Sometimes life can feel like it’s moving at full speed. Work gets full-on, personal commitments stack up, and finding balance between the two can feel impossible. In today’s digital age with more remote work than ever before, the line between work and home is more blurred than ever, and many people find themselves wondering, where does one end and the other begin?
It can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to. That’s where work-life balance comes in.
What does work-life balance mean?
A healthy work-life balance involves an even distribution of time between work and personal life. It involves consciously managing your time and energy to meet both professional commitments while also prioritising personal needs, self-care, and well-being.
Imagine waking up to the same routine every day — either pushing yourself to overwork or feeling so unmotivated that nothing gets done. Over time, you’ll realise that both extremes are too much. Instead, people thrive on variety because the best balance is a little of both. So while it’s important to push yourself towards your goals, it’s just as vital to take moments to relax and recharge.
Do you currently have work-life balance in your life?
Take time to analyse your current lifestyle. Do you think you have enough time for work, and it’s not controlling your life? Are you putting enough effort into your relationships? Your personal needs? Your everyday to-dos? If you answered no or you’re trying to figure it out, here are some questions to ask:
Do you go with the flow or have boundaries in place? Boundaries help you draw the line — between work and rest, focus and distraction. For example, maybe your rule is: work only happens at your desk. Scrolling? That stays in the living room. Your desk and workspace is a place with no social media. Simple, yet powerful, it keeps your brain in work mode and boosts your productivity.
Do you know what’s coming each week? Those who organise their weeks and know when certain tasks need to be done, will be better off than those who have no plan. When you allocate certain time for work and other time for personal enjoyment, you’ll naturally create a more balanced lifestyle.
Are you implementing breaks? Everyone needs breaks. If you don’t give your mind and body time to rest, you’ll run yourself dry. So instead, implement strategies to manage your stress. It could be as simple as daily movement — a short nature walk or a fitness class — or time set aside to meditate or talk with a loved one. Having moments where you can shut off your mind and connect with your body will ultimately create a healthier balance.
Life won’t always go to plan, but having a plan yet still being adaptive to unforeseen situations will help you be more resilient each day in balancing both your work and personal things, which in turn will create a healthier life. But, what happens if you don’t?
What’s an unhealthy work-life balance?
People who work too much often live in a constant haze. They’re not intentional or present; they’re just focused on moving forward faster. Their minds are often fixated on work issues, and they have less energy to be focused on their loved ones or self. A couple of days of this may be manageable, but over time, it can consume your personal life and lead to negative consequences, such as:
- Burnout: Overworking leads to quick fatigue and increased stress-related health issues. Those who overwork themselves may find it very hard to take breaks or consider a holiday, because time away worries them.
- Neglecting yourself: When work takes over, you have less time for personal projects, self-care, hobbies, and exercise, which can leave you feeling down. You may also not get any of your personal admin tasks, such as laundry, cleaning, or mail done, which can create a hectic household.
- Strained relationships: If you’re always working, your partner, friends, or family may feel neglected and disconnected, which can damage your relationships. In the long term this can cause you a lot of personal problems.
Everyone experiences work-life balance differently. It’s important to analyse where you’re at in life and if you have too much work vs too much relaxation in your life. You want to be in a balanced, harmonious state where your work feels meaningful, but it doesn’t control your life.
5 strategies for work-life balance
Now that you’ve had a moment to think about your approach to work-life balance, let’s explore a few ways you can start improving it today:
1. If you aren’t planning, start planning now.
The best way to create balance is to schedule in time for everything that’s important to you. If you know you’re working 9 am – 5 pm, try adding in a morning walk or workout before and a catch-up with a friend after, this way you’re having time for yourself, time with loved ones, and time for your career.
2. Consider your working preferences and do what works best for your brain.
Everyone works differently. Some people can get into a focused flow state for hours, others need short breaks every couple of minutes, and some need to break their workloads into blocks. Start to notice what times of the day it’s easier (Morning? Mid-day? Night?) to get into the zone vs when you feel the most distracted. Take note and implement working methods, such as the Pomodoro method, that work best for your brain.
3. Have dedicated working hours and know when to turn them off.
When you work remotely or for yourself, sometimes it can be easy to keep going, even when it’s time for you to clock off. Have strict hours where your focus and attention are needed, and then an end time for when it’s time to transition into personal time. Make sure your work email is open during the day, but as soon as your time off hits, it’s far away from being reached. Once your work is done, find something you love outside of work to engage in — from sports to cooking a new meal, to hobbies — all personal activities will help to boost your energy, vitality, and creativity.
4. Take a moment to reset. Your body needs it.
Lunch is the perfect time of day to reset. Chat with a friend, go for a walk, use the work gym, eat without your phone nearby — anything to give your mind a break. Taking time to be mindful and intentional will give you the chance to tune into your emotions and sensations. You can also take time for yourself by doing meditation, breath work, or some deep stretches. Afterwards, you’ll go back into your work feeling refreshed and recharged.
5. Feeling unwell? Don’t push through it.
When your body shows signs of sickness, it’s a signal that you need rest. Take the time to relax, recover, and reset — your health comes first.
At the end of the day, you want a life filled with purpose, energy, and peace, and work-life balance plays a big part in that. If your workload feels overwhelming and unmanageable, don’t keep it to yourself. Speak to your manager about bringing in extra support, or consider working with a coach to improve your time management. Beyond that, it comes down to you and how you choose to manage your time and energy. Don’t overexert yourself at the cost of your well-being. It’s just not worth it.
How can managers help their employees feel balanced?
Let’s say you’re a small business owner. You need everyone chipping in and helping as much as they can. But, if you overwork them, results may drop, work ethic can die out, and employees may quickly fatigue. Running your business with an “all work, no play” mindset won’t yield long-term results.
As a manager, it’s important to be an empathetic leader and realise everyone needs time to unplug. You can do this by implementing work-life balance strategies such as encouraging your team to fully disconnect on their days off, organising company-wide social events that give employees the chance to network, and reminding employees to take their leave throughout the year.
Check in with your employees frequently about how they are balancing life tasks, and lead by example by also monitoring your work with your personal life. Work-life balance in Australia tends to be of value to most employers and if yours doesn’t, it’s worth speaking up in a way that feels right for you.
Work with energy, relax with ease
Finding a healthy work-life balance makes all the difference. Employees show up with more energy, focus, and motivation — and they feel more comfortable taking the time they need to rest and reset. From a managerial perspective, a well-rested team means a thriving business. When people feel refreshed, they’re far more ready to step up and give their best.
If you’re looking for an innovative space to bring your team together, consider joining a co-working community in the heart of Canberra. At Haven Workspaces, work-life balance is at the core of everything we do. Whether you’re powering through tasks in a private office, focused at a dedicated desk, or creating content in a hired podcast studio, we’ve got the space to help you work smarter, not harder.
Learn more about our business hub and embrace the freedom to grow here.
