Work-Life Balance

For some, it's about the ability to focus on leisurely activities, hobbies and personal interests without having your mind flee back to thoughts of unattended emails, work appointments or phone calls. For others, it's about choosing the type of work you want to do in order to fit the lifestyle you wish to have. Basically,  it must be acknowledged that everyone has a different set of values and this determines the type of lifestyle they wish to have.

In a productivity-driven society, it has become harder for adults to fulfil their needs both at home and in the workplace. According to an article in Time in 2014, setting limits by deciding what is or is not important, applying the pareto principle, doing things you value and focusing on tasks that only you can do would help to make you more efficient at your job. Consequences of a poor work-life balance mean strained relationship with family members, inefficiency at work and burnout resulting from poor physical and mental health.

Here are some telltale signs you have no work-life balance:

 Your muscles feel tight and your body is constantly fatigued
Chronic pain is a sign that you are living in a state of strain, that you need to improve on the ways you look after yourself. If, despite sleeping for a solid eight hours, you still feel tired, this may be an indication that your brain is on overload and you find it difficult to concentrate or make decisions.

Patience with other people and yourself wear thin
Interactions with coworkers, colleagues or strangers give you trouble and you start to lose your temper more and more. Frequently flaring up also means that you are no longer able to regulate the amygdala, the portion of your brain which controls emotions.

Enjoying yourself and your daily activities becomes all but impossible
Doing something you like, whether this is exercising or listening to music; having a deep hearty laugh becomes next to impossible and the concept of time is distorted. You find yourself spending time on things you dislike rather than doing things you like!

Relationships with others are poor 
Friends and family members complain that they never have more time to spend with you or that you only spend snippets of time with them. Communication is lacking, or rather, they sense the avoidance of communication from you as a test to your relationship with them.

Personal and professional spaces are chaotic
Research has shown that a messy personal space creates burnout. Cultivating a good habit of cleaning up your desk or picking up some clothes off the floor before you leave your home can help you calm your mind and re-focus on what you need to do.

According to Forbes, it is possible to regain work-life balance if you occassionally unplug from all your devices, allow yourself to forgo perfection in all aspects of your life and practise meditation and other forms of self-care like exercise. New York Times also shines light on the need for us to rethink the traditional concept of work-life balance. Many companies have concluded that flexibility is important for the recruitment and retention of their employees.So the next time you are feeling stressed at work, think about how you can shift or rebalance your priorities, taking note of whether you are exhibiting any of the tell-tale signs mentioned above. Perhaps it might just be the time to negotiate with your employer on how you can have a better work-life balance!












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