Written by Deepti Aswal | Reviewed By John Victor | Updated On December 7, 2022
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When asked what work-life balance is, most people reply with- “equilibrium between personal and professional aspects of one’s life” or something along similar lines; they explain it as devoting an equal amount of time and effort towards their work and personal life.
However, the notion of ‘equal balance’ originated in a time before the internet, when people would go out to work and, after working for a set amount of time, would return home. There was no concept of work-from-home or freelancing, as there is today; the boundaries between personal and professional life have become blurred. As such, we need to redefine what Work-Life Balance is, for its understanding is more imperative than ever.
So let’s finally come down to what work-life balance is. I won’t be providing a technical definition- as I’ve mentioned above, the definition differs for each of us.
Work-life balance today is not just about the equilibrium between personal and professional aspects of one’s life. As a number of psychologists have asserted, now, when we can check our emails or take work calls while having dinner, when work from home has become the norm, defining Work-life balance has more to do with ACHIEVEMENT & ENJOYMENT.
Achievement basically refers to accomplishing your goals. Setting out to fulfill whatever plans you had set up for yourself, be it getting a promotion, getting married, etc. on the other hand-
Enjoyment can mean different things for different people. It can be happiness, satisfaction, stability, etc.
Both these concepts must apply to your personal as well as professional activities. You can enjoy your work (e.g., you have a great time working with your colleagues, or you really like the project), and you can achieve things in your personal life. (e.g., finishing your to-do list for the day).
We begin by clearing some misconceptions regarding Work-Life Balance and determining what it isn’t before discussing it.
You cannot possibly dedicate an equal amount of time to both your personal and professional activities. Imagine studying for 2 hours and then taking a break for 2 hours- it is unrealistic to do so. Hence, we need to remember that it’s not just the quantity but the quality that matters too. Suppose you dedicate 1 hour each- daily- to watching TV and studying. Now, it is completely okay if you increase your study time when you have an exam; or increase TV time to unwind after your exams are over. Thus, it is not about how much time you dedicate to each activity but more about how you spend the given amount of time.
Each one of us is unique. We all have different circumstances, priorities, and needs. So, what might seem the right balance for me may not be so for others. You alone can determine what a balance between personal and professional is to you. Consider the following example. I use exercise as a way to unwind, so I need to spend at least 30 min daily going for a run. However, you view exercise as necessary and would rather go for a walk only every other day. So, my work-Life Balance- consisting of a 30 min daily run- isn’t suited for you, who doesn’t even like exercising.
How you define Work-Life Balance keeps changing as you move through different stages of life. In fact, it may even vary on a day-to-day basis. This happens because your priorities and your goals might change. It is important to keep this in mind: what may work today might not be right tomorrow. For instance, you met with your childhood friends yesterday; focused on spending as much time with them as possible; you didn’t study at all. That was yesterday. But tomorrow, you need to submit an assignment, which is still incomplete. So, it would be best if you made that a priority, no matter how much you want to watch a movie. When you were a school student, Work-Life Balance achieved a balance between your studies, friends, and family. But as you enter college, you need to make time for an internship, in addition to the priorities mentioned above.
Now, I would like to highlight just how important having a Work-Life Balance is-
A study at UCL revealed that office workers who consistently worked overtime are at 60% higher risk of developing heart-related problems than those who don’t. Having a work-life balance reduces stress, and allows us time to work on our physical health.
When we feel balanced, we feel more capable of dealing effectively with negative emotions and thoughts and are better equipped to solve problems. A better work-life balance also decreases the risk of burnout.
Being balanced involves being in control of your life; this leads us to feel good about ourselves.
When people feel balanced, they are more likely to engage with the task at hand and be present in the moment.
A work-life balance allows you to think more clearly, and creatively, and enjoy your work better.
Greater success
By being in control of your own life, and focusing on your priorities, you can achieve success on your own terms.
Some key points are crucial when it comes to achieving and maintaining a balance between work and life.
Each person has their own unique blend of what matters the most to them. Until you decide that, how would you realize what direction you need to move in? The first step, thus, is to decide what’s most important to you- what activities, what goals, and what people you want to focus on.
It is important to make goals that you can work upon and then build your way up there. For instance, it’s probably the wrong idea to go from zero to 60 minutes of exercise right from Day 1. It’s better to start by 15- 20 minutes and then slowly increase your duration. Doing the latter decreases the likelihood of you losing motivation, performing poorly, and just giving up the task altogether.
As difficult as it may sound, it might be best for you to turn off your e-mail/text notifications when you’re spending time with your family. But setting boundaries allows you to spend quality time & effort on your priorities. Research shows adhering to such boundaries builds resilience in people and provides them with a greater sense of control in their lives.
Sometimes, even if we plan or schedule ahead and are determined to carry it through, we fail to do so. A huge factor here is the time and energy we waste on meaningless things, which hinders us from focusing on our priorities. By telling you to stop wasting time and energy, I mean to cut down on hours spent mindlessly scrolling through social media, politely excusing yourself from gossiping with people, and so on.
While trying to juggle our personal and professional, we often forget to prioritize self-compassion and self-care. Your relationship with yourself is perhaps the most important in your life, and so, you must make yourself a priority too. Exercising, meditating, pampering yourself, and spending time with loved ones- are very important for your health, and your productivity, and of course, they also improve your relationships with others.
When we start seeing our work as separate from the rest of our lives, we feel guilty for choosing it over other things. But that need not be the case. Your life has many components- yourself, your work, friends, family, children, etc.- and each of these holds special meaning to you. They all are equally deserving of your time and efforts. As such, there will come times when one aspect takes precedence over the other- it's completely okay if you spend less time with your friends because you have a work deadline or to not worry about college and assignments when on a trip. What is crucial is not to mistake procrastination for enjoying the moment.
Contrary to what you might think, you don’t have to handle everything on your own, no matter how efficient you may be. Other people in your life are ready to help you. Sometimes you can let others handle some responsibilities and offer them a chance to grow. Divide household chores among your family members. Delegate your tasks to your subordinates. Ask for inputs/ guidance from superiors and colleagues. Sharing your work while reducing your burden will also foster better relations at work and home.
Now, I’m not asserting that just following these steps will solve all your problems. But they will go a long way in helping you balance your life better, and thus, enjoy it better.
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