Work Life Balance

One of the major issues plaguing human potential in the corporate world today is work-life balance. The term itself diminishes our ability to make the case that work can be a richly rewarding part of a person's life and should in many ways be personal- Matthew Kelly, Off Balance.

The imposition of a nationwide lockdown on the 25th of March, 2020 made one hope to have more free time than usual, if not an abundance of it. And it was reasonable. Why would anyone even think of working when the whole world was scuffling with a virus that spreads faster than wildfire? So some people did have more free time. However, these were few and few do not represent the world, right? Most of the masses found to be overburdened with work on one end and the constant fear of the virus on the other. Technology is a game changer. Its development has ensured we that we are not required to leave our houses to have fun anymore. But everything has its pros and cons. And technology is no exception to this universal law. It has also enabled everyone to work from anywhere in the world. To think about it, our entire lives revolve around our work even during a global pandemic. The seesaw of work life balance tends to bend gravely towards ‘work’ and ‘life’ gets overlooked. The very thought of relaxing after a hard day’s work seems to make one guilty because the work day may never end. Our work has crept its way into our free time, our hobbies and also our relationships. In fact, our daily choices too are made keeping in mind our work. On top of it, we are constantly hooked to our phones and laptops. And the scary thing is that there is no end to it.

While the perpetual demands of our obligations can act as a motivating factor to an extent, we need to be careful that we do not let them affect our lives. I mean think about the situation in Japan. People are working so much they are losing their lives literally due to overworking. And it not restricted to one country or continent. It is widespread. A study conducted by UCL of more than 10,000 participants stated that white-collar workers who worked three or more hours longer than required had a sixty percent higher risk of heart attacks than those who didn’t work overtime.

From an economic point of view, it is great that people are taking their work seriously but if it comes at a cost then what really is the point of it? And that too at a cost as severe as a human being’s life? Work is supposed to help us lead better lives. But we are living our lives in order to work. At least that is what the impression you get when you see a twenty something grabbing a laptop bag in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other while running to catch a cab to the office.

All of the above might make you think I am saying the idea of work itself is a negative one and one which brings us stress. That is not at all the case. Let me be a bit clear here. There is nothing wrong with working hard. In fact, hard work is a prerequisite to living a great life. Work gives us a meaning in life, something to strive for and excel at. It only has a negative effect when we have too much of it. Too much of anything is bad, even something as noble as work. If we could have a proper distinction between our work and our lives it would be beneficial to both ourselves and our employers. Studies have shown that allowing employees to relax even at work, for a limited period of time of course, can have a positive impact on employee motivation and productivity. Besides, if people do not get enough time to go out and pursue their interests then their salary will not motivate them much as they find themselves without any time to spend it on. Our work should be a part of our life and not the other way round.

 From a business point of view, companies which encourage work life balance are considered to be attractive by employees. The Oxford Economic suggests, “Replacing an employee costs on average around ￡30,000 and it takes up to 28 weeks to get them up to speed.” Bearing this in mind, it might be a good idea to keep your existing employees happy. While working for a big company is bound to be stressful at times, it is of utmost importance to keep the stress in check.

When one does the things one loves in one’s free time, it can improve the mental health of a person. That, in turn makes improves one’s productivity at work. Everything is related. Work affects personal life and vice versa. So even if you are the hardest worker in the room, take a moment to reflect. Understand that there is more much which life has to offer than just work. Work hard. Be excellent at your job. Put your heart and soul into it. Get into the flow of work. But don’t forget to relax. Let your work complement your life and let your life make you work harder. At the end of the day, it comes down to happiness. And for most of us, we are going to find it outside of work. Until you find yourself doing what you love as your job, it is a practical idea to ensure a proper work life balance.