SEEKING A WORK / LIFE BALANCE? ACHIEVE IT, DON’T JUST DREAM IT

WOMEN can have many demands when it comes to striking a work/life balance, which is why you need to take action to achieve it. The whole idea of ‘working harder’ has given way to ‘working smarter’ these days. Feeling fatigued and unhappy with work means some changes may be required. One of the ways you can make a change is by changing your hours.

Talk with your employer about possibly frontloading your hours into a particular time of the week. This may allow you to explore the option of not working at certain times that will reduce stress.

You should also remember that even if your employer is not open to the idea of facilitating a work/life balance, you can still achieve this for yourself by taking some simple steps. For example, when you’re ‘off the clock’ think family and free time, not work.

Too frequently we reconnect with work through our phones and emails when we don’t have to. So be sure to make the time that allows you to de-stress and recharge when not working. Also, work out a better home/life balance as this may also be where stress is emanating from. Employers are not necessarily exempt from trying to achieve a better work/life balance for their staff.

In fact, by doing so they will in all likelihood increase productivity, improve mental health in staff, improve self-esteem, improve workplace relations and create an overall better place to work. Remember: working harder is not the same as working smarter.