The terms “work-life integration” and “work-life blending” may sound more appealing than “work-life balance.” However, when I think of these alternate phrases, I often picture parents checking email from the soccer field, or stepping away from an activity with family to take “a minute” for an “important phone call.” “Integration” and “blending” seem to me more like work intruding into all aspects of our personal time than the other way around. If you enjoy your work and get satisfaction from it, an “equal time” definition of work-life balance isn’t relevant or useful.Īlternative Terms So Far Are Also Unhelpful “Balance” also doesn’t mean allotting equal time to everything, as some might define it (often workaholics, who need a useful definition more than most). So, while remote work can offer the freedom to handle some personal tasks and household chores out of the sight of colleagues, it should not be assumed to offer better balance.

In addition, working from home often increases the frequency of meetings, the challenges of “always on” expectations, and the presence of constant distractions. In fact, studies show that remote workers often work more hours, which, of course, takes time away from leisure activities. Activities such as exercise, enjoying hobbies, traveling, and spending time with family and friends are crucial to mental and emotional well-being, and facilitate a different and creative perspective on work upon return to it.Īlthough working from home may make it more practical for people to manage their personal lives, that is distinctly different from achieving work-life balance. Time away from work is necessary to recharge and re-energize, become more relaxed, attend to physical health, and refresh creativity. This applies to work and life in general. It’s not possible to be objective about circumstances when we are sleep deprived, sedentary, don’t take time to step away and gain new perspectives. For this to happen, our physical and emotional health must be a priority. The guidelines can also serve in attracting talented new workers to the organization, as well as be instrumental in retaining high performers.Īn overlooked factor in knowledge work is that it depends on brain function, so for high quality, our brains need to be functioning well.

Once this is established, the company can use this explicit meaning to create guidelines that help team members understand how they can best balance their roles and responsibilities within the organization with their personal responsibilities and appropriate downtime. Both employers and their staff need to adopt a corporate policy that is mutually beneficial to the company’s goals and productivity, and to the employees’ well-being. Leaders who wish to help their teams achieve work-life balance need to provide a clear definition.

There are flaws in both of these definitions. Others feel that work-life balance means devoting equal time to work and to a personal life. Remote work has given many workers the ability to do this. To some, it is being able to deal with personal tasks and issues during the workday. The term is defined in different ways by different people. It can be the solution to our stress and exhaustion, but only if we’re clear on exactly what it means. Many are frazzled by too many meetings, distractions, and interruptions, causing increasing demands on time.Īs a result, work-life balance is a popular topic. All are by-products of work for today’s professionals.

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