The work environment is becoming more competitive and demanding every day. Companies have increased their focus on the quality of their products and services, also increasing the expectations and responsibilities of their employees. As a result, now it is not at all strange to see people who work too much and for whom their personal life is based only on work.
The harmonization of the two major spheres of our lives which are work and personal life can be a source of conflicting schedules and roles. However, it is essential to find a balance between the two, otherwise, you risk leaving part of your physical and mental health.
Definition and meaning of work-life balance
Balancing the two aspects - professional and personal - does not necessarily mean dividing the hours to be dedicated to one and the other activity equally, also because it would be an unrealistic and rather inefficient goal.
Each person, depending on age, needs, and family situation, will have a balance that he deems correct, while for the colleague it may be inadequate. work-life balance
Likewise, the idea of work-life balance can also vary from day to day or according to the times of the year. Each individual has different life priorities and for this reason, it is recommended that companies take a more personal approach when planning initiatives to improve work-home balance.
At the heart of the meaning of work-life balance, there are undoubtedly two key elements: the satisfaction given by the work done and the achievement of objectives and work and personal well-being. It is difficult to achieve balance if you lack the gratification or happiness of doing what you do, these elements support each other and are positively contagious.
The main reasons why you should find a work-life balance are:
- You feel overwhelmed and overworked
- You want to spend more quality time with a partner / with your children
- Long commutes from home to work cause you to waste too much time a day
- You neglect friends / social commitments
- Find yourself working from home in the evenings or on weekends
How to achieve work-life balance:
As in all things, there are strategies and measures to maintain a healthy balance between private life and work. Here are some tips to preserve your free time and health, while remaining productive and efficient at work:
Clarify your priorities
It all starts by putting our priorities in order in life. On that, there is no one-size-fits-all template that works for everyone.
For example, it is possible that if you devote more time to advancing your career, you will become happier. So, even if your time and energy are largely invested in your work rather than your personal life, it is a choice that might be suitable for you at this particular time in your life.
However, this is a concern when what happens in your life is not consistent with your values and priorities.
For example, having a good time with your family is very important to you. If in your everyday life you spend very little time with your loved ones because of work, then there is a problem.
If you feel like you don't have enough time for yourself, and/or those you love, then you need to improve your work/life balance.
Be careful here, to be honest with yourself when describing your values and priorities. For example, don't lie to yourself that you are happy to work all day, and spend very little time with your family if you are not.
Manage your time
Many people work overtime as they neglect time management. You are able to quickly draw up a to-do list of tasks to be unmarked, but when it comes to bullet points dedicated to personal care they are often overlooked.
If you want to better manage your work-life balance, you need to dedicate time to work and yourself. Tip: stop multitasking! Develop a project and carry it out and finish it qualitatively and only after finishing it, focus on the next.
Set the boundaries
Establishing and maintaining the boundaries of work-life balance can be a daunting task, especially for people early in their careers. It is important, however, to set your limits early and respect them. for example, avoiding taking the computer to bed or answering a business call at the table or during family time. It is important, especially with your employer, to define precise boundaries to clarify your availability in an absolutely transparent way. Let everyone know that emails won't be answered over the weekend or beyond a certain time.
If your job requires you to be available for emergencies, assign a colleague to call you only if there is a problem that really can't wait until the next business day. If it's not urgent, absolutely not!
Learn to say no
This tip is closely related to the previous one. We face a lot of demands that draw on our time and our attention, both in our professional and personal life. We are all guilty of saying yes when we really want to say no. Whether it's the desire to please, the fear of hurting someone, duty, or even the need for power. Saying yes can lead us to overwork and take on more things than we can handle.
To be able to focus on what is really important to us, we need to stop spending time doing unimportant activities. There will always be pressure from others to do this and that, and you must learn to say no to low-priority tasks. Differentiating what is important to you and what is important to others is crucial.