How to balance your
work and personal life
Achieving the mix of business and personal life that’s right for you
By Angela Civitella
Previously published in WestmountMag.ca
People have debated the concept of “life balance” for decades, and it holds different meanings for everyone. One person might think they’ve achieved balance when they can leave work early enough to eat dinner with their family. Someone else might view it as having a flexible schedule, allowing her to study for a part-time graduate degree.
Yet another person might feel fulfilled by spending her “free” time advancing her career. In short, you achieve life balance when you have enough time to pursue both work and personal interests that you love. However, when you feel as though one side of your life is consuming too much of your energy, you can become stressed, productivity can decline, and personal relationships can become strained.
… you achieve life balance when you have enough time to pursue both work and personal interests that you love.
In this article, we’ll look at life balance and how you can find one that works for you.
What is life balance?
The concept of achieving a balance between personal and work lives can be traced back to the Industrial Revolution, in the late 18th century, when both the U.S. and the U.K. enacted legislation to limit the number of hours that people could be made to work each week. Throughout the 19th century, both countries passed more laws to limit working hours and enforce mandatory leave for specific events, such as childbirth and illness.
The concept of life balance gained more prominence in the 1970s, as occupational therapists began to write about the need to distinguish between work and leisure. The term “work-life balance” gained popularity in the 1980s as more women entered the workforce.
Many women lobbied for support from their organizations during this period, asking for flexible schedules and a shorter working week. Although the concept of work-life balance initially focused on women, it has since become more inclusive, accounting for the needs of both sexes.
Today, the concept of work-life balance is an evolving one, but put simply, it’s about achieving a mix of business and personal life that’s right for you. We’re all unique, and the term “personal life” means something different to everyone: it can include spending time with your friends and family; resting; participating in hobbies; engaging in personal, spiritual or educational development; exercising; or caregiving. It can even include your work!
‘We’re all unique, and the term “personal life” means something different to everyone…’
Life balance is a perceived state, and only you know when your life is or isn’t in balance.
Effects
Research shows that, when we don’t feel in control of our time, illness and burnout can quickly follow. For example, studies show that failing to achieve a life balance leads to higher stress and absenteeism, as well as lower productivity at work.
It’s well known that working long hours can increase stress and anxiety, which can have many serious effects on our health. These include:
- Frequent headaches
- High blood pressure
- Persistent insomnia
- Clinical depression or anger-management issues
- A weakened immune system
‘Research shows that, when we don’t feel in control of our time, illness and burnout can quickly follow.’
When you think you’re spending too much of your time and energy on one area of your life at the expense of another, you can also feel guilt, regret and frustration. This can hurt your personal relationships and self-esteem.
Achieving a good work-life balance
It can be challenging to achieve a good work-life balance, especially when organizations downsize and people are expected to take on additional tasks, or when your responsibilities at home conflict with those at work.
The strategies below can help you achieve balance. Some of them may suit you better than others, so pick the ones you think will work best for you.
1. Conduct an audit
Start by keeping a daily Activity Log. This will help you track how you use your time at work and at home. You could be surprised by how you spend your time. For example, you may find that you’re taking longer than you expected on specific tasks, dealing with minor issues, or in unproductive meetings. If you limit these activities, you may find more time in your day for other things.
The same is true in your personal life: you might watch far more TV than you think. By reducing your television time, you could free up your schedule to include activities that you find more rewarding.
‘Start by keeping a daily Activity Log. This will help you track how you use your time at work and at home. You could be surprised by how you spend your time.’
Once you’ve completed your Activity Log, use this information to determine how valuable these activities are to you.
Start by using the matrix to list the activities in your personal life. Identify the vitally essential commitments that you have time for, as well as the ones that you don’t. Be specific here. How much does it matter to you that you are home by 5:30 pm to be with your children? Do you still want to spend every Thursday volunteering at that charity? Look at your log and add the most essential activities to the matrix.
Next, look at your professional commitments. What non-negotiable needs, activities and goals are there in your work life? For example, you might have a conference call every Monday evening that you can’t miss, or a monthly presentation to the executive board that requires eight hours of preparation.
Once you’ve added this list of “must-haves”, write down the activities that are less important, but still necessary. Your goal is to identify gaps between key tasks and those that you can potentially delegate, outsource or stop doing. This will help you prioritize the activities in your life. For example, you might attend a weekly staff meeting, which lasts almost two hours but adds little value to your work. You could save time by asking a colleague to take notes on your behalf.
2. Improve efficiency at work
The more efficient and productive you are at work, the easier it is for you to go home at a reasonable time.
First, try to limit distractions during the day. When you can focus on a task, you will be more productive over a shorter period of time than if you are frequently interrupted. Next, ensure that you’re working on tasks that have a real impact on your work.
‘The more efficient and productive you are at work, the easier it is for you to go home at a reasonable time.’
Although it’s important to maximize your productivity, remember that continuous, long hours can lead to burnout. Take regular breaks throughout the day to work more effectively – these give your mind a rest and leave you feeling refreshed.
3. Add flexibility
Flexibility is an essential component of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Studies show that people who believe they have flexible jobs look more favourably on their work-life balance than those with the same workload but with no perceived flexibility. It has also been found that team members who believe their jobs are flexible tend to work longer hours before their workload has a negative impact on them.
Another study came to similar conclusions: you’re more likely to stay and feel satisfaction in your job if you have access to flexible working arrangements.
Ask your boss to allow more flexibility in your schedule. Perhaps you could work from home one day a week, come in and leave earlier, or have some flexibility with your hours. Job sharing, when two people split the responsibilities of one role, is another popular option.
4. Feel more rewarded
You may not be able to alter your workload or schedule significantly, but you can make adjustments and enhance your job satisfaction. When you feel engaged in your job, the hours pass quickly, and you leave work feeling happy and satisfied at the end of the day.
5. Find time for yourself
We all juggle many responsibilities and roles in our lives. At work, you might be a boss, a colleague and a mentor. At home, you might be a parent, a caregiver for an older family member, a sibling, a spouse or partner, and a friend. When we neglect one or more of these roles, we can quickly feel out of balance.
‘The people and the work that you love deserve your best, and you can only give it when you’re staying healthy and looking after yourself.’
Remember, life balance means having time for yourself as well. If you spend all day attending to others’ wants and needs, you won’t have the energy and strength to achieve your own dreams. Set aside time every day for exercise, meals, sleep, and quiet time for contemplation, brainstorming or just daydreaming. The people and the work that you love deserve your best, and you can only give it when you’re staying healthy and taking care of yourself.
Key points
Work-life balance refers to the perception that your personal and professional lives are well-balanced. It means spending enough time achieving your goals and devoting time to the people and activities you love.
To bring more balance to your life, take a moment to audit how you spend your time. Identify and eliminate low-value tasks whenever possible, and try to focus more effort on activities that you believe make a difference. Try to add flexibility to your schedule, and find purpose and fulfilment in your work.
Image: Fadil Elmansour via StockPholio.net
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