Weigh the Pros and Cons of a Work-Life Balance While Also Managing Your Expectations

A work-life balance is a balancing act. You need to balance your productivity and get work completed without it taking over the time you’d spend with family and friends. You can’t let work take up so much of your time that you give up hobbies and other interests or ignore your own physical and mental needs.

You must carefully weigh the pros and cons of your work-life balance. But, don’t let your expectations become unrealistic. Everyone struggles to balance responsibilities at work and at home. Getting the balance right isn’t easy, and you will find yourself having good and bad days.

When you own a business, the work-life balance is critical. Happy employees are productive employees. You avoid high turnover rates and low morale. A 2015 study showed just how true this is. The University of Warwick involved more than 700 men and women. Those who were happy at work and home were 12 percent more productive than the employees who were unhappy in their job. You need to work on both your and your employees’ work-life balance.

What Are the Pros and Cons to a Work-Life Balance?

One of the main pros of a work-life balance is that you feel good about yourself. You’ve got your work done without ignoring your own needs or time with your loved ones. When you feel good about yourself, it improves your physical and mental health. If you’re healthy, you’re less likely to burn through your personal or sick days.

Managing a work-life balance makes you more productive. You have a plan in place that works. Once you’ve got a schedule that works for you, you’re going to work effectively and efficiently. You get more done and aren’t struggling to keep going at the end of the day when you’re tired and ready to call it a day. Don’t you want that for yourself and your employees?

Businesses who help their employees find the right work-life balance have less turnover, happier employees, and optimal employee morale. With improved productivity, your clients are also happier and more likely to recommend you to others. This makes for a more competitive business.

What about the cons? How could there be any cons to a work-life balance? While cons are not as numerous as the pros, a company that focuses on the work-life balance may get complacent. As business increases, they may not think about what more they could be doing for their employees. This can cause a slide in morale. It’s important that growth is partnered with increased benefits and rewards.

You or your company may not consider that there will be off days. The work-life balance can fluctuate. If the workload increases unexpectedly and employees feel stressed, it can affect productivity at the least opportune time. You need to be ready for fluctuations with temporary staff or offer overtime on a volunteer basis. Make sure employees do not feel pushed into working extra. For those that do, add special perks to thank them for their dedication.

Tips for Achieving a Healthy Work-Life Balance

First, you need to work on organizing your day. Prioritize your daily tasks, but don’t get so absorbed in one that you run out of time for others. If you’ve spent hours doing marketing report and it’s not going well, move on. Try to get the most important items done first and come back to those you struggled with during the time that remains.

Second, plan breaks during your day. Walking away from your desk or office helps you clear your head. Often, if you return refreshed and ready to get back to work, you’ll be more productive. It’s also better for your health if you’re getting up and walking around every hour.

Third, don’t bring work on your vacation. Make sure your vacation is all about unwinding. If you absolutely have to bring some work, limit the amount. Set a goal that you’ll only work until 10 a.m. and keep that promise to yourself. Spend the rest of the day sightseeing, lounging on a beach, or exploring the area’s culinary delights.

Fourth, set time aside each day for yourself. Call it “me time” or whatever suits you, but take that hour or two where no one can bother you. Leave your phone on silent in another room while you relax. Read a book, watch a movie, or go for a long walk alone or with your family or friends.

How Do You Manage Everything?

One thing you can do is make sure you’re not taking on too much work. If you own a business, it’s natural to want to be part of the hiring process. You may also be doing everything possible to handle payroll, sales, marketing, and production. Do you know when to draw a line and say you’re doing too much? This is one of the biggest struggles.

This is also where it’s time to talk to an expert. Emphas!s HR specializes in Total Talent Management. The specialists help you save money while making yourself and your employees happier. We help you and your employees find that work-life balance by helping you build a strong human resources program. Allow us to show you how we can help you. Schedule a free demonstration today.