Work-Life Balance: How to Establish It
We’re in a hustle culture. It’s become a level of status to be busy, have a full calendar, and work far beyond the “typical” 40 hour work week. It’s in the best interest of most companies to keep up this idea of hustle culture so that they can eek out as much productivity out of their teams as possible.
Even the idea of flexible work environments have their drawbacks. How many people have I talked to who start their day super early to work, do whatever they need to in their personal lives, but are also working for hours at night to not only catch up on what they may have missed during their flex time but to do more than that so that they don’t lose rockstar status with their employer? It’s not in the single digits.
As someone who is highly driven and who was often getting sucked into hustle culture myself, I find that it’s a delicate dance between pursuing career ambitions and nurturing the life that happens when your computer screen goes dark.
Understanding Work-Life Balance
For many professionals, work is more than a job—it’s a passion that fuels ambition. But, as they climbed the corporate ladder, the boundaries between work and personal life began to blur, leading to the realization that even fulfilling work shouldn’t overshadow life’s other precious moments, especially time that feeds their soul.
Passion for work is commendable, but without boundaries, it can intrude on your personal life, leading to a detrimental effect on relationships and self-care. And notice, I’m taking care not categorize personal life as family time or kid time. For those that are parents, of course this is a consideration, but whether or not you’re a parent or without children or a partner, you deserve time to cultivate your personal interests and recharge however you see fit.
Finding Balance While Feeding Your Ambition
From my experience, here some actionable tips to help you better achieve a work-life balance that works for you:
· Set Clear Boundaries: Determine your limits in what you do for work and your personal life. When you are off the clock, truly disconnect. This might mean shutting down work devices or creating a ritual that helps you decompress at the end of the workday.
· Prioritize Personal Time: Take your vacation days. Use this time to reconnect with family, pursue hobbies, or simply rest. Remember, vacations are not a luxury—they’re a necessity for mental and emotional well-being. When people boast to me that that they have [insert some ridiculous number] days of PTO accrued, I don’t admire that, I think they’re working too hard and not enjoying life enough.
· Know Your Worth Beyond Work: You bring value to your job by doing the work you were hired to do. You don’t need to constantly prove it by working yourself into the ground. Keep in mind that our company is benefitting from your work, the one you’re uniquely qualified to do - you’re not an indentured servant. Acknowledge your unique qualities and interests outside of your job role. Those interests should enrich your sense of self and bring fresh energy to your work, which your company benefits from.
· Calling All Managers, Lead by Example: If you manage a team, respect and enforce the boundaries of your employees. Encourage them to take their full lunch breaks, use their vacation time, and work reasonable hours. You need to protect that time for them so that others don’t take advantage of it and overload them. Be their champion because you will not only cultivate a loyal team, but one that performs at a higher level.
· Cultivate a Supportive Culture: Advocate for a company culture that allows employees to recharge and pursue passions outside of work. This could include volunteer time off or education benefits. I used to work at a large organization that allocated time for every employee to volunteer in their local community. This was a huge benefit more most because it was fulfilling work that fed their souls.
· Delegate and Cover: Ensure that when someone is away, others can cover their responsibilities effectively. This not only allows for uninterrupted time off but also fosters teamwork. A side benefit is that more individuals get exposure to others’ work, which makes everyone more understanding overall and more likely to pitch in without being needed.
· Recharge Rituals: Engage in activities that replenish your energy, like exercising, reading, or meditating. Make these non-negotiable parts of your daily routine. You’ll reap the rewards far beyond the time that you’re investing in them.
· Disconnect to Reconnect: Periodically unplug from digital devices to be present with loved ones, nature, or your thoughts. If you’re not constantly connected, you will be able to be more present and truly enjoy the time.
· Monitor Your Health: Keep an eye on physical, mental, and emotional indicators that suggest burnout. If you're chronically exhausted or unhappy, reassess your workload and commitments. I know for me, in busy times, I would constantly be rescheduling medical appointments or just generally not even making them, waiting for a time when my schedule was less busy. It caused me to neglect issues that led to further damage later.
· Advocate for Flexibility: If possible, negotiate flexible working arrangements that accommodate your lifestyle and responsibilities.
Work-life balance isn't about equally dividing the hours in your day between work and personal life. It's about having the flexibility to get things done in your professional life while still having time and energy to enjoy your personal life.
If you're caught in the hustle, it's time to pause and figure out how to improve the balance. What boundaries will you set today to ensure you're living a life filled with passion—both in and outside of work?
Share your strategies or challenges in finding balance in the comments.
