Work-life balance is one of the most critical factors in maintaining satisfaction at work. Therefore, creating a flexible culture where your people don’t have to be “always on” is essential.
In this article, we will cover:
- Work-life balance, what is it?
- Why is work-life balance essential today?
- How to achieve work-life balance in the age of hybrid?
- Essential steps for managers
What is work-life balance?
According to the UK Mental Health Foundation, work-life balance doesn’t mean splitting your time 50/50 between work and leisure but making sure you feel fulfilled and content in both areas of your life. For example, it can be meeting your deadlines at work while still having time for your hobbies or not worrying about work when you’re at home.
The importance of work-life balance
Work-life balance reduces stress and increases employee satisfaction.
The importance of work-life balance is maintaining a life outside the workplace without negatively impacting productivity at work, receiving adequate rest, engaging in activities that bring joy and fulfilment, and maintaining a positive mindset while at work are all components of an employee’s overall well-being.
Achieving work-life balance in the age of hybrid
To achieve work-life balance, it is essential to have good time management skills. You’re stealing precious leisure and family time if you allow your workday to drag on. Here are some tips you could follow:
- Catch up with your manager regularly
It is necessary to know your manager’s schedule to catch up and maximise the meeting time with your boss to achieve what they want, as well as give the proper proportion of time and information they need to feel connected.
- Create a to-do list
You want to optimise your time at work, so a to-do list is necessary to push you towards accomplishing the tasks to avoid leaving them for the following days.
- Draw a clear line between your personal and work time
Be upfront with your manager, coworkers and clients about your availability for work discussions. If you work in a remote setting, it’s crucial to set clear expectations for communication and when you’re available for email or phone calls. It is also important to communicate your availability in terms of when you’ll respond to emails and phone conversations.
- Schedule holidays to minimise work disruption
Scheduling your holidays beforehand will motivate you to accomplish tasks. Furthermore, offering a countdown to your holidays so both your manager and your team will be clearly informed of your out-of-office time period.
The essential step for managers
Building a flexible work culture requires experimentation. Experimentation is not only about allowing flexibility, but also about finding a way to show employees that they can work flexibly without feeling the need to work around the clock. Otherwise, your efforts are likely to backfire.
- Encourage your staff to take breaks
- Give people the power to prioritise. This is one of the best ways employees can get their calendars under control.
- Having continuous conversations to understand their wants and needs.
To sum up, maintaining a healthy work life balance is not only important for health and relationships but also improves your productivity and work performance.
Source: Microsoft Blog | The Balance Careers
