Importance of a work-life balance

Achieving a work-life balance is the new ideal for employees, because an imbalanced life results in stress and fatigue, loss of control and even strained relationships. You may feel exhausted and resentful, and there seems to be so much to do, yet so little time to attend to every single task on your 'to-do' list.

In this article we provide useful tips and advice to take in order to maintain a work-life balance.

Why a good work-life balance matters

Organisations need to realise that the concept of work-life balance is not simply a mission statement on the corporate brochure. There may be a need to reengineer work processes to accommodate both work and personal demands. As an employee, you need to understand the impact an imbalanced lifestyle could have on you and your career.

Restoring the balance

If you try to do more than one task at the same time, you may make errors and overload yourself. Long periods of continual multi-tasking often lead to stress, and can damage your physical and emotional health over time.

Learn to prioritise

Instead of trying to do everything at once and jumping back and forth from one task to another, learn to prioritise and work on the more important tasks first, spreading the rest of the work over a manageable timeline. Start off by making full use of the leave that you have. Taking time off helps you recharge so you are prepared for further challenges at work.

Step out for lunch

Lunchtime is the perfect opportunity to get a break from work, yet many people end up working during their lunch hour. When you do that, you also miss out on a chance to socialise and relax. The more you feel time-squeezed and weighed down by work, the more you should step away from your desk and enjoy the company of your friends and colleagues. This may be hard to do at first, but you should soon feel the benefits.

Leave work on time

There may be days when you have to work late or are asked to do overtime, but try not to get into the habit of staying late for the sake of it. Don’t feel that you won’t be taken seriously if you leave work on time. Try and prioritise your tasks so you don’t have to rush to get them finished before you leave.

As an employee, you need to understand the impact an imbalanced lifestyle could have on you and your career

Maintaining that balance

It may not be easy to achieve a work-life balance these days, as people are constantly pushed to work faster to cope with an increasing workload. Do not be discouraged however; there are little steps that can be taken to keep your life on the right track. An increasing number of employers are recognising that an imbalanced lifestyle can ultimately affect their employees’ job satisfaction level, productivity and work performance, and that isn’t a good outcome for anyone.