The Importance of Work-Life Balance, Explained

Are you having trouble separating your work and personal time? Has telecommuting made you feel like you have no time for yourself? Are you wondering how to balance work and life so you feel less exhausted?

The importance of work-life balance has been a part of professional conversations for years. Yet what does it mean, and how can it benefit you?

Here’s what you need to know about balancing your work and life.

What is Work-Life Balance?

Work-life balance, in short, is the ability to place equal weight on the demands of your career and those of your personal life.

Balancing work and life can help reduce stress and prevent burnout. When you work long hours and don’t balance it out with any personal time, chronic stress can take its toll on your mental and physical health.

Poor work-life balance can lead to anxiety, depression, and sleep problems. You may also experience digestive problems and aches and pains. Long term, stress can also put you at a greater risk for heart attacks, stroke, and cancer.

It pays for employers to encourage work-life balance since you’ll be less productive in the long-run if you don’t have it. Burned-out employees can also cost employers a great deal in healthcare costs.

Examples of opportunities employer opportunities for work-life balance include a flexible work culture where things like telecommuting and extended parental leaves are available. It may also involve more self-care on the part of individual workers.

What Are the Benefits of Work-Life Balance?

If you’ve got a balanced lifestyle as an employee, you’ll end up being more engaged and productive in the long run. You can also prioritize your family life and begin to feel more valued. In the long run, you’ll also experience improved health and well-being, which will make you a more capable worker.

Employers can also reap the benefits of a staff that has a more balanced lifestyle. Your employees will be taking less time off and leave of absence due to sickness. They’ll also have higher morale, which will enable them to provide better service to your customers or clients.

A happy staff will be less likely to quit, which will save you time and money on looking for new employees and training them. It can also make your staff more competitive and productive.

If your staff is well-rested and mentally balanced, they’ll be able to meet demands or challenges head-on. So a changing climate or a difficult client won’t stress them out the way it would if they were overwhelmed. A balanced staff is ready to greet any problems with a positive attitude and tackle new challenges head-on.

How Can a Company Facilitate Work-Life Balance?

Today’s best companies promote work-life balance in a number of popular ways.

They may offer healthcare incentives in terms of discounts to the gym or stand-up desk options. Some workplaces also have fitness classes offered onsite.

Employers may also encourage their staff to take all of their allowed holidays and sick days, which can allow folks to reconnect with their families and prioritize what’s important.

“Flextime” is also helping balance happen for so many. This means that your employees are permitted to work during different times, as long as they meet a certain required number of hours each week. During a time when social distancing remains important, flextime can also help you to stagger who’s in the building and keep workspaces more spread out.

Telecommuting options can also help reduce the number of bodies that are in the office at once. Some studies suggest that workers are more productive at home than they are in the office.

If your employees have families, working from home gives them the opportunity to worry less about babysitting or transportation for their children.

You may find it works best to have employees work in the office two to three days per week and from home the rest of the time. If possible, encourage remote working by providing your employees a small stipend for fixing up their home office. You may be able to provide them with a small desk or second phone line so they can create a space that’s just for work in their houses and apartments.

How Can Employees Find Work-Life Balance?

Staff members also need to be diligent about maintaining their own work-life balance.

When you become too stressed out, you may notice physical symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, or exhaustion. Being fatigued can lead to costly mistakes in your work life.

If you know that you’re becoming too stressed to work productively, a personal day may be in order. If that isn’t possible, consider simple stress-reducing techniques such as meditation, exercise, or reducing your caffeine intake. Your health should continue to be a priority if you want to be a productive employee.

Consider your schedule and cut out things that stress you out or no longer provide value. You may not need to volunteer for that local charity if you’re already giving your time somewhere else.

You’ll need time every day to detach from work and think about something else. You can garden, read, or take a yoga class. It also helps to maintain a healthy network of supportive friends who can encourage you in your personal journey.

The Importance of Work-Life Balance

If you feel as though work is beginning to take over your life, it’s important to consider the importance of work-life balance. With the right schedule and the right stress management, you could be working at your most productive in no time.

Don’t stop getting smart about your work and lifestyle now. For more great advice, read our blog today.