To
discover and strike a balance between work and personal life is an art. In
spite of the unending quest for 'Work-Life Balance' it has been churning in our
mind as to what does it exactly mean?
In
the olden days business and personal life were distinct. Now the scenario has
changed due to globalization and cut throat competition. People devote very high
quantum of their time in business and bare minimum or negligible time for
personal life. This encroachment of work in personal life and vice versa is a
highly alarming unhealthy situation.
Work
– Life Balance is an art a skill that one has to learn and practice. Work Life
Balance conceptually involves Planning, Prioritization and Execution on business
part and on Life Part it is Health, Relaxation, Leisure, Pleasure, Spiritual
development and devoting necessary time for family, children and dependent old
parents.
Practically
it is impossible to devote equal number of hours on each of the above
dimensions. However scheduling and executing in a way that customers as well as
family members are satisfied is a real balance. One has to be most disciplined
in this. One must remember that needs change from time to time hence one must
be flexible enough to wisely adjust his or her schedule and execute.
An
unmarried fresh Graduate, Engineer, Doctor, Architect and MBA has the priority
of his or her career and business or job for earning. No sooner he gets married
and has children, the need changes and taking care of his or her spouse and
kids is an added responsibility. Upon children’s growing up their schooling,
college and professional education gets added into the responsibility. This
need changing scenario is an ongoing process. One has to fulfil his or her
responsibility toward customers and family members in such a balanced way that none is dissatisfied.
At
the same time the Earning member / Businessman / Professional also increases in
the age and his or her needs change too. One must schedule in a way that his or
her needs of Relaxing, Entertainment, Amusement, Celebrations, Joy of living,
Pride, and Love are fulfilled failing
which one cannot perform in profession
to his or her optimum efficiency or
effectiveness. While we are striking for a work life balance, we do not
merely balance our profession and family, we are also balancing our mental and
status quo and thereby balancing our emotional intelligence, which is the
worldly ability to manage ourselves and to handle others. This benefits the
company in the long-run.
On
the other hand corporate world today has become exceedingly demanding. Because
of tough competition and 24/7 modality of working, professionals come across
many health and social problems like increasing number of divorces, infertility
due high stress levels, advent of nuclear families and many more. Many entrepreneurs
and big business people in the rat race of success, name and fame have to lead
a one way life and they are unhappy because they totally lose the “Life
Balance”. To cope the employees are
given the freedom to have their own ways of doing the work, even to an extent
of freedom to work from home or any other location where employee is on
tour. They are given the assignments
with deadlines and they can have their own schedule as far as they are meeting
the deadlines.
Similarly,
women work force now constitutes a significant percentage of the total work
force in any organization today. Women executives have to deal with- running a
home, doing daily chores like cooking/cleaning, raising family and handle the
tight deadlines at home and work. The society over the years has recognized
women's need to legal and financial independence. But the transition to
motherhood still continues to have practical and emotional consequences. It
also affects their professional stature when they return to work. Some
organizations have gone to the extent of involving the families of the employees
by introducing maternity leaves / paternity leaves and various holiday packages
and insurance schemes. Organizations now focus on grooming their employees who
are now not considered merely a work force but regarded as the 'Human Capital'
of the organization “The Most Important and Valuable Asset”.
In
nutshell, corporate have realized the importance of the employee-work-life
balance and its importance in the efficiency and effectiveness of the
employees. They help facilitate work-life balance for their employees through suitable
work-life training programs. In offices also, they provide friendly work
atmosphere and necessary refreshments.
Do's and Don’ts in “Work –
Lifestyle Balance”
1.
Plan your agenda: Begin your day taking care of the
small things you have to do at home. Little planning is essential. If you take
care of small things you got to for home, you won’t be stressed while at work.
Strike a work-life balance by evaluating your work-home relationships like
listing out the amount of time you are spending at work and home.
2.
Organize: Everything in your business
should be set up using logical systems so anyone needing anything can find it
when they need it.
3.
Prioritize:
The secret to booking your
time effectively boils down to knowing what's important and what can wait. Ask
questions that help you determine the level of urgency. Use the Task Matrix
4.
Don't overbook: Don't try to plan on doing
too many things. Things rarely go according to a prearranged agenda.
5.
Be Productive: Concentrate on work when you
are at work. Don’t worry about home life. Try to be most productive.
6.
Learn to say no: The milestone to effective
time management is to know that you don't have to agree to everything with everyone.
No one can sail in two boats at the same time. Use your priority criteria to
identify requests that simply aren't worth your time. Politely say “No”.
7.
Everything can’t be perfect: Do what you can and enjoy whatever time you spend more pleasantly or
productively.
8.
Focus on Home Life: While you are enjoying your
home life, avoid intruding into work life by checking emergency e-mails or
answering work- related phone calls. The best way to focus on home life only.
Remember that striking a work-life balance is a continuous process, and not
one time job. Work and home life should be balanced. The absence of which may
give rise to soaring stress levels.
In nutshell, corporate have also realized the
importance of the employee-work-life balance and its importance in the
efficiency and effectiveness of the employees. They help facilitate work-life
balance for their employees through suitable work-life training programs. In
offices also, they provide friendly work atmosphere and necessary refreshments.
(Words 1052)
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