We often hear that maintaining a good balance between work life and social life is an essential aspect of maintaining one’s mental health. However, for many people such a task seems not just difficult, but impossible. With job markets in decline, most people are trying their best to hold on to the position they have, which often results in them focusing too much on work, and very little on life.
Of course, the age that we live in is also a big contributor to the disruption of work-life balance. The fast-paced, digital era’s main characteristic is that we need things, and we need them fast. Therefore, companies put pressure on their employees to finish a project as fast as possible, and as soon as that is done, a new project comes along. Again, there is simply no time to focus on a social life.
Smartphones are a Godsend
Smartphones are a very useful tool for those who have trouble maintaining a balance between their downtime and their work. In the age of the internet, the smartphone’s capabilities have greatly increased. We basically carry a miniature computer in our pocket, capable of doing most of the things that a laptop can do.
For example, traveling to work no longer needs to be boring. If you are using public transportation, your smartphone can serve as a gaming console. Not only can one download a ton of games on their phone, but they can also access online games at internet casinos, and similar websites. The best part about online casinos is that you can get a casino bonus without depositing, so even newbies can get a head start. In the UK alone, billions of pounds go into the iGaming industry.
There are a ton of other ways to entertain yourself on public transport if you are not a gamer. Tik Tok, Instagram, Wikipedia, and a ton of apps that let you read eBooks for free are all excellent options. Even if you are the one driving, the smartphone affords you the option to listen to music or audiobooks on your way to work and back. That way, you can get a moment of entertainment before your work day starts, and as soon as it is over.
We Must Set Boundaries
As useful as smartphones can be to maintain a work-life balance, they are also great contributors to breaking down those boundaries. Bosses, managers, even CEOs have a constant link of direct communication with their employees, which makes it easier for them to contact them at any point during the day or night. Naturally, this makes it harder to focus on one’s hobbies, even when at home.
However, it is up to us to set boundaries for when we are available. Of course, we must maintain a level of professionalism and courtesy when doing so. The simplest way to do this is to ignore the phone call, and call back when you are ready, or during the work day, and explain that you simply were not available at the time. You will find that most employers will be understanding of the situation in this case.
Another practice that some have offered is to simply take a break entirely from social media, for at least a couple of hours a day. In the fast-paced, hustle and bustle of the 21st century, social media can help greatly to meet new people and connect with friends, but it can also create a lot of problems. Such as, constant availability. If we are constantly available for friends, then we are also constantly available to employers, who may wonder why we are ignoring their messages.
So, unless you are willing to be available 24/7, we would recommend taking a few steps back from social media, and focusing on some of your hobbies, whether that be video games, films, or simply reading a good book. As long as it doesn’t require you to be on the latest messaging app, it is a good alternative.
We Should Prepare Ahead
The way to beat the hustle and bustle is to plan ahead. Most people are free during the weekends, however, by that point, they are so tired of doing work, that they’d rather just sit back and do nothing. But, what if we told you that there is a way to get your weekends back, by sacrificing one. A good idea to maintain work-life balance, is to spend one Sunday creating a detailed schedule for the next week.
In the schedule, one would have to include their work hours, as well as the time it takes to get to and from your place of business. However, once that is done, you can plan the rest of the time around your work, to maximize rest and relaxation. For some people, planning and scheduling is difficult. However, in the digital age, there are apps, programs, and websites that can help you with that. Preparing ahead of time is one of the best ways to remain calm and collected during the week.
The Future Looks Good
The fast pace of the 21st century has discouraged quite a lot of people. Many believe that the future is going to get worse, rather than better, at least when it comes to work-life balance. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case. Studies have shown that a reduced work week is actually quite beneficial for both businesses and employees. Employees that worked four days a week, rather than five, were a lot more productive, and inventive in their work.
Not only that, but there are plenty of studies showing that employees who work from home turn in higher quality work, and finish a higher quantity of work in a single day. Though employers may not look positively at remote work right now, plenty are bound to open their eyes soon enough. Indeed, we may see a lot more companies embracing the four-day work week, as well as the remote work trend, not for the benefit of their employees, but for the benefit of their business.
