The Myth of Work-Life Balance and What Actually Works Instead?

For many of us, balancing professional and personal lives is a constant challenge. Much of this challenge stems from the fact that the ideal employee has long been projected as someone who can work hard and progress in career while enjoying the joys of life. But today, there’s a greater acceptance of reality as people understand the myths about work life balance and strive to create schedules that work best for them.

Read on as we discuss the myth of work-life balance.

What is Work-Life Balance?

Let us start with a basic understanding of what is work-life balance and why is it important for every employee.

A simple definition of work-life balance is the ability of an individual to meet the demands of work while doing the personal things that the individual likes. A closer analysis shows that this is not easy because our personal and professional lives are deeply intertwined, and achieving the perfect balance is difficult, if not impossible.

Still, individuals and organizations strive for a work-life balance because it offers the following benefits:

• Better physical and mental health.
• More engagement from employees at work.
• Lesser burnouts
• A higher chance of success for individuals.
• A sustainable way to live and work.

Due to these benefits, work-life balance is a much-desired outcome for every working individual.

Work-Life Balance - Myth or Reality?

Is work-life balance a myth? Let’s step back a bit to understand its origins.

The idea of a work-life balance emerged in the 1980s when more women joined the workforce. It was started as a way to provide flexible work schedules, maternity leaves, and better working conditions that helped women to work while caring for their children.

Though these objectives laid the foundation, the idea of a work-life balance became an oversimplified solution that became hard to achieve. This is because work and life are not two aspects among which you can equally divide your time and effort. On the contrary, they are interconnected, and at any time, one takes precedence over the other as life is unpredictable.

Moreover, the existing metrics of an individual’s success are money and power, both of which tip the scales of a balance toward the professional aspect. Considering these aspects, work-life balance, in its current form and understanding, is a myth.

To truly achieve this balance, organizations, individuals, and society must take a more mindful approach.

A New Approach to Work-Life Balance

So far, we have seen that work-life balance is important, but it is not possible to achieve it with our current approach and mindset. Naturally, the option is to take a whole new approach to it.

The first step is to understand the current limitations, the interconnectedness of work and life, and the need to tackle this complex issue.

What Can Individuals Do?

A core aspect of happiness is mindfulness. When individuals understand their current responsibilities and interests, they are more likely to find a sustainable solution that works for them. In turn, this provides greater control over their schedules and allows them to focus better on the current task instead of worrying about what will happen at work/home. This mindfulness is key to being more productive, happy, and distressed.

Besides mindfulness, individuals can do the following:

• Create defined and feasible short-term and long-term goals for personal and professional lives.
• Define boundaries that will allow you to practice mindfulness in what you’re doing at the moment. For example, if you’re spending time with your family, mute your work notifications. Similarly, if you’re working, turn off your social media notifications.
• Learn to prioritize your tasks to help you focus on what matters on any day.
• Be adaptable and flexible to changes in your schedule.
• Create a support system around you.
• Use your time effectively and make every moment count.
• Take help for stress management, if required.
• Consult with experts, if you’re unsure how to go about it.

What Can Organizations Do?

Organizations have a big role to play in helping every employee find their own balance. It involves providing the right tools and support they need to balance their personal and professional commitments.

Here are some tips for organizations:

• Encourage time off for every employee. An effective way used by many organizations is to make the annual vacation a “use it or lose it” option, as this will encourage them to take annual breaks. Studies show that well-rested employees are more productive when they come back to work.
• Provide coffee rooms, gyms, or game areas where employees can spend a few minutes each day to take their minds off work. These short breaks during the day can improve their focus.
• Make the well-being of your employees a priority and create a culture where everyone is valued and respected.
• Ask managers to talk to their employees regularly and understand what works best for them. Remember, every individual is different, so offer what works best for them.
• Hire mindfulness speakers and experts who can talk to your employees about the need for work-life balance and can guide them to find the balance that works for them.

Overall, individuals and organizations must take a mindful approach that allows individuals to integrate work and life into their everyday lives, rather than striving for that perfect balance. While individuals must set specific goals and take actions that work for them, organizations must understand the unique needs of every individual and provide the required support.

Final Thoughts

To conclude, work-life balance is a myth because they are not binary aspects that individuals can switch from one to another at the chime of a clock. This balance is different for every individual and can even vary on different days for the same individual. Due to this uniqueness, it’s important to take a mindful approach and adjust schedules and activities to meet the changing demands of personal and professional lives. Organizations must also offer the right support that will help employees stay motivated at work while meeting their personal obligations and interests.

To help your employees understand this myth of work-life balance and to take a mindful approach to this complex problem, consider bringing in mindfulness speakers who can help everyone take an integrated approach.