The cycle of Work - Life balance.

As we gradually transition to a post-pandemic environment, virtually all of us are facing increased stressors that impact the way we work. Financial constraints, mental health issues, and physical health are just some of the factors that can compete for our energy and attention. Because of this, leading with kindness and empathy is essential throughout this whole process.

With the necessity of social distancing, we’ve seen how coworking spaces have become more accessible for companies. A 2020 KPMG survey mentions how more than half of remote workers want the flexibility to continue working remotely on at least a part-time basis. However, 54% of on-site workers indicated that their mental health has decreased, along with 45% percent of remote workers since the onset of the pandemic. This demonstrates how additional employer support and workplace resources are needed to boost employee health. 

What employers often fail to take into account is how physical and mental health often go hand-in-hand. Productivity will suffer if a person lacks motivation, has an increased workload, and is struggling with pandemic-related impacts. If this is left unaddressed or untreated, this can lead to decreased morale and a significant drop in the quality of work. 

Although it’s easy to prescribe nutritious food, a healthy sleep schedule, exercise, and meditation as tried and tested methods to improve mental health, this is often much easier said than done. These days, employers need to take the initiative to lighten the increasing workload for employees, seeing as the pandemic has increased the average workday by 3 hours. Unfortunately, this has made the possibility of achieving a healthy work-life balance exceedingly slim. 

Pushing your employees to meet rising expectations and quotas in light of the pandemic will only lead to additional stress and burnout. On the other hand, keeping home and work life separate can help unload some of this pressure. For many who work from home, an unstable internet connection, noisy neighbors, or the demands of family life can make it difficult to focus on their tasks. 

The ideal solution would be to enable employees to create either physical or mental distance from where you work and where you live. Some recommendations for employers include reducing the length and frequency of meetings, renting out a regularly sanitized workspace, and accommodating individual work schedules depending on unique employee needs. 

Beyond this, paying extra attention to any signs of burnout is essential. Over digital platforms, it can be even harder to tell whether someone is feeling exhausted or demotivated. Leaders should help people understand that having personal anxieties that impact the quality of work is normal and acceptable, especially in these challenging circumstances. 

As we continue to navigate a post-pandemic future, we should all look towards long-term strategies and changes that promote relief from work-related fatigue. Making a commitment to secure both the mental and physical health of employees is essential to creating a positive and sustainable working environment.