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Sep 13, 2021 · When you’re languishing, you feel a lack of meaning and a desire to “fit in” emotionally. These three steps can help you stop languishing and start flourishing in your career. Set boundaries ...
- Lack of gratitude. “Thank you.” “Great job on that project!” “Wow, that really made a difference!” How often do you hear things like at work? If you can’t recall the last time, then it may be time for a gut check.
- Bad work assignments. Does it feel like you always get the worst tasks? That can be hard on your self-esteem and general outlook at work. It’s not easy to feel like you’re struggling with difficult or uninteresting work while others are doing well.
- No one has time for you. When you have questions at work, do you get the answers you need from coworkers? Does your boss give you time with them when you request it?
- Lack of support. If you’re not getting the resources you need to be successful at work, that can be a sign that your efforts are going under-appreciated.
6. Lack of purpose in work. Many workers, both young and old, feel that the work is meaningless, lacking purpose. They have told us that there is too much focus on the financial status of the organization and not enough on the “human side of work.”. Many are tired of the games, the conflict, and the bureaucracy. 7.
- Overview
- What Do We Mean When We Say "Work-Life Balance"?
- How Can I Tell If I Have a Healthy Work-Life Balance?
- Can I Request a Healthier Work-Life Balance (If So, How)?
- How to Improve Your Work-Life Balance
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Does it ever feel like your job is taking over your life? Or do you seem to have so many personal obligations that you can’t give 100% at work? We know we need work-life balance, but finding harmony between your professional and personal life isn't always as easy as it sounds.
Work plays a major role in our lives. It takes up much of our waking hours during the traditional workweek. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that we are also taking care of the areas of our lives that keep us healthy and happy.
Professional fulfillment can be a part of that, for sure. But well-being also involves all of the things outside of work that makes your life worthwhile, including your family, hobbies, health, and relationships (not to mention sleep, exercise, balanced meals, and relaxation).
At a Glance
Work-life balance generally refers to a balance between your personal and work life. The goal is to strive to keep that balance so that we are managing stress and burnout by fulfilling other areas of our lives that aren't swallowed up by work. Remember: That "balance" may shift at times and is never really a 50/50 split. We can accept that there may not ever be a balance, but we can strive to feel more grounded and balanced by making a personalized plan, exploring ways to improve that balance with our manager, taking breaks, and creating set boundaries between our personal vs. professional duties. If we're in a position to change jobs and our conversations with our manager are unsuccessful, we could also explore other opportunities that offer more flexibility.
Work-life balance is usually defined as an equilibrium between your professional and personal life. When you keep things balanced, no single element of your life dominates and overwhelms the others.
"Work-life balance is the concept that you effectively manage your professional life and responsibilities so that you are productive and successful at work while ensuring you have plenty of dedicated time to live a fulfilling, grounded, personal life," says Abbey Sangmeister, MS.Ed, LPC, ACS.
That’s a general definition of the concept, but "work-life" balance can also mean different things to different people. Researchers suggest that this is because this balance is all about individual perception. It's something you feel when your work and non-work activities are in harmony and are compatible with your current goals and priorities.
The things that make your own work-life situation feel manageable may differ depending on your needs and your situation.
For working parents, it often means finding a way to juggle the responsibilities of a career while still finding time for a fulfilling family life. With rising numbers of older workers, work-life balance may focus more on staying active in the workforce while finding ways to manage health issues or disabilities.
Major shifts in how we work have also helped change the definition of work-life balance for many people. For many people, work-life balance meant clocking out at 5 p.m. and not thinking about work until you showed up at the office at 9 a.m. the next day.
So how exactly can you tell if you have a healthy work-life balance? It can look a little different for everyone (since we all have different work, family, and relationship situations).
"Lack of regular overwhelm and frustration are good signs that one does have good work-life balance. People who struggle with the Sunday scaries and dread or have a case of [the] Mondays more times than not are most likely struggling with an imbalance," Sangmeister suggests.
The following are a few signs that you’re striking a good balance between your job and other areas of your life:
•You don't feel like the demands of your work roles and personal obligations are constantly in conflict
•You're able to meet your deadlines at work without having to work overtime
•You're getting plenty of sleep at night and eating a healthy, balanced diet
If you're struggling to find a balance between work and the rest of your life, it might be time to have a conversation with your supervisor. This includes work-life benefits like hybrid, flexible, or remote work. Flextime, alternative work schedules, child care options, and access to mental health services are important work-life benefits employers offer to attract employees.
There are things that your employer can do to help foster a better work-life balance. It's something that benefits them as well. Research has shown that workers with better work-life balance are more satisfied with their jobs, perform better at work, and are more committed to their organizations.
A conversation with your employer might help you find ways to work together to make things more manageable. This might involve reprioritizing your tasks, delegating some work to others, hiring additional help, or allowing you to work remotely when needed.
Unfortunately, these aren't always options, depending on the nature of your profession or your role in the workplace. In many cases, making a change hinges on how you approach your job. It might mean changing your priorities, delegating tasks at home, or letting your colleagues know you can no longer respond to work-related problems during your downtime.
It's also important to be aware of your legal rights. If you need certain accommodations because you are pregnant or have a disability, these needs may be protected by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
This includes protections if you are dealing with depression, anxiety, or another mental health condition. (You will need to have your condition diagnosed by your doctor, and you may need to provide documentation for your employer when you request an accommodation.)
So what’s next if you feel like your work-life balance is in shambles? It's time to take a step back, figure out what is wrong, and make a plan to fix it. Your health literally depends on it.
Many studies have demonstrated that people who have more conflict between their work and non-work life are more likely to experience health problems, mental health conditions, and poor overall health outcomes.
Apr 9, 2021 · 4. Get out of your head into your gut. If you are wired to be heavily driven by shoulds, you want to start rewiring your brain to pay attention to and use your emotions as information. All those ...
Mar 9, 2023 · Spend a little time planning your day and keeping things neat. This way, you will know exactly what items you have and where they are located, saving you much time, money, and stress. 6. Not Prioritizing. Most people who complain about not having enough time in the day have a prioritization problem.
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Nov 24, 2019 · Many workers, both young and old, feel that the work is meaningless, lacking purpose. They have told us that there is too much focus on the financial status of the organization and not enough on ...
