The Biggest Myths About Work-Life Balance
For the past years, numerous people have been trying to follow the idea of work-life balance. However, the whole phrase “work-life balance” is a misconception in itself. Many people think that their lives are unbalanced, and the issue of how to conquer this is not a one-solution-fits-all type of ordeal. Below we will talk about … Continued
For the past years, numerous people have been trying to follow the idea of work-life balance. However, the whole phrase “work-life balance” is a misconception in itself. Many people think that their lives are unbalanced, and the issue of how to conquer this is not a one-solution-fits-all type of ordeal.
Below we will talk about the biggest work-life balance myths which have been destroying productivity, causing employees to waste excessive time at the workplace, and the things contributing to their lack of happiness across all aspects of their lives.
More working hours lead to increased productivity
Here is a popular belief, which indicates that working 11 or 12 hours every day gives enhanced production and efficiency. But, this idea is completely outdated. Sometimes, you may need to work extra hours to meet the deadline, but it is not essential to work 11 to 12 hours daily.
If you still believe that working more hours increases productivity, try performing a personal time audit on your day-to-day output. See where your time goes and start making changes to those tasks that waste time. Understanding where your time goes is the first step to higher productivity and will help you better manage your time to create that perfect work-life balance.
Categorizing your time
Many people believe that classifying their everyday time will result in creating a work-life balance. But, it is a myth and has no truth to it. There is an old belief which says that you should spend 8 hours on work, sleep, leisure and social activities. Do you really think that this will work?
Also, sometimes you may need to spend more time working when you are dealing with a big project. Due to that, it is practically impossible to follow a fixed hourly schedule. Rather than compartmentalizing the time, it is best to dedicate particular hours to your workplace and life.
Following a coworker or team manager
Not all workers are the same, so there is no point in trying to follow your coworker’s work-life attitude. Many team managers have their own work-life imbalances themselves. It is not suggested to take your company’s higher-ups as role models just because they have a higher working position doesn’t mean they know how to manage their time.
All workers want balance
False! Not every employee seems to want a balance because some of them understand that work-life balance is a myth that does not exist. Some people actually prefer working to having a social life while others would rather be at home with their family. All of us are different and the past year has shown that. Some employees prefer working from home, others prefer the office and some like in between. There is no right answer.
Employees who take the time to discover what makes them happy in life and create time to do those things are the epitome of the new work-life balance culture. The concept that we can equally divide up our day is a myth as every day will bring on new challenges or issues that need to be dealt with. Learning how to calmly deal with the tasks that pop up unexpectedly while being able to move your schedule around to accommodate them – is the new balance.
Our Verdict
Attaining a work-life balance does not imply that you have to maintain a fixed schedule, it is actually quite the opposite. Having a schedule that can adapt to the tasks life throws at us is the new way to find satisfaction in both your work life and home life.