All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
As productive members of society, we often find ourselves multitasking. Work, emails, kids, school, cooking, cleaning, groceries, bills – it’s a never-ending to-do list. Sometimes, it can be a challenge to keep all those balls in the air.
That’s why it’s crucial to find that equilibrium between work and your home life.
We all know the importance of a work-life balance when it comes to your personal and social life. After a long day of work, you’ve got to kick back and relax, spend time with your family, be by yourself, enjoy your hobbies, or cook a meal. It helps rejuvenate us for another day.
Did you know that work-life balance can also have a positive impact on your role as an employee?
The Dangers of Work-Life Imbalance
Without a healthy work-life balance, it’s easy to slip into a state of monotony and exhaustion. And let’s face it, feeling stressed and overburdened isn’t exactly conducive to a great work environment.
Not only that, but a work-life imbalance has been shown to have a marked impact on the company’s turnover rate and organizational productivity. Employees who lack a harmonious work-life balance can also suffer from lower retention, increased illness and absenteeism, and disengagement from their work environment.
Without work-life balance, employees may struggle personally, which can, in turn, affect their performance.
Laboring under the weight of increased hours, additional responsibilities, and stressful expectations at work take a toll on employees – not to mention their responsibilities and expectations at home. Combined, the two can be draining, to say the least.
The Benefits of Work-Life Balance
When an employee’s home and work lives are well-aligned, everyone can reap the rewards. So what are the positive outcomes of a healthy work-life balance?
When staff has a well-rounded routine, they tend to be healthier, happier, and more productive. They’re less stressed, have a better attitude, and see overall improvements in their mental health. Beyond that, companies enjoy better customer service, higher rates of employee retention, fewer absences, and improved staff morale.
When employees feel valued, they are engaged, helpful, productive, and loyal. They feel good about themselves, and bring that positivity into their workplace as a result.
Finding the Balance
While there’s no one work-life model that works for everyone, a realistic balance is better than a so-called ‘perfect’ one. It’s about assessing priorities and constantly working to adapt the balance accordingly.
Unfortunately, there’s no guidebook for finding that ‘just right’ balance. We all tend to have different levels of tolerance, and it takes time to figure out what works. While prioritizing your health and wellbeing is crucial to finding balance, everyone practices self-care in different ways and to varying degrees.
Some people do this by setting boundaries. Maybe this means you stop checking your work emails at a specific time of day, or perhaps you work hard during the week and completely unplug over the weekend. Whatever the Goldilocks factor is for you, remember that maintaining that balance ultimately benefits everyone.
We want you to know that we are here for you in these challenging times. If your business needs a helping hand, we’ve got business solutions that work. Reach out today to learn more about what we can do for you.