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Why You Should Prioritize a Good Work-Life Balance

Originally published on MichaelRalby.org

work life balance michael ralby

Regardless of your field, striking a balance between work, family, and other activities is considered to be one of the most significant contributing factors to an individual’s happiness, health, and overall well-being. Effectively managing the time you devote to professional pursuits and personal, recreational ones can help improve individual contentedness as well as productivity.

Stress

A significant piece of everyday life that can make work unpleasant is stress. Learning how to manage your stress in positive, productive ways can help minimize lapses in productivity, improve enthusiasm, and generally make work more enjoyable. Navigating an effective work-life balance means recognizing the ill effects stress can have on your productivity, emotional state, and concentration.

Stress is one of the reasons many individuals strive to attain a good work-life balance. Over time, too much stress can not only harm your mental health, but it can also indirectly weaken your immune system and damage your interpersonal relationships. In order to operate as a healthy, happy, functional individual at work and at home, striving to foster a positive balance between work and other activities is essential.

Value

Employers should focus on encouraging their employees to have a healthier work-life balance. There are many benefits to this attitude for both the individual but also business as a whole. As mentioned, stress can hinder productivity as well as motivation; attempting to alleviate stress for employees can promote better time management and higher quality work. Additionally, an employee who promotes a good work-life balance shows employees that they are valued and respected; simple gestures, opportunities for rest, and resources for support can encourage loyalty, hard work, and overall enthusiasm.

Balance

The key word in work-life balance is, of course, balance. Striving to attain a healthy balance between your career and everything outside of work is essential for satisfaction and success. Those who feel they need to work hard, take on extra projects, and work late every night are bound to miss out on important events such as social gatherings, celebrations, and child development milestones. Obtaining a good work-life balance will help you manage your workload and ensure you are able to participate in other activities.

Additionally, maintaining a good work-life balance grants you more time to devote to your hobbies, interests, and passions. Pursuing personal goals in addition to career-oriented aspirations can help you grow and develop your skills.

You should aim to balance your work and your personal life to promote greater productivity and satisfaction. Employers should do what they can to encourage this development, as well, so that their employees and their business are in great shape.