Work-life balance strategies for the coming year
If implementing work-life balance strategies is one of your resolutions for the new year, this is for you. Understand questions like “what is work-life balance?” and discover tips that will change your life.
While many of us saw a slow-down in over-extending ourselves socially in 2020 and 2021, our work output hasn’t quite been the same. Once upon a time, working from home may have been synonymous with hardly working, but the pandemic has turned this on its head completely.
A recent study found that those who work from home do an average of 6 hours of overtime, compared to just 3.6 hours of overtime for those who don’t. And it’s no wonder why. When your laptop is within easy reach, answering those emails or finishing that project after dinner is all too tempting.
The short-term pay off may be satisfying, but overextending ourselves isn’t healthy. That’s where the importance of work-life balance, and work-life balance strategies, comes in.
What is work-life balance, really?
The amount of work that feels manageable will feel different to each and every one of us, but generally speaking ‘work-life balance’ or ‘WLB’ as some refer to it, simply means feeling at peace with the amount of work you are doing, and the amount of time you are able to commit to family, friends, self-care and other personal pursuits outside of work.
When your work-life balance, or WLB, is out of whack, you may feel fatigued, stressed, or simply not quite right, depending on the severity of the situation.
Work-life balance strategies: Our top tips
1. Learn to say “ no”
Many will tell you that the key to success is being a “yes” person. However, saying “yes” to every single task and every opportunity that comes your way is a recipe for burnout .
On the flip side, learning how to say “no” in a way that feels comfortable to you can mean greater work-life balance.
If you’re one to over-commit, a work-life balance strategy you can implement right away is counting to 10 before agreeing to something you will later regret.
2. Work to your body clock
Work-life balance is heavily tied to time management. Many people spend 10 hours at their desk doing tasks that could have taken 6, purely due to sluggishness, lack of motivation, or distraction.
Alternatively, if you can work during the times you feel at your most naturally energetic, you can ensure you’re maximising output, without sitting on your laptop longer than you need to.
Are you an early bird? Log on before breakfast to get a few things done instead of facing a long and torturous afternoon with no energy. You’ll be able to log off early and enjoy a walk.
More of a night owl? If it’s OK with your workplace, shift your working hours to be more PM based so that you can get more of a recharge in the morning before you work into the night.
If you’re still working from home, this is a simple work-life balance strategy that you can start right away.
3. Choose a ‘no-meeting’ day
There’s no-one who holds the key to a balanced life more than you do! So, while you may feel that your inbox is flooded with meeting invites before the week has even begun, you are the decision-maker – the person who holds the mouse and clicks ‘Attending’ (or ‘Not Attending’ for that matter).
Declining meetings every day isn’t feasible. But choosing one day a week that you can communicate to your colleagues as your ‘no meeting day’ is. Perhaps it’s ‘No Meeting Monday’ or ‘No Meeting Wednesday’. Choose one and stick to it as part of your work-life balance strategy. You’ll feel better for it.
4. Block out your breaks
When a meeting pops up in your calendar, what do you do? You show up. Which is precisely what you need to do for yourself!
By scheduling in recurring lunch, dinner, coffee and even exercise breaks, you can rest (or work!) easy knowing that a slice of time that’s just for you isn’t too far off. Better yet, you’ll never have to face a day without a lunchbreak again.
5. Look at the big picture
For many of us, being unable to attend a meeting here, or having to cut back on your commitment to a project there, isn’t going to be the be all and end all of your career. Particularly if you’re communicating your work-life balance needs with your manager.
If you find your anxiety rising at the thought of being less attached to your work laptop, take a moment to look at the big picture. Think about what really matters in life. That may be your kids, your health, a passion project, or your connection to friends.
The benefits of work-life balance
The benefits of work-life balance are clear for both employees and employers alike.
Better work-life balance strategies for employees can result in:
- Better mood, including feelings of happiness and fulfilment
- Less resentment towards your employer due to lack of WLB
- Longevity in the one workplace, as opposed to hopping between employees that burn you out
- Improved health and wellness – given newfound time to exercise and eat well
For employers, greater work-life balance strategies can result in:
- Less turnover of staff / a greater retention rate
- A better perception of you as an employer
- Positive word of mouth for your business
- Greater motivation and productivity from staff who are enjoying a more even WLB
With so many benefits of work-life balance , why not make carving out healthier habits part of your strategy for 2022?
