Written by- Liz Dsouza, Founder Liz Lyn Careers
Have you ever heard of the saying " don't get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life"? there is great depth to this saying ad still, it's the simplest advice to follow. In today's world employees are given a pat on the back for staying back late at work and working on weekends and employees that choose to have a life outside work is often called unambitious or even lazy, so what are we promoting here? and why is it so wrong to have a balance between work and actually living? Let's look at a few reasons why Work-life balance is more important now than ever.
Work is just a part of your life: a lot of people have this sense that work is their life, even when you ask someone to introduce themselves to you, the first thing they say is they are a doctor, or an actor, or a tattoo artist. Yes, what you do is a big part of your life, however, it's important to understand who you really are besides what you just do. Having a clear identity helps us find our place in society and understand who we are beyond just work.
Having balance keeps us healthy: overworking or only working can sometimes takes over our lives and we subsequently don't eat on time, don't take enough breaks, or even drink enough water and all of this can lead to an unhealthy lifestyle.
Helps maintain a healthy mental state: Not having time to go out with our friends or do the things we like can put us in an unhealthy frame of mind which in the long run makes us feel negatively at work, maintaining a balanced work-life situation will help you be motivated and look forward to working rather than hate it.
Helps you avoid burnout: finding a good balance between work and life will ensure that you do not burn out quickly and instead enjoy work during the time that you are present.
Better productivity: working for 7.5 to 8 hours a day can help with overall productivity as post 8 hours your mind is tired and you will not be able to think as clearly as you should be able to, hence resting and coming back to work the next day fully rejuvenated is the best way to ensure productivity.
Of course, it is important to have a good working environment, and the role that you are in should also excite you in order for you to maintain the above, however, no matter where you go or what you do a good work-life balance is more of a habit that you develop rather than something that is attached to a particular job.