How important is work life balance?

 How important is work life balance?


Maintaining a good balance between work and personal life is important not only for health and relationships, but also for improving how well employees’ work. When people don’t see their job as a burden, they are more motivated, make fewer mistakes, and are more likely to support the company. Businesses that promote work-life balance are becoming more attractive, especially since it’s harder these days to hire and keep young workers. A study by Oxford University’s Department of Economics found that replacing an employee costs about £30,000 on average, and it can take up to 28 weeks for a new employee to perform at their best.

 

What Exactly Is Work-Life Balance?

Although people define it in different ways, true work-life balance means being involved in both work and personal life without too much conflict between the two. It’s not about splitting time equally, but about handling responsibilities in a smart way to feel satisfied and function well in all areas of life (Sirgy and Lee, 2017).

 Some researchers add that personal habits, family situations, and workplace culture also play a big role. Things like being a workaholic, having family care duties, or working in a strict and inflexible environment can all affect how well someone can maintain balance (Delecta, 2011).


What causes poor work life balance?

Overutilization and long hours: When employees are assigned more work than they can handle, often due to poor project planning or last-minute client requests. To prevent burnout and maintain productivity, managers must realistically assess team capacity, prioritize tasks, and distribute workloads fairly.



Understaffing: While teamwork is often relied upon to meet deadlines during understaffing, it is unfair to expect employees to sacrifice personal time for systemic issues.



Lack of flexibility at work: A lack of flexible working arrangements can significantly impact work-life balance, while offering flexibility in location and scheduling can enhance employees' mental and physical health, leading to a healthier work-life balance.



Company culture: Fostering unhealthy practices like presenteeism, driven by implicit pressure and fear of judgment, can lead employees to prioritize work over their wellbeing. When long hours and working while unwell become normalized, unspoken expectations compel employees to compromise their health to appear dedicated.

 

Tips to improve

Know your values: Reflect on what truly matters to you and prioritize activities that align with your passions and interests to create a more fulfilling life.

Practice time management: Use tools like calendars and to-do lists to track how you spend your time, identify time-wasters, and explore ways to streamline tasks and reduce unnecessary commitments.

Set boundaries: Learn to say no, protect your personal time, and communicate clearly when you're unavailable to maintain balance and reduce stress.

Enjoy your work: Aim to find joy or purpose in your work; if it's making you unhappy, consider exploring flexible arrangements, changing roles, or pursuing a new career path.

Review your finances: Cutting unnecessary expenses can reduce financial pressure, potentially allowing you to work fewer hours and gain more personal time without sacrificing happiness.


What Can Organizations Do?

Work life balance strategies aren't just about being kind they're a smart business move. Companies that offer flexible hours, employee support programs, parental leave, remote work options, and a positive workplace culture often experience higher employee retention, greater job satisfaction, and improved performance. When organizations support employees in managing both their work and personal lives, it leads to better results, lower turnover, and increased overall wellbeing (Sirgy and Lee, 2017).

 

Conclusion:

By encouraging your people to have a healthy work-life balance, you will create an environment where everyone is dedicated to the task at hand. This will improve retention rates, productivity and ultimately profit.

 

References:

  1. Lockwood, N.R., 2003. Work/life balance: Challenges and solutions. Benefits Quarterly, 19(4), p.94.
  2. Delecta, P., 2011. Work life balance. International journal of current research, 3(4), pp.186-189.
  3. Byrne, U., 2005. Work-life balance: Why are we talking about it at all?. Business Information Review, 22(1), pp.53-59.
  4. Sirgy, M.J. and Lee, D.J., 2018. Work-life balance: An integrative review. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 13, pp.229-254.
  5. Healthdirect Australia (2023) 'Work-life balance', Healthdirect. Available at: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/work-life-balance (Accessed: 2 April 2025).
  6. Wedgwood, J. (2022) 'The Importance of Work-Life Balance', The Happiness Index, 21 September. Available at: https://thehappinessindex.com/blog/importance-work-life-balance/ (Accessed: 5 April 2025).

Comments

  1. Chathuri SamarawickramaApril 5, 2025 at 1:28 PM

    Work-life balance is essential it helps employees stay healthy, motivated, and more productive, both at work and in their personal lives.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Prasanna KumaraApril 5, 2025 at 5:20 PM

    It’s crucial for our well-being and productivity. A balanced life enhances our work performance while allowing time for personal connections and self-care. Embracing work-life balance leads to greater happiness and reduced stress, making it a vital investment in our future.

    ReplyDelete
  3. chinthanashilpikaApril 6, 2025 at 6:35 AM

    This article perfectly explains why work-life balance matters so much in today's fast-paced world, especially for Sri Lankan professionals who often struggle with long hours and workplace stress. I completely agree that work-life balance should be a priority for Sri Lankan organizations. Companies that get this right will have a clear advantage in attracting and keeping top talent.

    ReplyDelete

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