What is work-life balance?

Work-life balance is a state of equilibrium every modern-day worker strives for. It’s achieved when an
individual can equally prioritize the demands of their career and their personal life. It’s the satisfaction
resulting from the time, energy, and attention they contribute to their work and life. Some of the
common reasons that lead to a poor work-life balance include: Increased responsibilities at work,
Working longer hours. Increased responsibilities at home, Having children.

A good work-life balance, said Chris Chancey, career expert and CEO of Amplio Recruiting, has numerous
positive effects, including less stress, a lower risk of burnout and a greater sense of well-being. This not
only benefits employees but employers, too. When creating a schedule that works for you, think about
the best way to achieve balance at work and in your personal life. Chancey said that work-life balance is
less about dividing the hours in your day evenly between work and personal life and, instead, is more
about having the flexibility to get things done in your professional life while still having time and energy
to enjoy your personal life. There may be some days where you work longer hours so you have time
later in the week to enjoy other activities.

The importance of work-life balance

When employees achieve a work-life balance, the results can be seen in the form of higher productivity
levels, lower absenteeism, improved motivation levels, and an overall healthier state of mind and body.

A positive work environment makes employees more likely to stay loyal and work harder. The stress
levels are reduced, making them less likely to leave the organization. Higher employee engagement
levels will ultimately benefit the company’s revenue and overall profitability. Companies that care for
their employees’ well-being are recognized in the industry for their compassion. This, in turn, will attract
talented applicants who want to be a part of the culture.

Along with benefits at the workplace, work-life balance also allows employees to improve their personal
life and goals. You only get one life, so prioritize your relationships and personal goals as much as your
professional ones.

Causes of work-life imbalance

As stated above, if your work identity and true identity don’t match up in terms of values, interests, and
norms, an imbalance will occur. Since work-life balance includes only those two aspects of your life, an
imbalance can happen when one demands more time and energy than the other.

1. More responsibility at work

If you are given more responsibilities at work, you might have to spend more time at the office or even
bring your work home with you after you have already worked a full day.
After an event like a promotion, raise, or new project, people tend to focus on work and neglect their
personal life. Even when they have the time to partake in personal activities (cooking dinner, gardening,
cleaning their closet), they might feel unproductive because of the lack of recognition and monetary
reward.

2. More responsibility at home

On the other side of the divide, some people have more demanding lives at home. Depending on their
familial status, duties outside of work, and mental and physical health, people might have a hard time
working a full eight-hour day with other commitments in their personal life.

3. Being in denial about your work-life imbalance

Some people might think they don’t need a work-life balance. Perhaps they get all the satisfaction they
need from their job. Or maybe they’re looking at their job solely as a method for paying the bills. If this
is the case, the aspect they don’t care about likely needs more attention, evaluation, and adjusting.

Effects of work-life imbalance

If there is no harmony between your work and personal lives. Overcompensating for either aspect will
cause an internal battle that’ll make you feel distressed and unable to sustain your personal or
professional life.

1. Absenteeism and tardiness

Everyone will miss some work and events here and there, but those struggling with work-life imbalance
will be excessively absent. If work or family requires more time and attention, compromises must be
made. Even if they are physically present, mentally, people with work-life imbalance might be stressing
out over how they wish they could be in two places at once.

2. Loss of personal time

The constant battle between spending more time at work or with family is not only grueling but also a
huge time suck. While spending time at work and with loved ones is essential, people also need time to
be completely alone. When struggling between work and personal life, finding time to be alone is
challenging, which is when many people find it easiest to recharge.
3. Irritability

When someone is fighting work-life imbalance, they know it, and it bothers them. This can have a
significant effect on their mood and make them irritable. A comment from a family member about how
they spend too much time at work can have a more substantial impact on that person than they think.

4. Stress

Overall, the most significant adverse effect of work-life imbalance is stress, which can apply to
everything mentioned above. Stress can cause absenteeism, tardiness, loss of personal time, irritability,
and burnout. There are many mental and physical health problems associated with too much stress.
Physically, individuals struggling with anxiety can experience cardiovascular disease, a weakened
immune system, and highly stiff muscles. Mentally, stressed people can encounter poor coping
mechanisms, insecurity, and difficulty concentrating. Unfortunately, only so much can be done about
relieving these pains of work-life imbalance. Harmonizing work and life with an average 40-hour work
week are difficult. Overworking to excel is the new norm, making it that much harder.

76% of US workers report that workplace stress affects their personal relationships.

