The concept of Work-Life Balance didn’t really come into picture until the 1990’s. This was mainly because of the increase in the number of working women around the world. Today however we hear people across all industries – and genders – voicing the need for work-life balance.
What really is work-life balance? This term means maintaining the prioritization between Work and Lifestyle. Work is mainly your career, ambition and Lifestyle constitutes of health, family, leisure and pleasure.
So what’s the Myth?
It is commonly believed that this balance can be achieved by working a fixed number of hours. A number of laws have been implemented around the world to limit the hours for the benefit of the employees.
Granted, working hours is a major factor in work life balance. However this separation between work and lifestyle isn’t everything. If you work 60% of your day, do you really think the remaining 40% is enough time for maintain your health, spare time for your family, follow your passion as well as indulge in leisure activities?
The Reality.
The reality is this; work-life balance cannot be achieved through the separation of both. They should instead be incorporated into each other and thus maintained. This is precisely why counting hours isn’t going to work. Obama is said to be the role model for the way he maintains his work-life balance e.g. he makes sure to take along his family on official foreign work visits.
So if you can’t separate this, then how can this balance be achieved? Here’s how;
- Make your passion your work.
Enjoy cooking? Become a Chef. Love travelling? Work on a Cruise Line. Hobbies and passions are different, but passion and work can be the same. Work within what you are passionate about so you start enjoying it.
- Understand your priorities.
Is it your career? Would you rather settle and spend time with family? Your priorities will change throughout your life, and as they do you need to recognize them so you can work accordingly. Today where freelancing, work from home, interim and part time jobs are common, maintaining work-life balance is all the more easy.
- Understand your needs.
Never neglect yourself. Make sure you eat, sleep and rest enough. Be comfortable and careful at your workplace so as to avoid any work related injuries. Do not work when you’re unwell or exert yourself. Also, do not sacrifice your personal times for the expense of your friends or families unless extremely important. Work-life balance is about health first.
- Understand time and schedules
We aren’t speaking of work schedules but post work activities. We need 6 hours of sleep so try not exceeding that so as to gain more time and stay healthy. Decide on yoga or gymming sessions hourly every day so you remain fit. Join some hobby classes or courses so you remain productive. Work by schedules not be robotic but to manage Time better.