Burnout is not a myth, it is real.
One of the most vital, yet challenging things to do in life, is finding a balance between your work and personal life. A lot of people usually give their work-life preference over their personal life. But then, is it really worth it?
This desire to make money and reach the zenith of our profession can make us overlook our well-being. Regardless, there’s a growing need to have a balanced and robust work-life. This is required for our emotional, mental, and physical well-being— which in turn boosts our professional journey in life.
A recent survey by the Israeli Democracy Institute discovered that a majority of Israeli workers are unhappy with their work-life balance, and many still work while on sick leave. According to the survey, 57 percent of Israelis are dissatisfied with their existing work-life balance, with a similar percentage of respondents complaining of inflexible employers who do not allow them to work from home.
A work-life balance is a state of flow where an individual prioritizes the needs of a career and the needs of personal life equally and doesn’t prioritize one over the other. An imbalanced work-life balance is obvious when there’s too much workload, and having to work extra shifts— all of which has a ripple effect of a neglected family, and even worse, in some cases.
Importance of a Balanced Work-Life
A harmonious work-life keeps employees motivated and relaxed while at work, and also boosts overall productivity. Only the employers who really know the long-term value of a balanced work-life would instill the same into their employers and teammates.
Sebastian Scheplitz — CEO of a marketing agency network and business strategist as well, believes that; being a source of inspiration to others should come before work. “My main message is to inspire others to give their absolute best, enjoy their life, work, and follow their dreams. That’s what I want to communicate the most. And even though visibility for my businesses is important too, it’s not as much as my desire to inspire others.“
When employees feel a greater sense of control and ownership over their own lives, they cultivate better relationships and achieve more productivity. A firm with employees that have a great work-life balance attracts valuable clients. Asides from that, such a firm would have high rates of employee retention, which in turn fosters loyalty.
Ways to Help Your Employees Have a Better Work-Life Balance
Here are some useful tips you can make use of, to help your employees achieve a better work-life balance.
Encourage Communication
Communication is key. Create a solid relationship with your employees, so they aren’t afraid to discuss their troubles or opinions. Also, employers must provide time for employees to communicate with one another — this serves as a bedrock for a healthy and balanced work life. You can do this by hosting fun activities for in-person or virtual work meetings. Consider playing an online murder mystery game or escape room to enhance communication and collaboration among co-workers.
“Especially when working remotely and with team members in different time zones, I have a clearly communicated ‘open laptop policy’ and an open ear for everyone, and all levels below have the same. Also, my teams meet for workations where they meet up in a villa in Bali or Mallorca, and then work from there together. This leads to a much stronger connection,” says Sebastian Scheplitz who spearheads an organization working with 250 people.
Prioritize their Health
Health is wealth. There’s no lie in this.
Your health and that of your employees should be a major concern. This encapsulates physical, emotional, and mental health. A breach in the health state of your employees will adversely affect the growth and development of your business.
According to Sebastian Scheplitz, health is one of the major pillars of life that should never be neglected. “Always focus on all of life’s pillars; work-life, relationships, wealth, and health. Just like you can use the four pillars of Ikigai to find your happiness, you should focus on all of the above pillars. If you leave one out, your life will lose its stability. No one wants to follow an unstable CEO. Ultimately, your business will only run smoothly when all these pillars are stable,” Sebastian advises.
It’s imperative to make provisions for medical check-up and therapy sessions at your workplace. Especially therapy, because this also helps employees to talk about any burden they have on their minds. It doesn’t have to be extreme or intense. You can simply dedicate a day of the week to general body check-ups and counseling/therapy sessions.
Set Realistic Goals
In life, goal setting is necessary to help us focus and track our growth. The same applies to the workplace to help track productivity. Authentic and measurable goals enable employees to block distractions and focus on utmost priority, and not just something trivial. While it’s important to set goals, they must be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely.
“Better come up with real goals. Don’t say ‘I want to lose weight.’ Say ‘I’m going to track my calories from now on’ or ‘I’m putting Tuesdays and Thursdays in my calendar to work out.’ Define your goals. Don’t just have vague or unrealistic ideas of goals,” Sebastian emphasizes.
A workplace without set goals will suffer a poor work-life balance. But when these goals are put in place, you can create a schedule that works for you, and that also allows flexibility for your employees.
Establish Boundaries
The home and the workplace are two different entities. They are not the same, and there should be a limit to what you do at both ends. Set clear boundaries for yourself and for your employees as well. This is to avoid burnout.
Ensure that these boundaries are favorable and that your workers adhere strictly to them. Don’t overwork your employees. Set boundaries such as; not checking office emails after work hours, not working on weekends, and having separate work devices. This helps them draw a fine line between work and home demands.
Although, when you actually love doing what you do for work, there’s a natural balance that comes forth, and you don’t need to juggle boundaries and separate yourself from work.
Be a Leader
Don’t just be an employer, be a leader as well.
You need to lead by example. However, this can be tough, because you’re also charged with the responsibility of making your business thrive.
But while you go about fulfilling these obligations, ensure that you show your employees how to have a work-life balance. Hold them by the hands, show them how you do it. Help them understand that it’s not difficult or overwhelming to balance both sides.
People tend to model what they constantly interact with — consciously or unconsciously. When your employees see how you handle situations and maintain a balance of it all, they’ll start to model this behavior. On the other hand, if you don’t have a grip on your own work-life, your employees will see right through this and may falter as well.
If you don’t follow what you preach, you might just be adding to a poor work-life balance. Always have it at the back of your mind — you lead, they follow.
Final Thoughts
A workplace with a positive work-life balance is often productive, and also gives room for employees to thrive at their job. The suggestions mentioned above are practical guides to encourage a better work-life balance for you and your employees.
Take it one step at a time. Soon enough, you’ll get there.
