Better Work Life Balance

I have been blessed to always have worked for a company that advocates a healthy work life balance. For many of us, work occupies a significant portion of our lives. It’s often tied to our identity and self-worth. A bad work life characterized by long hours, lack of job satisfaction, and working from home after the office is closed can have severe repercussions on many aspects of our lives. In this article I want to explore the downsides of a bad work life balance, discuss the detrimental effects on health, relationships (work and home), and offer tips that have worked for me.

Health Issues:

Its a well known medical fact that long hours and excessive workload contribute to conditions like anxiety, depression, and burnout. High-stress levels have been linked to cardiovascular diseases, weakened immune system, and disturbed sleep patterns. Moreover, the sedentary nature of many jobs (especially post COVID), coupled with the stress, can lead to obesity and related health issues.

Strained Relationships:

Bad work life will spills over into personal relationships. When work demands consume our time and energy, we tend to neglect our loved ones. Stress and frustration from work can make you irritable and short-tempered. can lead to conflicts at home. Additionally, the lack of work-life balance cause feelings of neglect and resentment towards your job.

Decreased Productivity:

Ironically, work environments that demand long hours and sacrifices from employees often leads to decreased productivity. Overworked and stressed employees are more prone to errors and lack the creativity and innovation. Moreover, employees who are assigned work that can extend past office hours can be a deterrent to new employees.

Tips to Improve Your Work Life Balance

There are many ways to achieve a good work life balance and you may have your own. For me, these have always worked:

Set Boundaries:

Its important to decide when you are done with work. Set that time. Everyday, I write down what time I will stop working. When that time arrives, I shut down "work" mode. Doing so defines my day, and in fact has made me more productive.

Delegate Tasks:

If you have have managers reporting to you, DELEGATE! You cannot attend every meeting. Nor does every decision have to be made by you. Often times, my managers have the best solution in mind for most problems. If you are in senior management, focus on big picture items that will have a global impact on your department/organization.

Value Your Time:

This may sound easy but its quite difficult. For example, you may start by calculating your hourly pay and ask yourself, "would I pay someone this much to do X". For me, value was found in collaborating with my teams on products, services, and projects that can either generate revenue or reduce costs. These conversations aim to improve customer experience, employee engagement, and helps focus my day.

Schedule a Meeting:

If your calendar is anything like mine, its filled with meetings. While many of the meetings are important, may I suggest blocking out 20-30 minutes a day on your calendar yourself. Take that time to stretch, go for a walk, or read. For me, its a hard reset that allows me to gauge where I am in my day and prioritize the remainder.

Pay it Forward:

Remember that your employees have personal lives too. For example, I try not to schedule meetings late in the afternoon (after 4 pm). If you have staff that are working 12-14 hours a day or more, it should be a concern. Evaluate the workload, create a solution, and monitor.

Working 60-70 hours a week is not sustainable over the long run. Over time, spending too much time will lead to burn out and stress. Its important to find balance and happiness in what you do.