it allows oneself to spend time with the people who they really care about. It is also important to not get overwhelmed at work as it takes away the moments one should spend with friends and family. The aim is to be a productive employee, including being a well-rounded individual with an enriching life in and out of the workplace.
 

How can you improve Work-life Balance? 

Enhancing your work-life balance involves making an effort to find the best possible way to spend your time so you lead a happy life at the office and at home.  While creating a schedule that fits you, try to find the best possible way to achieve a striking balance at work and in your personal life.  

Work-life balance is more about having the freedom to get things done flexibly and less about dividing the hours in your day evenly between work and personal life.  There may be some days where you work longer hours, so you have time later in the week to enjoy other activities. Here are few ways through which you can improve your Work-life Balance: 

Acknowledge that perfection is unattainable 

The word “Work-life Balance” is often interpreted as having a productive day at the workplace and leaving for home to have quality time with the family. However, it is not always practical due to the circumstances and situations that arise in the workplace daily. Therefore, it is better to look for a realistic schedule rather than wasting time finding a perfect one. 

On some days, work will be more, while on other days, you will have more energy and time to take up your hobbies or spend time with your close ones. Balance is achieved over time, not each day. 

Find a profession that you love 

Even though work is an expected societal ritual, it should not become one that makes your career traumatic. If you don't love what you are doing, you cannot be happy at your workplace. It does not mean that you have to admire all the processes of the job, but there should be an exciting factor which motivates you to work.  

Give priority to your health 

People often forget to take care of their personal health amidst the struggle at the workplace. If you are suffering from any sort of mental illness, it is important to take a break or to get therapy. While making a schedule, try to fit in this important aspect and prioritise your health as much as you can.  

You can prioritise your health by staying away from toxic relationships, or toxic work culture. If you are fighting a chronic illness, get a sick leave and relax. Overworking can cause a lot of damage to your health by preventing you from getting better and pushing you to more troubles. 

Don't hesitate to disconnect occasionally 

It is important to unplug yourself from all the workplace ties for a while to find time for your personal needs. It is necessary to take time off to mentally freshen up and to recharge your mind. Most employees worry that taking time off affects their workflow, and they will be burdened with pending tasks.   

Taking a desired break often helps you feel light and recover from the daily workplace stress. It gives you a desired space to develop fresh thoughts and ideas. Disconnecting from work is like a meditation which helps you to freshen your mind.  

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Take a vacation 

It is a byproduct of disconnecting yourself from the workplace. Taking time off from workplace and engaging yourself in a trip is a refreshing thing to do. A vacation can anything from a one-day staycation to a weeklong foreign trip. It helps to recharge the mind and your body from the tiring work.  

Make time for both self-care and your loved ones 

While you acknowledge the importance of work, it is important not to get overwhelmed about the work. It is essential to spend time for yourself and to do activities that you love away from work. It is one of the crucial steps in improving the Work-Life Balance of an individual.  

Try to find time for your family and loved ones to enjoy the private life of yours. This increases the quality of your life and helps you take control your workload without affecting personal life. Work should not be a reason for you to avoid personal relationships.   

Establish clear limits and working hours 

Setting a proper limit and working hours is essential to avoid exhaustion. Try not to worry about the future workload and emails when you leave the office after work. Consider keeping a separate workplace phone or computer. It can be shut down completely after a day’s work, helping you maintain a Work-Life Balance. 

Set priorities and goals. 

Give attention to your most productive working hours and block that time off for your most critical workplace projects. Refrain from checking your phone and emails every minute, as these take away much of your attention and reduce your productivity. Planning your day can increase productivity at work, resulting in more free time to relax outside of work. 

Embrace mindfulness in your daily routine 

Find time to practice mindfulness techniques, such as meditation or breath awareness. It helps you become more in tune with your physique and emotions. Giving attention to these feelings enables you to notice when you are suppressing a need to work. Making mind helps you to gain Work-Life Balance effectively.  

Find a hobby you enjoy doing in your spare time 

If you have something which excites you to engage after work, it will make it easier to detach yourself from work messages or end your day at a predetermined time. Our hobbies play an important role in boosting our energy and vitality. We bring our fresh selves back to work when we are active and feel creative. 

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Conclusion 

We hope you now have a clear idea about Work-Life Balance and the ways to improve it. We are all flawed; giving 200 per cent at work will result in slip-ups in other areas of our personal lives. One must succeed at work, but remember, we have only one life to enjoy. We shouldn’t sacrifice our personal lives or health to advance professionally.  

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