Whether we work for someone else or for ourselves, maintaining a healthy work-life balance should be a no-brainer. Is it though? (Global media company) Forbes hints that the term is a buzz, largely created by millennials. According to Forbes ‘work-life balance is an important aspect of a healthy work environment’ - fair call. Then there is another perspective (as with everything) - healthdirect.gov.au looking at it from the ‘life’ angle as ‘having harmony between the different aspects of your life’. Perhaps the ‘workaholic’ could take a leaf out of the millennial’s book, don’t you think? The more matured I become, I value a healthy harmony in my life much more. Sometimes easier said than done, however, awareness is a step in the right direction. Working too much can be like, say, having an extremely unhealthy eating practice. It’s always beneficial to do things in moderation rather than overdoing something to the point of ‘burnout’. I myself paid a hefty price for an unhealthy work/life balance at some point years ago. Working close to if not more than 18 hours a day on a big publishing project drove me straight to burn-out! Needless to say, I definitely do not want to go down that track again. My health suffered; I had little time for my family; hardly time for fitness regimes; exhausted all the time, to the point of falling asleep behind the wheel.
It is absolutely timely and fabulous that changes are being implemented on a global scale, in order to improve the culture of work-life balance. We still have a way to go, but baby steps are steps in the right direction, too. Did you know that, according to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), the top 3 (of 10) countries with the best work-life balance are Netherlands, Denmark and France? AND then of course there are the 10 worst countries! Would you believe that Australia, USA and New Zealand are ranked 8, 9 and 10th amongst the latter?
"Having a healthy work-life balance is so desirable that many companies and organizations are now going out of their way to support it and show how they can help improve it. If you ask most people, this is the key to a happy life. Maintain a healthy work-life balance with the following suggestions.
I. IDEAS FROM ME
Don’t Do More Than Expected
It might look good to your boss, but the only thing you are setting yourself up for is less personal time. Your boss will only start to expect this level of work. Be clear about expectations and only deliver precisely that.
Practice Saying “No” More
In other words, you must set boundaries. If you are already meeting expectations, say no unless you are looking for a promotion. However, keep in mind what you are sacrificing to get there. A healthy work-life balance doesn’t always mean your time will be shared equally; it all depends on how you feel.
Change Your Should-dos To Must-Dos
Often things like working out or eating healthy are things people classify as should-do, unlike your job or paying bills. However, you can easily change this mindset. Instead of saying, “I should be eating healthy,” tell yourself you must live a long life. Like you can’t skip work forever and still pay your bills. If you keep eating lousy food ten years from now, you won’t be able to get that time back.
Find A Job You Love
As the common phrase goes, “…if you do what you love, you won’t have to work anymore.” Thinking about it this way is one of the best ways to establish an outstanding work-life balance.
Don’t Expect Perfection
Every job will require creativity, compromise, and adjustments to establish the right work-life balance for you. You must be realistic and adjust depending on your goals. For example, if your career goal is to work for a Fortune 500 company, you will likely have to give up more of your free time to attend to business.
However, just because you give more time at work doesn’t mean you won’t feel like you have a good balance. Always take advantage of your free time, take small breaks, or integrate some of your personal life with business.
For example, going to coffee and lunch with your friends during breaks or asking to bring your spouse or kids to workdays. On the other hand, maybe working more is what makes you the happiest. In the end, a healthy work-life balance is all perspective.
Each person will provide a different answer. If you feel happy, fulfilled, and not overwhelmed, you are likely on the right path.
II. QUOTES FROM OTHERS
“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”
Source: wikipedia.com/pinterest
III. QUESTIONS FOR YOU
What do you think of when you’re falling asleep at night?
Do you enjoy the majority of your work?
How is your physical health?
Until next week,
Ruth and
The team at Life in Balance Careers
Ask about how you can become a Performance Consultant at Life in Balance Careers. support@lifeinbalancecareers.com
P.S.
You are amazing!
It is absolutely timely and fabulous that changes are being implemented on a global scale, in order to improve the culture of work-life balance. We still have a way to go, but baby steps are steps in the right direction, too. Did you know that, according to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), the top 3 (of 10) countries with the best work-life balance are Netherlands, Denmark and France? AND then of course there are the 10 worst countries! Would you believe that Australia, USA and New Zealand are ranked 8, 9 and 10th amongst the latter?
"Having a healthy work-life balance is so desirable that many companies and organizations are now going out of their way to support it and show how they can help improve it. If you ask most people, this is the key to a happy life. Maintain a healthy work-life balance with the following suggestions.
I. IDEAS FROM ME
Don’t Do More Than Expected
It might look good to your boss, but the only thing you are setting yourself up for is less personal time. Your boss will only start to expect this level of work. Be clear about expectations and only deliver precisely that.
Practice Saying “No” More
In other words, you must set boundaries. If you are already meeting expectations, say no unless you are looking for a promotion. However, keep in mind what you are sacrificing to get there. A healthy work-life balance doesn’t always mean your time will be shared equally; it all depends on how you feel.
Change Your Should-dos To Must-Dos
Often things like working out or eating healthy are things people classify as should-do, unlike your job or paying bills. However, you can easily change this mindset. Instead of saying, “I should be eating healthy,” tell yourself you must live a long life. Like you can’t skip work forever and still pay your bills. If you keep eating lousy food ten years from now, you won’t be able to get that time back.
Find A Job You Love
As the common phrase goes, “…if you do what you love, you won’t have to work anymore.” Thinking about it this way is one of the best ways to establish an outstanding work-life balance.
Don’t Expect Perfection
Every job will require creativity, compromise, and adjustments to establish the right work-life balance for you. You must be realistic and adjust depending on your goals. For example, if your career goal is to work for a Fortune 500 company, you will likely have to give up more of your free time to attend to business.
However, just because you give more time at work doesn’t mean you won’t feel like you have a good balance. Always take advantage of your free time, take small breaks, or integrate some of your personal life with business.
For example, going to coffee and lunch with your friends during breaks or asking to bring your spouse or kids to workdays. On the other hand, maybe working more is what makes you the happiest. In the end, a healthy work-life balance is all perspective.
Each person will provide a different answer. If you feel happy, fulfilled, and not overwhelmed, you are likely on the right path.
II. QUOTES FROM OTHERS
“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”
- Stephen Richards Covey was an American educator, author, businessman, and keynote speaker. His most popular book is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
- Stephen Gillett is an American businessman, entrepreneur and technology leader. He is currently the Chief Operations Officer at Verily, formerly Google Life Sciences. He was chief executive officer of Chronicle Security, an Alphabet company born out of X, the moonshot factory and founded in 2016
Source: wikipedia.com/pinterest
III. QUESTIONS FOR YOU
What do you think of when you’re falling asleep at night?
Do you enjoy the majority of your work?
How is your physical health?
Until next week,
Ruth and
The team at Life in Balance Careers
Ask about how you can become a Performance Consultant at Life in Balance Careers. support@lifeinbalancecareers.com
P.S.
You are amazing!
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