Life on a Tight Rope: Work-Life Balance

Gone are the days when you can stroll in to office at 9am and still leave punctually at 5pm for dinner at home.

The definition of work has evolved over the years as the economy and society changed. Work has become a huge part of our identity. And people are working longer and harder to survive in the corporate world. Many feel obliged to claim that they are busy at work to prove that they are gainfully employed. It is a common sight to be seen working overtime and even insane hours in order to vie for the next promotion or for a positive performance appraisal.

Business leaders are heading the pack when it comes to working long hours, with the average putting in 54 hour work weeks according to an international business report in 2007.

Hardworking vs. Hard Working

The world is changing and so has our work boundaries. These changes have shifted our world and blurred the lines between work and our life beyond the office.

Global Competition
You are pressurised to put in longer hours and be more productive in order to protect your job against foreign imports from a global labour market and outsourcing to reduce labour costs.

International Business
Work continues round the clock for some, especially if you work in or with an international organisation. You might be on call 24/7 to handle problems or provide consultancy services.

Advanced Communication Technology
With the growth of communication technology in the forms of mobile phones and highly portable laptops, you can work anywhere - from your home, from your car and even on a vacation. What’s worse, some managers expect it.

Longer Hours
Employers are expecting their staff to work longer hours than they’re scheduled. Often, overtime is mandatory. If you hope to move up the career ladder, you may find yourself regularly working more than 44 hours a week to achieve and exceed expectations.

Changes In Family Roles
Today’s married worker is typically part of a dual-career couple, which makes it difficult to find time to meet commitments to family, friends and community.

Married To Your Work

So, are you married to your work? Are you constantly thinking about your work even when you are away from it?

According to Dr Danny Ng, Consultant Psychologist at Raffles Counselling Centre, there are three main reasons why work-life balance is important.

Firstly, it helps us to maintain some level of optimum performance in our work and family life, as taking “breaks” to concentrate on another aspect of life will break the stress and monotony of our
task and responsibilities.

Secondly, it allows for time to process, think and reflect on the various aspects of our lives. This assist us in maintaining a emotional equilibrium in the way we manage our situation, especially stressful ones.

Finally, it offers outlets for us to channel different energies and expertise, and play different roles in different capacities. This allows for the growth of the individual as the range of functions will result in our learning of adaptive skills to manage different scenarios and different personalities.

“Poor balance will likely result in poor management of the situations,” explained Dr Ng. For instance, a common problem will be a person (normally the male) who spend too much time in his professional work at the expense of family time or even neglect his own health and well-being. Over
time, this will result in health risks and/or family problems such as resentfulness and poor discipline of the children.

Striking A Balance

Here are some ways by which you can juggle your work and after work life.

Keep A Log
Track what you do for a week. Include in the records work and non-work related activities. From the list, evaluate the activities and determine what are necessary and what satisfies you most.
Eliminate or delegate activities you don’t enjoy or don’t have time for.

Consider Flexi-hours
Check with your employer to see if they are able to offer you more flexible hours, a compressed workweek, job- sharing or telecommuting. Having this flexibility may help reduce the
stress you are experiencing and free up some time.

Learn To Say No
Remember, it is perfectly okay to respectfully decline a request for help from your colleagues or your child’s teacher. By giving up the things you do out of guilt or a false sense of obligation,
you can then focus on the activities in your life that are more fulfilling and gives you happiness.

Leave Work At Work
With the blurring of the boundaries between work and personal time due to growing technology, we need to consciously create clear lines to demarcate these areas. When you are spending time with your family, for instance, switch off your mobile phone and resist the temptation to check your office email.

Time Management
Spending time to keep your tasks in order can help you improve your efficiency. Run your errands in
batches and split up your laundry into smaller quantities rather than to save them all until your off day. Set a family calendar for important dates and daily to-do lists to avoid last minute panic attacks.

Outsource Chores
You need not do everything perfectly or on your own. An unmade bed or the occasional sink of dirty dishes would not impact your quality of life. Learn to let go. If you can afford, consider engaging a part-time cleaner to clean your house.

Self Care
Take time off each day for an activity that you enjoy. These can be strolls, exercise, listening to music or watching your favourite TV programme. Unwind after your work with a book, yoga or a long bath.

Set And Protect Time For Recreation
You should build in your schedule time for non-work related activities, says Dr Ng. You should also judiciously guard these times and not allow spillovers in your planning. For instance, if you have blocked off weekends for the family, ensure that you do not carry work home over the weekends
so that your family can enjoy the commitment of your time to them.

Bolster Support System
A strong support system in the form of a trusted friend or co-worker to talk to during stressful times is a valuable asset. Ensure you have friends and family who can help you when you need to work overtime or travel for work.

Seek Professional Help
Should you feel your life getting too chaotic to manage, get help from the professionals - your doctor, psychologist or a counsellor from your employee assistance programme (EAP).

Employee Assistance Programmes
EAP services are usually free and confidential. Be it work, marital or any other issues, your EAP counsellor can help you overcome them.