Work-life balance: what it is and how to improve it

Personal or professional: setting healthy boundaries is essential.

It seems impossible to find the perfect work-life balance between heavy workloads, career goals, relationships and hobbies. In an ideal world, our jobs will end with our working hours, leaving us plenty of time to focus on other things. However, the passion for professional success often pushes the boundaries necessary for personal and mental well-being.

So how do we define work-life balance as the line between work and personal life becomes ever thinner? Spoiler alert: it's more complex than schedules.

What is work-life balance?

Work-life balance is a state of balance that all workers today aspire to. It is achieved when an individual can also prioritize the demands of their career and personal life. It is the satisfaction resulting from the time, energy and attention they devote to their work and their life.

Employers are as responsible for creating and promoting work-life balance as employees. Many companies use employee engagement software to gain actionable insights through feedback and encourage activities that benefit employee well-being.

A healthy work-life balance is associated with a sense of harmony. It positively affects your personal and professional relationships, your mental and physical well-being, and your happiness.

It's no easy task, but let this comprehensive guide to work-life balance educate and inspire you to find harmony in your personal and professional life.

How important is work-life balance?

When employees achieve a work-life balance, the results can translate to higher levels of productivity, lower absenteeism, improved motivation levels, and improved mindset and an overall healthier body.

A positive work environment makes employees more likely to stay loyal and work harder. Stress levels are reduced, making them less likely to leave the organization. Higher levels of employee engagement will ultimately benefit revenue and overall company profitability. Companies that care about the well-being of their employees are recognized in the industry for their compassion. This, in turn, will attract talented candidates who want to be part of the culture.

In addition to workplace benefits, work-life balance also allows employees to enhance their personal lives and goals. You only have one life, so prioritize your relationships and personal goals as much as your professional goals.

Association of employees with work identity

Workplaces today revolve around one main idea: fast, efficient and inexpensive solutions. Once simple products and services have become complex to stand out to consumers. These conditions have had a significant impact on how individuals interact with their business and create work-related images.

The place of work has become an identifier. By working for an organization, individuals not only earn a salary, but also associate who they are with their job title, employee status, and how their work challenges them.

Because people gain a sense of identity from those around them, employees see themselves as part of the corporate culture that their employers represent. Organizational values, norms and interests define the way people work, but can also be reflected in their actions outside of work. This results in employees matching their professional identity with their true identity.

When employees interact with co-workers, manage...