Modern life has changed more in the last 24 months than in the last twenty years. Technology has begun to infiltrate and permeate all walks and aspects of life and the recent global pandemic has mean that many of us have begun to reflect on what is important to us. The idea of creating a work life balance that is able to cater for the holistic health and wellbeing of the individual has become one of the most pressing concerns of our time.
The Main Stresses Of Modern Life That You Need To Consider
The following article will provide some insight as to how you can develop and create the perfect work-life balance and details why this is so important in the highly stressed modern world.
Constant Connectedness
It is a fact of the modern workplace and business needs that we are now always connected. Our emails can be accessed on a 24-hour basis and although we may not be in the office as much we are still tethered to our careers by the improvements in modern technology.
Over Achievement & Attainment Expectations
Everybody wants to be the best version of themselves and to achieve the best for them and their families. However, a lot of the expectations are driven by the media and as such we place incredibly unrealistic expectations on ourselves and those around us.
Poor Or Non-Frequent Stress Release Mechanisms
Stress is a normal and ongoing part of human life, from family outings and holidays to the day-to-day work or business pressures. These, however, need to be dealt with or they will cause long term damage. It is also vital to choose the right type of stress release mechanisms, so going for a weekly run trumps excessive consumption of alcohol after a stressful day.
Environmental Stress
Pollution, traffic, ever changing weather and the constant negative information around these issues can adversely affect the brain. Keep in mind that there are numerous environmental issues that as an individual you can do nothing about and as such it is counterproductive to stress about them.
The constant negativity around these issues has been a common source of stress and it’s best not to have the news on all the time. There are also many blogs and websites which highlight all the good environmental achievements – try reading those every now and then.
Understanding the areas of stress that affect you and then being able to deal with them as you develop your work life balance is the crux for a happy healthy lifestyle.
Understand What A Good Work-Life Balance Is
The first step in creating a successful work life balance is to understand what this means. The perception has been that it is about having fun and spending your time doing what you like to do. Yes, this is part of it, but the first part of the balance is work and as such, you must be prepared to put in the hard yards before you can realise the benefits.
There are some lucky people who enjoy their jobs and have careers that are in fields that allow them to feel and be appreciated in an ongoing and positive fashion. For those who are not, the work life balance must be about being able to understand why you do what you do and how your work pays for the lifestyle you live, neither should be more important than the other and a happy life with reduced stress and anxiety can be achieved with a succinct balance between work and life, work hard and play hard, and build close relationships. It is a process, some say that the work life balance is a cycle and not an achievement.
Know What You Want And Need From Both Work And Life
Being able to develop a good work life balance is only possible if you know what it is you want to do. We all have disheartening moments in our jobs from time to time. You don’t have to love it 24-7. Simply appreciate it and what it allows you to do. Knowing what it is you want from the workplace or career will make achieving it that much easier.
Be honest with yourself. Is it the money you need? Or do you want to make a difference and really enjoy the friendships you have around the job? All these are fine and make for a clear idea as to why you need to put in the hours.
Make Sure That Your Career Or Job Is Something That Has Meaning
One of the best ways to create a good work life balance is to enjoy the time you spend at work. If you enjoy what you do, its highly likely you’ll need to take a conscious break, or to stop. This allows for the balance to be more even as you aren’t trying to get away from work.
For those who experience stress at work or struggle with finding meaning in what they do it’s advised to look for work in a job that makes you feel good. A job or career with meaning will go a long way towards making you feel satisfied with what you do. At least you’re helping people, and a growing trend has been to study a general qualification such as the Bachelor’s of Human Services. Allowing you to do a range of care and treatment related jobs.
It’s proven that those who have a career in care helping others will live a longer, happier, healthier life.
Prioritise
Knowing what is important and when is the key to creating balance. You will never be able to make everyone happy all of the time. It’s about carefully choosing when and with whom to spend your time. When the workday ends, it’s about switching off and leaving the work at the door.
Prioritising your mental health over deadlines and dealing with the stress of life is also about being realistic. Yet you must be able to weigh up which of your tasks are more important. Hence the advice to prioritise in terms of what you can actually do. Then creating honesty and transparency as to what can’t be done and why.
Stick To Your Work Hours
Related to the point above, it is important to stick to your working hours. The changes to the way of work and the hybridisation of work have seen many a remote worker doing over and above their hours. Simply because the work is now at home with them. The only way to make remote employment work for you is to ensure you set up a routine. Have the same hours you would have had (including breaks) if you were in the office.
It’s been proven the time away from our desks, lunch breaks with colleagues…etc, all serve to improve productivity. This is where the work from home or remote worker has been dealt a raw deal. They are unable to step away or step out without feeling guilty.
Many out there feel it shows commitment and dedication to do over and above the paid for hours. Indeed there’s nothing wrong with this, as long as it’s appreciated and doesn’t adversely affect your overall wellbeing.
The ability to stick to the hours of work you’re paid for is one of the biggest challenges for a remote worker. As more people start to work this way, it’ll be imperative for both employees and employers alike to ensure there is no exploitation and overworking of staff.
Use The Right Technology
Both work and family time can be communicated and planned simply with modern technology. It’s this tech that has produced the biggest changes to the word of work and increased flexibility. Work emails can be sent while watching your kids play sport. A video chat with friends over lunch keeps you in the loop and engaged with those you care about.
The technology we have access to for remote or hybrid work means work can be done anywhere. For peace of mind and a good work life balance there needs to be an understanding of the right technology to use and how to manage this tech. It doesn’t mean that because the phone is always with you it needs to be answered. Or just because you see an email has come through, you should read and answer it right then.
The aim should be for a remote or hybrid worker to use technology to make their work easier. Don’t allow the tech to begin to control your time.
Exercise
Stress is a given in all walks of life. However, rather than living as if to avoid stress completely it’s wise to have stress relieving strategies, such as exercise. The exercise must be chosen according to your ability when starting out. Some of the great examples are rowing machines, which provide little stress on the joints.
Exercise must form part of the work life balance if it’s one you aim to sustain long term. If it’s never been a part of your daily process, then simply start small and build on it. Park further from the office and walk in, take public transport, forgo the lift and take the stairs.
Have A Hobby Or Structured Family Time
A hobby that you perform on a regular basis or a planned and diarised date night. Planned family theatre and movie nights provide for a structured arrangement for your you time. Just as your workday is planned and structured to give your employer the most efficient use of your time. It’s worthwhile starting to use some of these planning tools to improve the use and enjoyment of you own time.
Make Money Doing What You Love
Yes, its cliched but it’s the best way to develop a pure work life balance to allow you to live your best life. If you currently don’t love what you do, then make more money doing it, it’ll soon become a favourite pastime.
Creating the perfect work life balance is not an easy thing to do and although it is a current trending topic online, with numerous tips and insights, it will be incredibly unique to each of us. The key is to think it through thoroughly and ensure that you are honest with yourself and those around you. Family, friends and your employer should be aware of your need to have a balanced work life balance. In fact, a good employer should be supportive in assisting you to achieve one that works for you and them.
Collaborative Post
Leave a Reply