Create a better work-life balance

Futurists and scientists of the last century spoke glowingly of the arrival of an age of leisure. Automation and computing would take over, they said, freeing the individual to pursue a rich, rewarding and balanced life. Instead, this is what modern life in the Western world has actually turned out to be.

• Employees work harder and longer.
• The unemployed live in difficult circumstances.
• Stress levels are rising higher and higher.
• More and more households have both parents working
• In single-parent households, the father has to work human hours just to make ends meet.

Work-life balance education is a tool to increase productivity and improve quality of life, by teaching people to higher levels of achievement and enjoyment every day, both inside and outside of work, trying to achieve better management of individual projects. as well as relationships.

To achieve a better work-life balance, think about what really matters to you. Organizing your priorities is the first, most essential step on the path to a well-balanced life. Remember, find out what YOU want, not what you THINK your priorities should be. Take a couple of days off work. ask yourself

• If your life had to focus on one thing, what would it be?
• If you could add a secondary focus, what would it be?
• If you could add a third approach, what would it be?
• If you could add a fourth approach, what would it be?
• Etc

If you answer yourself honestly, the result will give you your list of top five personal priorities. In most cases, a top five list tends to include the following, in any order:

• Children
• Spouse/life partner
• career
• Success
• Work satisfaction
• religion/spirituality
• Community service
• Health
• Sport activities
• Art
• hobbies
• Adventure travel

The key is to know your priorities and devote all of your attention to one priority at a time. Divide up your total timeline, all of your time, so you’re thinking about work at work and paying attention to family when you’re at home.

Also, make sure you get rid of unnecessary activities. Once you have a list of what really matters, you don’t need to spend a lot of time on non-priority activities. Try to drop commitments and activities that are not on your top five list. Unnecessary activities will only keep you away from the things that do matter.

We all think twice before canceling work or a doctor’s appointment, but we forget that our private time deserves the same respect. Protect your personal time in the same way, and keep work and distractions from intruding. If work consistently interferes with your personal time, discuss adjustments with your boss. Show them that you get better results in fewer hours and that job performance cannot be judged simply in terms of hours. If you’re self-employed, create boundaries that keep work from intruding.

Accept the help of your partner, family or friends to balance your life, for example, let them take care of the children or run an errand leaving you free to focus on other priorities. Work in a tag team system, taking turns. Get more alone time with your partner and take up a friend’s offer to babysit, or better yet, arrange a regular swap with another couple. Don’t forget to plan for fun and relaxation. Until taking time for yourself becomes a habit, reserve space in your planner to relax and have fun. Plan and arrange to make sure you keep your commitment.

Companies should also think about work-life balance provisions, such as maternity leave, dependent care leave, parental leave and an increased level of rights for part-time workers . They realize that achieving the right work-life balance for employees can yield considerable benefits in terms of employee retention, engagement, efficiency, quality of work, etc. Flexible employment policies also provide powerful hiring incentives, attracting new employees with superior skills.