In today’s fast-paced work culture, many people have experienced burnout and reportedly struggle to find a balance between their professional and personal lives. In this article, we explore the work-life balance conundrum and whether it can be achieved.
For at least the past decade, achieving a work-life balance has been the goal of busy professionals, many of whom were working well in excess of the 40-hour work week that tends to be the norm. However, with even more digital tools to make us more efficient and productive, why does it appear that we are still struggling to find the balance between our personal and professional lives?
Factors that influence our perception of work
First, it is important to know that the society in which you live may predispose you to working more. For example, European countries with generous social safety nets tend to prioritise rest and leisure as much as, or even more than, work. Typically, these countries offer at least double the number of paid time-off days than the starting norm of 10 vacation days in the Americas. Similarly, regularly working overtime is unusual and even frowned upon in European societies, where the culture tends to emphasise finding comfort, well-being, balance and happiness, through concepts such as Hygge (Denmark), Gemütlichkeit (Germany), Gezelligheid (The Netherlands) and Fika (Sweden).
Second, in societies that tend to be more driven by work, such as the United States and many Caribbean countries, it is also likely that considerably more of an individual’s personal identity is based on what they do for a living. In other words, a person may find it easier to answer the question, “What do I/you do (for work)?” than, “Who am I?” or “What do I like to do (for fun)?”. Similarly, the first question often features early in conversations when meeting someone for the first time, to suggest that it helps us better contextualise people when we know what work they do than any other questions we could ask.
We also need to acknowledge that some professions are notorious for their workload. Of particular note are medicine and law. In both instances, a common justification is based on the need for juniors in those professions to pay ‘their dues’, suggesting that as they become more experienced and move up the ranks, their workload will drop, and they will have more control over their time.
Finally, it is interesting to note that generation-driven change in the perception of work, from baby boomers and Generation Xers to Millennials and Generation Zers. Among the former, they tend to have a strong work ethic and work as a source of identity (as previously mentioned), achievement, and contribution. On the other hand, both Millennials and Gen Z prioritise work-life balance, flexibility, purpose-driven work and career development. Thus, the friction that exists in today’s workplace between managers and supervisors, who are more likely to be baby boomers and Generation Xers, and junior staff members (from the Millennials and Generation Zers demographic), should be no surprise.
However, is it possible to be results-oriented and a high achiever whilst also wanting to prioritise flexibility and work-life balance?
Pros and cons of maintaining a healthy work-life balance
Although achieving a healthy work-life balance is seen as a goal to which all of us should aspire, there are benefits and disadvantages.
First, striving for and maintaining a healthy work-life balance by prioritising self-care and taking time for ourselves can improve our mental health by reducing stress and preventing burnout. Further, when we prioritise our personal lives and personal time, we can build meaningful connections with loved ones and give ourselves the time (and mental space) to develop other interests outside of work, which can help us to feel more fulfilled and happier. Finally, by giving ourselves the time and opportunity to recharge our batteries outside of the office, we can experience increased productivity and a renewed focus and energy when we do return to work.
Conversely, striving for and maintaining a healthy work-life balance could also result in lower earnings due to missed opportunities for career advancement and higher pay. Additionally, in prioritising our personal lives, we may have less time to devote to work, which could also lead to health problems and burnout, especially among those who are primary caregivers to children or elderly relatives. Finally, although it is possible to be very productive in the time we allocate for work, whilst trying to maintain a healthy work-life balance, it is also likely that other team members who are prepared to devote more time to work can be even more productive and thus in a better position to get ahead in their careers.
The balancing act
As the pros and cons show, trade-offs may be required to achieve a healthy work-life balance. To have a high-flying and very well-paying job, and live up to society’s (even our family’s) expectations, may require working longer hours and sacrificing personal time. It is thus important to remember that achieving a work-life balance, and what that might look like for an individual, is a personal choice based on our priorities, goals and boundaries. However, equally important is that at any time we have the power to change and adjust how we balance work and our personal life, provided we are prepared to accept the changes that will ensue.
Image credit: pressfoto (Freepik)
