Work-Life Balance: Finding Harmony Between Work and Personal Life

The modern world is very fast and cruel. Technologies and the Internet erase the boundaries between home and office, effectively devaluing the desire for privacy and rest. In the whirlpool of events, the concept of "work-life balance" is becoming increasingly important. 

We are not talking about diagnoses, complex calculations or research! This is the ability to effectively distribute time and resources between professional activities and personal life. But why is this so important and how to achieve harmony?

Why is work-life balance important? 

It seems clear and obvious, but let's figure it out. 

Health: First and foremost - too much workload at work leads to stress, burnout and health problems. A work-life balance helps maintain physical and mental health.

Productivity: It can often seem that the more time we spend at work, the more things we get done. However, working for long periods of time without rest actually reduces productivity. Periodic rest and change of activity allows our brain to recover and return to tasks with renewed energy.

Relationships: When we spend more time with family and friends, our relationships improve. This supports our social well-being, which is critical for overall happiness and mental health.

How to achieve work-life balance?

Sometimes it seems like a unique science, but here are a few insights:

1. Setting boundaries: Learn to say "no" to tasks and obligations that overload your workload or personal time. Remember, No is a complete sentence. Sometimes you don't need to explain it to anyone. You are living your own life, not someone else’s!
2. Flexible schedule: If possible, negotiate with your management for a more flexible schedule or the opportunity to work from home a few days a week. You can also make your household chores schedule flexible. Don’t do everything at once, spread the routine over several days to avoid overload.
3. Time management: Effective planning of your work day will help you work more efficiently and productively. It is also important to plan time for rest and recovery.
4. Disconnect from work: Try not to mix work with home life.  Turning off work notifications on your phone after work hours can help restore mental peace. If you work remotely, organize a workspace and “work” clothes for yourself. Subconsciously, by taking off those clothes and closing your home office, you will be disconnecting yourself from work.
5. Hobbies: Finding time for a hobby that inspires you and allows you to relax is an important element of maintaining life balance. Your mental health is no less important than your physical health. Read, draw, knit, sing, and learn languages. The choice of your favorite activity is limited only by the criminal code and your ideas about activity. Try yourself in something new, find inspiration, and charge everyone around you with positivity.
6. Physical activity: Regular physical exercise not only improves health, but also helps reduce stress. Sometimes a trip to the gym works just as well as a session with a psychologist. During a workout, you focus not on problems or work, but on the correct technique for performing exercises. Physical strengthening subsequently helps the body recover from stress or seasonal colds, and also increases libido. What a wonderful combo! Going to the gym saves money that you would spend on medications, and also reduces stress, gives you good physical shape and improves your intimate life. Take it on board!

Achieving work-life balance is a difficult process that requires a conscious approach and effort from both the employee and the employer. However, the results of these efforts can significantly increase work efficiency and significantly improve the quality of life.