Find Your Work-Life Balance
Find Your Work-Life Balance
If you are like me, when you have a question you may find yourself turning to a search engine or voice assistant to learn more about a certain topic. But what about when your curiosity turns inward and your questions are about your mental health and overall wellness? You may have heard about the importance of never diagnosing yourself, especially when turning to the internet for answers.
The topic that has been on my mind, and the minds of many of the individuals and organizations that I work with is “What is work/life balance, and how can I achieve it?” So here we go, here is an answer from the perspective of a Licenced Clinical Social Worker (Therapist) with a focus on evidence-based practices that are backed by research.
What can you do?
An important place to start is to learn more about Self-Care
Self-care has many definitions, but the one that is most widely used is a definition by the World Health Organization: Self-care is what people do for themselves to establish and maintain health and to prevent and deal with illness. It is a broad concept encompassing hygiene, nutrition, lifestyle, environmental factors, biopsychosocial factors (income level, cultural beliefs, etc.), and self-medication.
Self-care is important because self-care is a key activity in disease and illness prevention and establishing and maintaining health. Health is on a continuum. Health is not something you have or do not have, it is something that you have that fluctuates through life. Self-care tasks are one thing that can help us maintain our balance of health throughout the ebbs and flows of life.
Self-Care Practices To Improve Work/Life Balance
Physical Self-Care - takes into consideration the activities we can do to focus on our physical health. (exercise, meaningful body movement, nutrition, seeking needed medical support, etc.)
Social Self-Care - encompasses activities that help us connect with others. (spending time with friends and family, connecting with your community, etc.)
Spiritual Self-Care - includes activities that nurture your spirit and allow you to think bigger than yourself. (engaging in prayer, meditation, spending time in nature, etc.)
Professional Self-Care - activities that help reduce work-related stress. (using healthy boundaries, healthy communication styles, organization, taking breaks, etc)
Psychological Self-Care - which includes emotional and cognitive self-care, looks at activities that help us make space for how we feel and think. (journaling, practicing mindfulness, talking with a therapist, learning new coping skills, etc.).
Check out the Mezzo Solutions Self-Care Assessment to check in with your self-care practice.
What can organizations do?
Organizations and those who led them have a part to play in the journey of finding a work/life balance. There are many strategies that employers can implement to improve the balance and overall wellness of their work family.
Family Friendly Culture - Policies are an important place to start. Not only do they ensure that everyone gets the same opportunities but also communicate your workplace beliefs and values. Having a family-friendly culture can also attract talent that has the ability to grow with your organization.
Lead By Example - Hey leaders! Scroll back up and take a look at the (5) domains of self-care. Now, ask yourself, am I doing all that I can to take care of myself? If you walk the walk you are not only helping yourself but giving your work family encouragement to do the same.
Manufacture Healthy Boundaries - Let's be real, no one wants to be interrupted at dinner or during a social activity by an email, text, or call from the office. Having clear boundaries between work and home is vital in developing a work/life balance. We have found that when this is difficult to achieve there may be underlying issues on an individual level that can have a negative impact on others. Healthy boundaries can also include taking time off when needed, learning to say “no” and also learning to ask for help when needed.
Provide Supportive Services - Life is tough at times, for everyone. Be sure to offer your work family education and support on a regular basis. Connect them to wellness education opportunities and highlight available services that your organization may provide through benefit packages or other means. We always encourage organizations to display Employee Assistance Program (EAP) information (if available) in common areas such as the break room or restroom. This allows employees to learn how to connect to EAP without any barriers.
Work-Life Balance is a Balance
The journey to finding a work/life balance is unique to every person and to every organization. Looking at the issue from both sides (individual/organizational) can be both enlightening and challenging. No matter how difficult it may seem, remember one piece of advice I always share with my clients. Small steps lead to big changes.
