Work-life balance comes from three habits: being clear about what you want from life and work, separating work time from personal time, and taking regular breaks, including two week-long vacations a year. Without balance, people risk depression, health issues, emotional imbalance and fatigue. The author shares these practices from his own career.
Last updated · Bodhih Insights team · reviewed by Siddharthan VGJ, Founder
The problems of not having a balanced life are numerous; depression, health issues, emotional imbalance and fatigue are just a few. So what does it take to bring that balance in one’s life – this has been discussed, debated, researched and brainstormed for years and decades now – but the problem persists.
I would like to some of my own experiences of bringing balance into one’s life.
- 1. Being clear about what you want in life and work: Most often people run their life as if they on a treadmill – sweating it out, but going nowhere. Knowing what is ‘need’ and ‘want’ is critical. We can have everything but still be depressed. Writing your own expectations from life and how you are going to lead it is critical in bringing work-life balance.
- 2. Time out work and life events: Many people mix work and life and do well in neither. Marking time, scheduling events and sticking to the plan is critical. I have observed that some individuals take personal calls and spend hours on phone during working hours and when they reach home they take tonnes of calls from the workplace. Most of you would have heard about ‘work while you work – play while you play’ – it is important to put this into practice.
- 3. Take breaks: Even when you are busy on a highly demanding day, it’s important to take few small breaks, just to give your body and mind some space to breathe. It is also important to go for two long vacations in a year (atleast a week long) and some small weekend trips. This lets you get some fresh air and a re-look at your life.
– it is important to put this into practice.
Quick answers
What happens when work and personal life are not balanced?
An unbalanced life can lead to depression, health problems, emotional imbalance and fatigue. People who mix work and personal time often do well in neither, for example taking long personal calls at work and then work calls all evening at home. Scheduling both and sticking to the plan helps.
