Often, work takes priority over personal lives…
The desire to have a successful career can cause an individual to push their personal needs to the side. Naturally, the constant need to work hard and maintain a comfortable lifestyle can become extremely stressful. How can employees keep their personal needs and career aspirations equally balanced?
Why Balance is Crucial
Finding a way to work that is secure and sustainable while maintaining one’s health and overall well-being is key to avoiding burnout. Employees attain greater satisfaction at home and work when both are prioritized equally. Similarly, employers stand to gain from their employees having a good work-life balance. With greater dedication to and motivation for work: employee productivity increases, absenteeism declines, and physical and mental health improves.
Achieving The Balance
Many jobs are stressful by their very nature. Whether this is long hours, manual labor, or having to interact with lots of clients. Since these aspects are unlikely to change, the focus therefore needs to be on reducing the amount of additional stressors on employees.
- Establish clear boundaries between work and personal life. Define specific work hours and try to stick to them as much as possible. Avoid checking work emails or taking work-related calls during personal time.
- Make time for regular physical exercise, adequate sleep, and a balanced diet. Self-care is essential for reducing stress, boosting energy levels, and improving overall health.
- Efficiently manage your time by prioritizing tasks and setting realistic goals. Learn to delegate tasks when possible and avoid overcommitting yourself.
- Use organizational tools and techniques to keep track of your tasks and deadlines. This can help reduce stress and create a sense of control over your work and personal life.
Regardless of how the work itself is going for the employee, they need to know there are outlets available to destress. Ideally, they will then go home with a sense of satisfaction after even the most stressful of days. Once they are home they still have the energy to handle the home life. And as we know, less problems at home mean less problems at work. And vice-versa. Work and life have to play an endless tug of war. And a positive workplace environment will provide the tools needed to balance the work-life equation.
Health Takes Priority
Chronic stress in the workplace is linked to a weakened immune system, which makes employees more prone to minor illnesses, headaches, and muscular pains. These are a few of the many health impacts an unbalanced work and personal life can have on an employee.
Take short breaks throughout the workday to recharge your mind and body. Use these breaks to engage in activities that relax you, such as going for a short walk, meditating, or practicing deep breathing exercises. While dedication to work is commendable, overworking can lead to burnout and negatively impact your health. Know your limits and learn to step back when needed. Additionally, try to maintain a strong social network, as social connections are vital for emotional well-being. Spend quality time with family and friends to nurture these relationships.
Join Our Team
At Freedom, we believe that our greatest asset is YOU our talented employees! And to ensure your well-being, we are committed to fostering a workplace culture that prioritizes work-life balance.
Learn more about the benefits of a Freedom career on our benefits page and view our various open positions today! Live and work the way you’ve always wanted to at Freedom.