The Importance of Work-Life Balance

• It's important to keep a balance between your work and personal life
• It benefits an individuals' mental health and performance which also benefits employers

Maintaining a work-life balance is all about separating your work and personal life. While both really matter neither should be able to encroach upon the other. Far too often, people allow work to become the priority. When this happens, there is an impact on mental health, sleep and overall well-being. 

If you never take your full annual leave entitlement, if you never make time to rest or if you can't remember your last holiday, there’s a good chance that your work-life balance is out of kilter. If you want to know why that’s something you really need to fix, keep on reading. 

Keeping your mental health in tip-top shape  

Mental health in the workplace has become something that’s more recognised than it was a decade or so ago. However, that doesn’t mean that there are always adequate measures in place to protect workers from the impacts of stress and overwhelm. These can easily lead to a range of illnesses, including depression. 

Too much stress leads to a mental overload and that’s when you experience what is often referred to as burnout. If you’re struggling to sleep, not making time to exercise and ignoring the needs of your body, you can be sure that burnout isn’t too far away. 

Your body matters too 

While we often hear about mental health issues when discussing work-life balance, the physical side of things is all too often ignored. There are studies that show being sat at a desk too long can have serious health consequences and can even cut your life short. That’s why you need to be making the time to look after your body as well as your mind. 

Exercise is a must. It can counter the effects of being sat too long and it can also help with stress by releasing beneficial endorphins. 

You become more rounded as an individual  

Let’s be honest, if work is all that you seem to care about your life will soon become a little one-dimensional. If vacations aren’t anything that get you excited and you’d rather be at work than enjoying any hobbies, you’re life experiences become very limited. 

It benefits your employer too 

Many people fall into the trap of losing their work-life balance as they think that they need to go the extra mile to impress the boss. The reality is that those who don’t take their annual leave and work excessive hours fail to perform. Levels of engagement and productivity fall and this doesn’t benefit either party. 

Remember, you only live once 

No one wants to look back with regrets. Don’t allow yourself to reach retirement only to look back and wonder just where your life went. Having a healthy work-life balance means that you can have a successful career but you can also have a life that’s full. 

Get the rest and sleep that you need so that you’re not only on top form at work but you’re bursting with energy to enjoy all of those holidays and hobbies that you’ll be taking up.