Why Work-life Balance is important.

 Work-life Balance:

Work life:

It encompasses everything related to your job, from the workplace to your endless work emails, and last-minute presentations. It also includes the deadlines you have to meet, the phone-calls you have to make, and the people you work with.

Personal life:

This is that part of your life that is not related to your work. It includes your family, friends, your social life, and your personal responsibilities towards them.

You may be wondering why I am defining these two things. I am doing this to emphasize that these two are completely different parts of your life. (Unless you are married or related to your colleague.It becomes even more important to keep balance.)

Below are some daily happenings:

• Your supposedly 9-to-5 workday extends until 8 p.m.

• Your office meetings often start after work hours, and you often stay late for them.

• You are on the phone with your supervisor first thing in the morning, before the workday starts.

• You check your work emails while having breakfast. (Those who do breakfast btw, most of us skip it altogether due to lack of time.)

• You are often on the phone with your clients, even after you reach home.

• You check your work emails while having dinner.

• You get calls from work when you are on vacation or during sick leave.

Can you find your personal life here? NO!

Am I making sense? Does this happen to you? YES! It happens to most of us.

I wanted to paint a vivid picture of what balance means, or more accurately, what work-life balance means.

What is work-life balance:

Work-life balance is the state of equilibrium where a person equally prioritizes the demands of one’s career and the demand of one’s personal life. 

It is the ability to manage both effectively so that there is enough time and energy for both work and personal commitments.

“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”- Stephen Covey

Signs you have no work-life balance:

1. You are often irritable.

2. You often feel fatigued, burnt out and exhausted.

3. You have no interest in pursuing hobbies or activities outside of work.

4. You are not able to give time to your family.

5. You have no time for yourself to relax. (Me-time is absolutely important)

6. You have zero social-life.

7. You often have to deal with health issues.

8. Your mental health takes a hit.

The importance of work-life balance:

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is crucial for our overall well-being.We should not sacrifice the finer things and joys of life in pursuit of a living. 

Dolly Parton rightly said, “Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life”. Moreover, work-life balance enhances productivity, which is the basic requisite of any organization.

Ways to achieve work-life balance:

Setting boundaries between work and personal life is essential for healthy work-life balance, but it can be challenging for freshers entering into the job world. 

Fundamentally speaking, the onus for work-life balance lies with both the employee and the employers. Employees need to be willing to set boundaries and communicate their needs to the employers.

Employers have a responsibility to create a culture that supports work-life balance by setting clear expectations, providing flexibility and respecting employees’ time.

Work-life Integration:

It is a holistic approach to blending personal and professional needs. It goes beyond the traditional work-life balance concept, which often implies strict separation between work and personal time.

Instead, work-life integration focuses on finding ways to merge the two so that they can complement and support each other.

This has become even more important after the Covid-19 pandemic where the work-from-home (WFH) was widely adopted. Work-life integration has become a necessity. 

Final thoughts:

Both work-life balance and work-life integration are beneficial for our overall well-being, however, which one to choose depends on individual needs and preferences.

We must remember that work is a part of our life and not our only life.

Prioritize your health. Take care!

Sucheta

Disclaimer: I am not an expert or a professional in the field of mental health. This writing is based solely on my experience and observation, and it is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. If you need help with mental health issues, please contact a qualified professional.