By now, most people have heard about the importance of work-life balance, but many people still remain woefully unaware of just exactly why it is so important. There are also a number of misconceptions about what it is and how to achieve it. Work-life balance is often thought of as being a boundary you create between your personal and professional life, but it is actually much more than that. Here are three reasons why establishing a good work-life balance is important.
- Just like your devices, you have batteries that need to be recharged
There may be a handful of people in this world that actually do the kind of work that is meaningful enough to charge their personal batteries rather than drain them. Even people that do that kind of meaningful work, however, still need to rest and recharge once in a while. Just like your devices, you need time to recharge your personal batteries on a daily basis. Unlike your devices, however, recharging your batteries generally involves unplugging from your electronics, so you can “plug in” to the kinds of experiences that charge you back up. Entertaining a hobby, interacting with friends and family, or simply taking some time to be alone can fall into this category.
- Human beings have a need for emotional connection
It is ironic that in a world that is more connected than ever before, people may be feeling a stronger sense of disconnection than ever before. Building the kind of connections we need to sustain us take time, focus, and attention. These are all things you can’t give when you are constantly distracted by work. Prioritizing these connections can help you stay healthy and happy even if you’re exhausted from your day-to-day responsibilities.
- Stress relief is essential for productivity and health
The very nature of work is that it takes something from you or demands something of you. Sometimes this can be the work itself, while other times it may be superiors, coworkers, or customers that can be demanding. Some of your personal relationships may also be demanding, however, so it is important to not just carve space away from work in order to develop personal relationships, but also create time away from demanding personal relationships in order to create space to replenish yourself personally.
A good work-life balance doesn’t just mean creating a divide between your personal and professional life; it means balancing the types of activities that fulfill you with the types of activities that drain you.