Creating the perfect work-life balance is a great way to reduce your stress levels and increase productivity, both in the office and at home. Carole Spiers offers some handy hints for getting it right
What is a work-life balance?
Many people never truly leave their work; itโs often still in their heads when they arrive home. They find it very hard to switch off and check their mobile phones and laptops in the evening and at weekends. Sound familiar?
The phrase โwork-life balanceโ was first used in the UK in the late 1970s and represents the symmetry between the office and personal life of any individual. Without a proper division, over a long period there is a potential danger of stress burnout, with its associated effect on health and absence from work. This can be caused by either job or home and family-related factors, or both, and many employees experience difficulty trying to juggle the responsibilities of their role with those outside of the office.
By introducing and implementing a strategy, employers can help to reduce stress and increase efficiency in their workforce. This can lead to more motivated and loyal managers and staff with increased productivity and reduced sickness and absenteeism at all levels throughout the organisation. Taking responsibility for personal wellbeing is at the core of a healthy office culture and is known to increase team morale and employee satisfaction.
What constitutes a work-life balance?
Work-life balance is not about the amount of time you spend working versus not. It is more about how you allocate your time both at the office and at home, and recognising that what you do in one either depletes or fuels your energy for the other.
Why is there a need for this balance?
The body is a super-efficient machine that needs to be looked after with care. Too much prolonged stress can damage any individual both mentally and physically and they then cease to be effective at work or home. Symptoms may include anxiety, depression, headaches, general malaise and, ultimately, burnout. We all need to learn how to manage pressure before it becomes too much.
What affects your personal balance?
We live in a 24/7 society in which technology requires us to be available at all times. Our balance can be disrupted by email overload, too many meetings, conflicting demands, or unclear boundaries between home and work.
Consequences of a long-term imbalance
Increased stress levels are often the result of an imbalance in our lives and can result in a drop in performance and productivity, a lack of concentration and an inability to switch off and relax.
Benefits of a healthy balance
When we achieve an optimal work-life balance, we can work well under pressure and take an increased pride in our job and the organisation. Essentially, we enjoy coming to the office and are creative, motivated and inspired.
10 top tips to improve your personal work-life balance
โข Prioritise your day the previous evening
โข Manage meetings more effectively
โข Learn how to deal with interruptions
โข Discover the art of delegation
โข Manage email and information overload
โข Take a proper break during the day
โข Make quality time for family and friends
โข Learn to switch off and relax
โข Pay attention to exercise and diet
โข Look after your body better than your car
Creating a balance between work and home can be challenging when both of them demand your time and energy. It is important to stand back, take stock and learn ways to make positive changes to handling relationships, workloads and time constraints. Taking responsibility for your wellbeing will enable you to be more in control of each day.
Carole Spiers is CEO of the Carole Spiers Group, the UKโs leading stress management consultancy, and the best-selling author of Show Stress Whoโs Boss. To find out more, visit carolespiersgroup.co.uk.