Global comparison of work-life balance

Based on the stat above, it can be concluded that citizens of the U.S. are overworked and stressed. But
how does it compare to other developed countries? The Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) studied work-life balance based on time devoted to leisure/personal care and the
number of employees working long hours. the quality of work-life balance in any nation is altered by
legislation, regulations, and, most importantly, workplace policies. The two biggest issues come down to
parental leave and paid time off. Here is the statistics of countries (picture).

Six ways to create a better work-life balance

1. Accept that there is no ‘perfect’ work-life balance.

When you hear “work-life balance,” you probably imagine having an extremely productive day at work,
and leaving early to spend the other half of the day with friends and family. While this may seem ideal, it
is not always possible. Don’t strive for the perfect schedule; strive for a realistic one. Some days, you
might focus more on work, while other days you might have more time and energy to pursue your
hobbies or spend time with your loved ones. Balance is achieved over time, not each day.

“It is important to remain fluid and constantly assess where you are [versus] your goals and priorities,”
said Heather Monahan, founder of the career mentoring group, #BossinHeels. “At times, your children
may need you, and other times, you may need to travel for work, but allowing yourself to remain open
to redirecting and assessing your needs on any day is key in finding balance.”
2. Find a job that you love.

Although work is an expected societal norm, your career shouldn’t be restraining. If you hate what you
do, you aren’t going to be happy, plain and simple. You don’t need to love every aspect of your job, but
it needs to be exciting enough that you don’t dread getting out of bed every morning. “If your job is
draining you, and you are finding it difficult to do the things you love outside of work, something is
wrong,” “You may be working in a toxic environment, for a toxic person, or doing a job that you truly
don’t love. If this is the case, it is time to find a new job.”

3. Prioritize your health.

Your overall physical, emotional and mental health should be your main concern. If you struggle with
anxiety or depression and think therapy would benefit you, fit those sessions into your schedule, even if
you have to leave work early or ditch your evening spin class. If you are battling a chronic illness, don’t
be afraid to call in sick on rough days. Overworking yourself prevents you from getting better, possibly
causing you to take more days off in the future. “Prioritizing your health first and foremost will make you
a better employee and person, You will miss less work, and when you are there, you will be happier and
more productive.”

Prioritizing your health doesn’t have to consist of radical or extreme activities. It can be as simple as
daily meditation or exercise.

4. Take a vacation.

Sometimes, truly unplugging means taking vacation time and shutting work completely off for a while.
it’s important to take time off to physically and mentally recharge.

According to the State of American Vacation 2018 study conducted by the U.S. Travel Association, 52%
of employees reported having unused vacation days left over at the end of the year. Employees are
often worried that taking time off will disrupt the workflow, and they will be met with a backlog of work
when they return. This fear should not restrict you from taking a much-needed break.

“The truth is, there is no nobility in not taking well-deserved time away from work; the benefits of taking
a day off far outweigh the downsides,” said Chancey. “With proper planning, you can take time away
without worrying about burdening your colleagues or contending with a huge workload when you
return.”

5. Make time for yourself and your loved ones.

While your job is important, it shouldn’t be your entire life. You were an individual before taking this
position, and you should prioritize the activities or hobbies that make you happy. Chancey said that
achieving work-life balance requires deliberate action.

“If you do not firmly plan for personal time, you will never have time to do other things outside of
work,” said Chancey. “No matter how hectic your schedule might be, you ultimately have control of your
time and life.”

When planning time with your loved ones, create a calendar for romantic and family dates. It may seem
weird to plan one-on-one time with someone you live with, but it will ensure that you spend quality
time with them without work-life conflict. Just because work keeps you busy doesn’t mean you should
neglect personal relationships.

“Realize that no one at your company is going to love you or appreciate you the way your loved ones
do,” said Monahan. “Also [remember] that everyone is replaceable at work, and no matter how
important you think your job is, the company will not miss a beat tomorrow if you are gone.”

6. Set boundaries and work hours.

Set boundaries for yourself and your colleagues, to avoid burnout. When you leave the office, avoid
thinking about upcoming projects or answering company emails. Consider having a separate computer
or phone for work, so you can shut it off when you clock out. If that isn’t possible, use separate
browsers, emails or filters for your work and personal platforms.

Additionally, Chancey recommended setting specific work hours. “Whether you work away from home
or at home, it is important to determine when you will work and when you will stop working; otherwise,
you might find yourself answering work-related emails late at night, during vacations or on weekends
off,” said Chancey.

Chancey advised notifying team members and your manager about boundaries beyond which you
cannot be accessible because you are engaged in personal activities. This will help to ensure that they
understand and respect your workplace limits and expectations.