June 3, 2021

Find your balance.

Author: Megi Maisuradze

Working is good as long as you don't forget that you have to live with it!

African proverb

Many try, but only a few manage to maintain a balance between work and personal life, the essence of which lies in a healthy relationship between these two spheres, and the starting point is a person's correct assessment of their own resources and their reasonable distribution.

Doing work takes time and energy. On the one hand, family and personal life should be stimulating and make our work even more valuable, but on the other hand, we also need time and resources for personal interests and our own family to establish and maintain a balance, which in many cases is a necessary condition for a harmonious and happy life.

Only with such a balance can we, as employed people, be productive at work and at the same time happy in the company of family members and friends.

Striking this balance has never been easy, and there is no set of pre-written guidelines that everyone can follow. It is an individual matter, depending on the specific situation a person finds themselves in at a given moment, their interests, and the alternatives they have to choose between.

Work Life Balance – Our current lifestyle has made it an even more relevant and at the same time difficult concept. At the beginning of the pandemic, it was thought that Work Life Balance would become easier due to remote work, but this expectation did not come true. The reason for this is, for example, that in the so-called home office you decide for yourself what time to end your working day, you may even get carried away and end up at 10 instead of 8. hours Work. Studies have also shown that even in large, noisy families, many people are able to work more concentratedly at home and spare no effort to ensure that family matters do not interfere with work. All of this has seemingly erased the boundaries between work and family.

What can we do, how can we maintain a healthy balance so that neither side is harmed in an era where digitalization alone and the catalyst for this process – the pandemic – have almost destroyed the boundary between work and personal spaces? If this is not the case, tell me, do you not check your mailbox, for example, outside of working hours?

What do researchers think about this issue?

The pandemic has changed our lives, and after it ends, it is clear that everything will disappear without a trace and in one day. For example, the recent MC Kinsey studies conducted in America once again showed how effective the so-called home office and flexible work schedules are, which the modern world will probably not refuse.

In such conditions, Work Life Balance is gradually being replaced by the term Work Life Integration, a new trend in the global working world, which does not imply setting boundaries, but rather integration between personal life and work. Especially since numerous studies, including a study by Stanford University, have shown that working from the so-called home office has a positive effect on productivity and contributes to its growth.

And yet, what can we do to feel happy, maintain balance (if you want, let's call it integration now), and even manage to work remotely and effectively fulfill all the roles we are required to play during this period, both at work and in our personal environment?

I will share a few tips with you:

Set Boundaries : Say no and respect others' rejection. Don't be available to everyone 24/7 to make sure every meeting happens, don't compromise your own well-being or that of your employees.
At home , But Stay healthy : Fitness clubs may be closed and you may not be able to engage in outdoor activities, but don't forget to take care of your own health. Healthy eating and regular sleep are important for your health and for being more focused and effective at work. Try to spend your breaks outdoors and moving as much as possible.
Time For me – time For work : Even if your job is just a few meters away and it only involves sitting at your desk in your own office at home, be sure to establish a routine that strictly separates work and rest time. Don't go straight from bed to your office. A morning routine, a cup of coffee or tea before you get to work is important.
Work Place : Even if you think it’s very convenient, don’t work from the comfort of your bed or couch. These places are meant for relaxation. Have a specific place for working, which you can arrange comfortably according to your needs and leave as soon as you finish working hours. Ideally, even if it’s just for a short time, but at least go outside, get some fresh air, or at least into another room.
Have Routine – Online In the mode : Follow the example of the best employer – Hilti, which offers its staff a number of activities, such as meditation or cooking something delicious together. This helps us to support each other even in difficult times and at the same time take care of maintaining relationships.
Take care. Mental On health : Pay attention to your and your employees' mental health. There are already a number of apps, and many companies are also sending employees to various necessary seminars to get the necessary advice on how to cope with this difficult period from a mental point of view. If you receive such an offer, agree to it, and take the initiative.
Express yourself Gratitude : Even small gestures can go a long way. A good example of this is Insight Technology Solutions, which sent “gratitude packages” to employees working from home as a token of gratitude, and it should be noted that the individual interests and desires of each employee were taken into account. Such gestures will not only warm the employee’s heart, but will also contribute to team unity, mutual appreciation, and increased trust, which ultimately is often more important than many other factors for the company’s successful operations.