work-Life Balance

Today's working world poses many challenges for employees. While some careers allow a relaxed relationship between work and private life, many others demand a significant reduction in the area of leisure and family.

Work-life balance is the lack of opposition between work and other life roles. It is the state of equilibrium in which demands of personal life, professional life, and family life are equal.

Work-life balance encourages employees to divide their time on the basis of priorities, and maintain a balance by devoting time to family, health, vacations, etc. It is an important concept in the world of business as it helps to motivate the employees and increase their loyalty towards the company.

Studies from London Hazards Centre indicate that work today is more intense than it was a decade ago, creating a need for a balance between work and life. Experiencing being overworked, long working hours and an extreme work environment has proven to affect the overall physical and psychological health of employees, and deteriorating family life. 

The issue of work-life balance seems to be more important to millennials than it is for older workers. And for organizations hiring this group, having policies in place which makes this balance possible is key to keeping them employed longer and happier.

A healthy attitude towards the work-life begins with the employer. The employer must view themselves not as the highest authority in the life of the employees, but rather as a reliable companion that encourages a healthy lifestyle.

Work-life balance can be achieved through the following;

Effective Time Management

Time management is the process of planning and exercising control of time spent on specific activities, especially to increase effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity. Time management is enhanced through appropriate goals and discerning what is both important and urgent, versus important or urgent. Effective time management can be achieved by; making to-do list in the evening for the next day, setting goals, spending most productive hours on most important tasks, eliminating bad habits, and auditing ones time frequently.

Stress Management

By nature, society tends to be more complex over time. In the face of increasing complexity, stress on employees is inevitable. Distractions and noise require each of us to become adept at maintaining tranquility and working ourselves out of pressure-filled situations. Most form of multitasking ultimately increases stress, as against focusing on one task at a time.

Leverage on Technology

Advancements in technology are also making the workplace more efficient. From time-saving apps to digital storage options that help reduce clutter, workplaces are adapting in ways that let employees make better use of their time. Many everyday tasks are being automated, leading to increased efficiency that allows us to work smarter and focus attention on the most important aspects of work while getting rid of redundancies and wasted effort. And with better efficiency comes more time to devote to personal projects, vacation, friends, and family.

Recreation

Recreation is an important activity that rejuvenates our senses and makes us feel light. Recreation activity is an excellent medicine for ailments which cannot be cured by any other method. It is a natural way to stay fit and healthy in life. It helps enhance the quality of life by building a positive self-image.

Striking the perfect balance between career and family results in fulfillment, great productivity, and strong relationships. Companies who gain a high reputation for encouraging work-life balance have become very attractive to workers and tend to have a high retention rate.