Work-Life Balance: More Than A Buzz Word
Most companies actually expect more from their employees than they did before, in terms of hours, dedication, and thought processes. There's a tendency, particularly in tough economic times and a tough job market, to conform to those expectations. As a result it's easy for you to neglect your family, friends, recreational activities, and all the other things that help you stay mentally and physically healthy.
Make no bones about it. Over-emphasis on work not only can damage your outside life, but can actually threaten your life, through negative impact on your health.
How To Get Work and LIfe In Balance?
First, don't rely on your employer to do it for you. You have to draw your own lines and boundaries, and learn to say: "No", or the results will be burn-out and even worse job issues. It's YOUR responsibility to take care of yourself, and balance your life.
Second, keep the long term in mind. Sure, it might make sense right NOW, to put in seventy hour weeks so you can achieve your career goals, but here's a secret: You never WILL get to the point where you can slow down. It doesn't work that way, because once you establish a reputation as an amazingly hard worker, your employer is likely to work you harder if you allow it. Also, once you get into the workaholic mode for a few years, it will be hard for you to move out of that psychological place.
There's a lot more you can do to get your life and work in balance.
Take the time to watch the following video by Nigel Marsh on how to make work-life balance work. It's about 10 minutes. Here's a cool quote:
There are thousands and thousands of people out there leading lives of quiet, screaming desperation, where they work long, hard hours at jobs they hate to enable them to buy things they don’t need to impress people they don’t like.”