Prior to 2019, working from home was an earned privilege. Yet the Covid-19 pandemic shifted traditional work culture from a 5-day office setting to a work-from-home scenario.
During the pandemic, over two-thirds of employees working from home experienced burnout. However, despite this most businesses have now implemented a hybrid working policy or switched to fully remote work. While each company’s policy varies – interestingly, Forbes reports, that today 98% of workers desire to work remotely.
Many of us have experienced the benefits of working from home and identified practices that add value to both work and life. However, one common theme in work-from-home policies is the increased pressure and challenge for employees to maintain a work-life balance. If businesses have already or plan to implement remote or hybrid working policies – employees and employers must understand how crucial it is to balance work-life priorities, and thus avoid burnout.
Why Do We Need Work-Life-Balance?
Maintaining a work-life balance supports our health, relationships, and productivity. For companies and employees to implement a successful remote or hybrid working policy – they must first understand the importance of the work-life balance:
Minimize health issues
Living a healthy lifestyle means taking care of both physical and mental health. When we neglect either, our well-being suffers, leading to illnesses ranging from the common flu to serious conditions like strokes. This not only affects individual employees but also impacts overall productivity in the workplace.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle empowered with work-life balance allows employees to work more efficiently and contribute to the wider business.
Reduce work-related stress
We often experience work-related stress when we are overwhelmed with tasks and responsibilities. Managing these aspects properly can help us achieve a satisfying balance between our professional and personal lives.
Learning to maintain a work-life balance helps us effectively manage workload by prioritizing critical and time-sensitive tasks, resulting in reduced work-related stress.
Increase Mindfulness
Being mindful means focusing on the present moment to improve work-life balance and concentration on tasks. When we are present, and in the moment, we can improve concentration and productivity on projects and tasks.
Mindfulness facilitates grounding, helping employees focus on the task at hand.
Helps create a more well-rounded life
We all have different hobbies and interests that we prefer to enjoy in our personal lives. If we do not maintain a work-life balance, we might lose them. While equally, engaging in personal interests helps us develop skills and expand knowledge.
Having a successful work-life balance can enhance our soft skills and diverse life experience, making us more attractive in the working environment.
How We Can Achieve Work-Life-Balance
If you often feel fatigued and stressed, it may be time to change your current work habits. Regardless of our career goals, how or where we work, we can all achieve better work-life balance by following these simple steps:
- Prioritize work: We can reduce work pressure by prioritizing critical and time-sensitive tasks for proper workday planning.
- Use work time effectively: We should be more productive during our work time as it will affect the resolution time for a specific task. By concentrating and putting forth our best effort for the task we are doing at the moment, we can complete it in less time.
- Take small breaks: Did you know that taking a 30-second break can reduce stress, improve concentration, and increase enjoyment? Simply take a step back from your computer monitor for a stretch, tea or coffee – and you can feel more refreshed.
- Use your lunch break: When you are at the office, will you take your lunch at your working desk? Consider taking a break and enjoying your meal mindfully away from your desk, whether at the office or at home.
- Be open and transparent with colleagues: When working from home, it can be difficult for others to understand our current situation. Similarly, our teammates may not be aware of our challenges. It’s important to vocalize our difficulties and seek support from colleagues.
- Have small conversations with teammates as a part of working culture: This small practice will help us maintain a convenient and productive workplace with less stress.
- Reserve time for family: It is important to have the support of our family to ensure that everyone prioritizes the reserved time in their lives.
- Invest in relationships: By maintaining meaningful relationships with others in or outside of work, we can support our own mental well-being.
It’s important to have a work-life balance – in the office, or at home. Luckily, it’s not hard to start putting it into practice.
At IFS, you can create moments that give you a sense of purpose, whether you’re working from home or in the office, you can #MakeYourMoment with IFS.
Looking for an opportunity to join a company with a flexible culture? Check out our open opportunities at Careers and Job Vacancies | IFS
