Part One — The Balance Blueprint: Prioritizing Mental Wellness in Today's World
June 25, 2024
BY: HUNAIN FATIMA KHAN
Work-life balance isn’t just a trendy word; it's the cornerstone of our well-being. But why does it matter? And how can we tell if our balance is unhealthy?
What if I told you that achieving balance is not only possible but essential for our mental health and overall happiness. In this three-part series on work-life balance, we'll delve into the importance of achieving this balance within our lives.
In the first part of our series, we'll delve into recognizing the signs of imbalance and explore practical strategies to regain control in the midst of today's fast-paced world.
How Work-Life Balance Impacts Mental Health
Stress and Anxiety —
In the modern age of mental wellness, we have more information on mental health and wellness than ever before. Despite this, globally, stress levels are on the rise. A significant contributor to this phenomenon is people’s hyperfixation on achieving their professional career goals, often leading them to neglect the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. While allowing work to encroach on every aspect of your life may seem tempting for short-term gains, this approach comes at a significant cost to your mental health (A Mission for Michael , 2024).
Burnout —
In Europe, labour laws allow no more than 48 hours a week of work, recognizing that beyond this threshold, labour becomes not only unhealthy but also relatively unproductive (Thomas, 2021). This emphasizes the necessity of creating and maintaining a balance between work and personal life to prevent burnout as well as protect your overall well-being. A good-work life balance should not be considered a luxury, it’s a necessity for maintaining our well-being.
“I was sharing what should have been a precarious bedtime story with my two young children, yet I felt incensed because they were not going to sleep quickly enough. Why was I angry? – because all I wanted to do was check my email and get on with some work. The anger melted and was replaced by overwhelming sobs and flood of tears, and I realized what a terrible person I had found myself in. It is at moments like this that we should realize the balance is wrong and that we do have a choice.
How often do we put too much pressure on ourselves? No one had ever told me that I must work every evening; so how had I spilled into this routine?”
— Clare Bostoc (Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburghm, 2019)
Creating a harmonious balance between work and home life can be challenging when responsibilities are left unorganized; it is essential to manage our responsibilities effectively, ensuring that the time and energy we invest result in favorable outcomes both personally and professionally. Globally, poor work-life balance leads to chronic stress, which stands out as the most prominent health issue in the workplace (Kohll, 2024). Moreover, this has also been linked with a weaker immune response, leading to more illnesses and being at higher risk for strokes and heart attacks Further, in this group irritability and anxiety are significantly more prevalent, with occurrences up to 75% higher than average. Over time, these issues can escalate, leading to prolonged depression, persistent sadness, and an increased risk of drug or alcohol abuse (Thomas, 2021).
The Main Benefits of Achieving Work-Life Balance, on Mental Health
Achieving a work-life balance isn't just about sticking to a schedule; it's about improving all areas of our lives. The holistic benefits of a good work-life balance are closely linked to improvements in mental health, including reducing stress levels, lower risks of depression, higher life satisfaction and an overall improvement in their quality of life (Kohll, 2024). Further, reducing stress levels allows for the overall enhancement of our emotional well-being by contributing to better emotional stability and happiness throughout various aspects of our lives.
Individuals who don’t feel overburdened by their work and personal responsibilities are better able to manage their emotions and stress, making these pressures less impactful and allowing them to maintain a positive outlook. This is important for various aspects within our lives, especially maintaining healthy relationships both at work and in our personal lives. Studies have highlighted that employees specifically, with a balanced lifestyle have significantly fewer mental health issues as they have more personal time and are able to engage in fulfilling activities that promote happiness and mental well-being, decreasing levels of anxiety and depression (Kohll, 2024).
Stories like this are not uncommon in our fast-paced world; we often push ourselves to the brink, neglecting the warning signs until it’s too late. But it’s in these moments of reckoning that we can choose to make a change (Bostock, 2019). We live in a culture that glorifies busyness, where long hours and high stress are often worn as though they are badges of honour; it is tempting to point fingers at ‘the organization’, ‘the profession’ or ‘the culture’ when it comes to our well-being. But here’s the thing: while external factors most definitely play a role, we can’t overlook our own responsibility for our wellness, we are all human beings, and we own it to ourselves. At the end of the day it's not just about avoiding overwhelm; it's about protecting our long-term health and happiness.
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance isn't always easy, but it's certainly worth the effort. By making intentional choices, setting clear boundaries, and prioritizing what truly matters, you can foster a life where both your personal and professional endeavors flourish. Strive for balance, and you'll experience greater happiness, improved health, and a deeper sense of fulfillment in all areas of your life. Remember, the effort you invest in achieving this balance is an investment in your long-term well-being and overall quality of life.
Sources
Borowiec, A. A., & Drygas, W. (2022, December 28). Work-life balance and mental and physical health among Warsaw specialists, managers and Entrepreneurs. International journal of environmental research and public health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9819779/
Bostock, C. (2019, June). Burnout and work–life balance: getting personal. Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburg . https://journals-sagepub-com.proxy1.lib.uwo.ca/doi/epdf/10.4997/jrcpe.2019.202
Kohll, A. (2024, June 3). The evolving definition of work-life balance. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/alankohll/2018/03/27/the-evolving-definition-of-work-life-balance/?sh=11be04849ed3%3A~%3Atext
A Mission for Michael . (2024, March 29). Work life balance and mental health: Importance - AMFM treatment. A Mission For Michael. https://amfmtreatment.com/work-life-balance-and-mental-health/
Sauvé, R. (2009, January). Family Life and Work Life: An Uneasy Balance. The Vanier Institute of the Family. https://www.bollettinoadapt.it/old/files/document/11181work_life_2009.pdf
Thomas, L. (2021, October 8). Importance of a work-life balance. News Medical Life Sciences. https://www.news-medical.net/health/Importance-of-a-Work-Life-Balance.aspx]