Work life balance isn’t something that just happens naturally, it requires careful prioritization and nurturing based on a person’s particular set of circumstances.
When starting my career, work life balance wasn’t something I gave much thought to. I would work long hours to get the job done and meet the very real deadlines of my clients. It didn’t help that I worked in a field where this was considered the minimum effort required to succeed.
However, as my colleagues and I progressed in our careers, so did our workloads and the demands of our personal lives. Some of us took a step back, assessed these demands and changed our circumstances. Others continued to prioritize work for a variety of reasons, such as necessity, fulfillment, habit, desire, fear, ambition, etc. Unfortunately, a few of my colleagues only decided to make changes after suffering serious health issues or being forced to by a substantive change in their personal lives.
Work life balance is different for everyone and the best workplaces foster a culture where individual employees can achieve the balance they need. But, it isn’t just about the policies and benefits a company implements. Managers play a key role in fostering a suitable environment through effective resource planning, setting realistic deadlines/goals, offering flexible work arrangements, encouraging taking time off, etc.
Two of your points really resonated with me
– Work life balance is not one size fits all
– Managers, not just companies, play a key role in this area
Great to see The Business Bunny return to posting!