In todays climate of 24/7 connectivity some people are starting to blur the lines between work life and home life. Some argue it is the result of demanding bosses, other blame poor time/life management by employees but is it that simple? Cultural shifts and changes in employment terms and conditions are all contributing to this blurring of these lines. As an employee, what can you do to help ensure you get a balance that works for you?
Don’t Be Afraid to Say No
Many people are afraid to turn down additional work from their bosses. If you’re the type of person who always say yes, the likelihood is you will continue to accrue additional workloads as people become aware that you will never say no. Unless you are very, very good at time management and are able to complete your work at lightning speed an ever-growing workload is going to lead to less downtime after work, more time working afterhours either in the office or at home and ultimately, a deterioration of your mental health.
The answer? Just say no. When being asked to do an additional task or project, take the time to think about your decision. You don’t have to answer immediately, advise them that you will have to check your workload first or that you will get back to them later. You don’t always need a reason to say no.
Speak Up
If you are becoming aware that your workload is becoming untenable, speak up. An indication of someone with good time/work management is someone who recognises when they’re workload is too high and impossible to complete within work time.
Stop the Emails
Our 24/7 connectivity lifestyles have made it easy for bosses to email you at all hours of the day about work matters. Last year France touted the idea of banning work emails after 6pm. Whilst this wasn’t the case, don’t be afraid to turn off your emails once you have left work. Alternatively, make it clear that emails will be responded to within a specific timeframe like 24hrs. As long as you always respond within your given timeframe, it allows you the opportunity to not only take the time to read it properly, but also to decide whether to say no.
Increase Your Productivity
It’s no secret that the UK has some of the lowest productivity levels in Europe and some of the highest working hours. This is a clear indication that there is something wrong with the way we manage our work. Whilst many bosses will simply say ‘work more hours’ to get it done, the reality is that a clever bit of planning and time management can boost your productivity, decreasing the amount of work that could spill over into ‘me time’.
Family Time
Make time for family or the smaller things in life. Learn to appreciate and enjoy them without thinking about work. Your only contracted to work Monday to Friday? Then make sure your taking your weekends for yourself and not taking on extra work that means your going to miss your child’s football game/concert/play. Also think about the effect your work life might take on your family too. Yes, your working hard to make sure he can have some of the finer things in life but are you starving them of the real wealth in life? Love & Happiness?
When it comes to a work life balance, everyone is different. We all have different thresholds, different outlooks in life and different family situations so it’s a matter of finding what works best for you. Don’t concern yourself with the could have, would have and should haves. This is a decision only you can make so make sure you do it with yourself in mind, not what other think you should do.
