16th March 2025
Despite the resounding evidence that working long hours can be harmful to both employees & employers, many professionals still struggle to overcome their assumptions & their deeply-ingrained habits around work hours. What does it take to free yourself from these unhealthy patterns & reach a more sustainable, rewarding work-life balance?
I recently read a wonderful quote by Charles Miller:
“Spend a handful of hours a day going fast. Crush a gym session. Do deep work on a project you care about. Spend the rest of the day going slow. Take walks. Read books. Get a long dinner with friends. Either way, avoid the anxious middle where you never truly relax or truly move forward.”
The idea is to create a balance rather than spend anxious time concentrating on neither ‘Work nor Life.’
Work-life balance is the amount of time you spend doing your job versus the time you spend with your friends and family and pursuing your interests.
Setting work aside at the end of the day and catching up with loved ones is personal time.
At times, these simple pleasures can seem elusive & unattainable. As we commit time to one side, the others seem to shrink inevitably. Yet, despite how it may sometimes seem, it is possible to achieve a healthy balance that fits your particular circumstances & supports your professional goals & personal relationships.
The unique nature of our lives also means that each of our work-life balances will be unique.
For a college student, it might mean forgoing Friday night parties this weekend to revise for next week’s exam.
For a parent, it might mean adjusting their work schedule to spend more evenings with their kids during the school year.
For a workaholic executive, it may mean just switching off over the weekend and spending ‘Me’ time.
For some, it may mean setting firm boundaries at work about when you can be contacted whilst out of the office, whereas for others, it might mean scheduling personal time for self-care. Still, others might look for more flexible work that allows them to take leave when needed or control their work day with flexible hours.
As you pause to consider your current work-life situation, ask yourself how you feel about your current situation.
You need to follow a 3step structure to help simplify the process of creating a Work-Life balance.
These steps are:
> Pause and pay attention
> Reprioritise and reassess
> Reflect, refine, repeat
Some questions you might reflect on include:
> Am I spending enough quality time doing what I want?
> Am I committing enough time and energy to people or things that are meaningful to me?
> Do I still feel aligned with my professional or personal goals? Why or why not?
> Where do I feel the most stuck?
> What is it about this situation that makes me feel that way?
First identify & acknowledge the problem & half your job is done and the solution will be found.
For a better life, create a work life balance & stay blessed forever.