More often than not, we forget that being ambitious is great, but not at the cost of putting every other aspect of life at stake. In our quest for success, we are negligent about other areas that are equally important for healthy living and longevity.
As per an article by The Economic Times in early 2024, it was reported that 78 per cent of Indian employees experience job burnout leading to extreme exhaustion - both mental and physical - according to a study conducted by the UKG Workforce Institute.
Today, the lines between work and personal life are getting increasingly blurry. In fact, things are getting out of hand for most Indians, which is extremely alarming. So much happening around work and everything else in life might lead to feelings of being overwhelmed and overworked most of the time, but this need not be a continuous process.
To understand the concept of work-life better, it's important to first identify some of the unhealthy disruptors.
Overwork:
Getting used to working overtime, even long hours during weekends in order to reach one’s goals sooner, has become the norm. This often means sufficient time is not devoted to physical and mental rest, and other activities take a backseat as well.
Personal life:
If you’re prioritising work alone, it doesn’t mean the rest of your life can be sidelined. Indoor/outdoor activities, friendships and relationships must be prioritised as well, or this will lead to further exhaustion and breakdown.
Self-care:
‘Me time’ isn’t something to be taken lightly. Self-care should include a good skin-routine, quality sleep, a healthy diet, and regular exercise. If these are omitted due to excessive work, that in itself is a warning sign.
Work-life imbalance can lead to health complications, fatigue, lesser productivity and constant low-energy levels. So what do you need to do to ensure a healthy work-life balance?
Setting boundaries:
Draw lines between your work hours and private time with family and friends. Being stringent enough to allot equal importance to both, ensuring one doesn’t overlap with the other until something really urgent crops up.
Time management:
This is one of the best ways to ensure a win-win situation both at the workplace and at homes. If we plan our day systematically prioritising tasks, it is surprising how efficiently we can manage our professional and personal commitments.
Releasing stress:
Prioritising mental well-being is the sign of a responsible person. If you’re constantly making an effort to check on your mental health, you’ll be one step ahead of that burnout or breakdown situation. Meditate, journal, sleep well, cook or consult an expert – do what it takes to feel happy and healthy.
Plan ahead:
90 per cent of the time, planning leads to successful outcomes with any endeavour, so it's important to plan meticulously. Prioritise each task as per its importance, and accordingly tick each one off your to-do list one after the other.
Being flexible:
Yes, we advocate planning, but always keep room for change. Unforeseen circumstances will keep occurring all through life. Sometimes, you have to go with the flow. Be open and flexible to the idea of adapting to changing circumstances, so that you can make the most of them.
Combine activities:
Multi-tasking isn’t always overrated! Sometimes, you really can get two things done at the same time. For instance, if you happen to be on back-to-back calls, try walking during this period.
Use technology to unplug:
It’s easy and counter-productive to get distracted by unwanted content on various platforms. Use apps that will block or pause them when you’re at work, or spending meal time with family. This way, you won’t get distracted easily. Keep work devices and personal devices separate, so that you can truly switch modes depending on where you are.
Practice mindfulness:
Practising mindfulness truly revitalises mental health in the best way possible. Some of the various mindfulness activities such as – mindful eating, mindful breathing dramatically betters your overall health. In addition, while you are seated or lying down, try drawing your attention towards any body part that might seem odd, for example noticing any physical sensations, shivers, sudden palpitations, numbness or a slight pain that you have been otherwise avoiding.
Communicate with your manager:
Sometimes, you may bottle up work pressure because you don’t want to come across as lazy or constantly complaining. You don’t have to do this if it’s getting in the way of your work-life balance. It's always advisable to speak up with your reporting manager and try resolving the issue logically and amicably.