Work-life balance, dream, or reality?

Author: Miguel Geli

27.04.2021

Before we can answer this question, it is important to frame the issue. Both work and life create demands on our time that cannot be ignored.

At work it may be the next project that lands on your desk, the need to deal with additional work responsibilities, cope with lack of resources, your boss requesting last-minute information.

Life too brings its own demands: new relationships, relationship break-ups, having and raising children, dealing with death of loved ones, assisting elderly or sick family-members.

And then of course, our own needs that compete with all other demands: additional education, more exercise, better nutrition, meditation, hobbies.

So, the issue is not really “just” about work-life balance. Rather, it is about juggling all the different demands on our time.

Thus, we owe it to ourselves to be flexible.

Some days you may focus more on work, other days you may spend more time with loved ones or focus on a personal hobby.

From an employer perspective, it is important to get to know your employees, understand the circumstances they are facing so that you can tailor – where possible - the support they need at the time.

The effort you put in here will allow your employees to be seen for who they really are, and you will be more than rewarded in terms of productivity increases as well as the loyalty to the company.

The work-life balance question may also come up when you find yourself working in a toxic environment. Toxic environments will drain you and make it difficult to focus on anything outside work.

Ultimately, you need to take care of yourself. You may give your employer the opportunity to remedy the situation. However, if the situation is not remedied to your satisfaction, it may be time to find a new job.

When you do not sleep, eat badly, do not exercise, and live off adrenaline as a rule your performance suffers, your decisions suffer, you suffer!

“You will never be truly satisfied by work until you are satisfied by life.” ~Heather Schuck, The Working Mom Manifesto.

The opposite it also true, i.e., you will never be truly satisfied by life if you are not truly satisfied at work.

As an employer, contributing to an environment where the day for employees consists of nothing but work and little sleep without really giving them an opportunity to take breaks or decompress is not allowing for the necessary time and space for new thoughts and ideas to emerge.

Eradicating toxic environments from your company will create a more sustainable working environment positioned for real growth as well as protect you from reputational damage. This needs to be addressed at the highest levels.

“If executives engage in toxic behaviour, people in the organisation assume this behaviour is accepted and they engage in it, too. Soon enough, a toxic climate is formed, where everybody thinks, ‘This is just how we act around here’.” ~Manuela Priesemuth, Associate Professor in the Management and Operations Department at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, US.

During the pandemic, because of necessity, working from home has gained significant traction. It has certainly been a lifesaver for many companies that have managed to stay in business this way.

However, has it improved our work-life balance?

In many cases, it has become an enabler to be more flexible on how you address the various demands on your time.

However, where work-life balance was an issue before, working from home has often exacerbated the already existing issue as the lines between work and life in general have become increasingly blurred.

Also, in the case of existing toxic work environments, the situation has often become worse.

As highlighted in a recent article published by the BBC, Priesemuth states: “Distance or anonymity can enhance negative behaviours – it’s sometimes easier to send a rude or threatening message than say it in person.”

In summary, take accountability for your own well-being, i.e.:

  • Do not strive for the perfect balance.
  • Allow yourself to be flexible.
  • Let your employer know what you need.
  • Do not accept toxic working environments.

Employers:

  • Get to know your employees.
  • Support where possible.

What are your experiences with work-life balance?

Do you feel seen for who you really are, or do you find yourself spending a lot of energy fitting in?

What positive experiences have you had in the workplace that have helped you juggling all the demands on your time?