The concept of a “work-life balance” appeared in the 80's. It's the relation between the time you spend at work and the time you dedicate to things you love, like yourself, your family, your friends, and your hobbies.
But I don't think the term “balance” is proper here. I'd prefer to use the word “harmony.” Because if you feel like you're missing something in your life, then the harmony is lost. On the other hand, if you feel satisfied and happy, both at work and at home, then everything is alright. Everybody has their own opinion on how much work is too much or how much free time is too much, but we all have one thing in common: we all strive to achieve some kind of balance.
There are many reasons why your work-life balance might be upset: tense relationships with your colleagues, professional burnout, insomnia, or a lack of time and energy to spend with your family or on sports or hobbies.
One cause of imbalance is overwork. Work-life balance depends on the quantity of hours you spend at work. Working overtime is dangerous. It causes health impairment and raises the level of stress. If you work more than fifty hours per week, the effectiveness of additional work decreases very quickly until it has the opposite effect: you start making simple mistakes, which then require additional time to fix.
Lack of success and enjoyment is another cause of work-life imbalance. You can't have harmony if you have neither the success you desire nor the enjoyment you need. People spend 50 percent of their time at work. That's why it is so crucial to find an occupation you enjoy. If your job is tiring and boring, you should consider changing your career.
Building a career demands certain sacrifices. It's true, and we all know it. But you shouldn't have to make sacrifices on a regular basis. To become successful in a certain area, you need to concentrate on your goal. During this time your personal life may be put on the back burner. That's neither good nor bad; it's simply the only way to achieve something. But very often in the pursuit of an aim people forget that life is more than a job. Therefore, it's crucial to know when to hit the brakes before you lose yourself and the people you love.
We play certain roles throughout our lives: subordinate, parent, spouse, etc. But make sure not to play more than eight roles. If a person plays less than eight, then his life is under control, but exceeding this number causes imbalance.
Do only what is most important to you. Workaholism is simply an implicit belief that success is possible only when you work your socks off. But sometimes this belief can turn into an obsession, where a person forgets his original goals and just works for the sake of work
So set boundaries and follow a schedule. Count how many hours a week you spend doing your job. And make sure your work stays at work. Never bring it home.
Try to stick to the perfect formula of productivity. If a task surpasses your skills, it's a stress zone. If your skills surpass a task, it's a boredom zone. Try to keep a good balance between stress and boredom. And always find time for hobbies, sports, and , most importantly, your family. They are your top priority.
You need to define for yourself what success is and what happiness is. Everyone can keep a healthy balance between work and private life; you just need to take certain actions. And now you know which ones.
