As I sit here and consider this matter, I am very aware that in my opinion it is actually easier than ever before to maintain a work-life balance in this new normal. Covid left us with so many awful legacies, a government in turmoil, an economy in tatters. It took away so much and so many from a lot of families. But in some respects, it also gave us a couple of things back. One of those things, in my opinion, being perspective. Perspective specifically with regards to our work-life balance.
Perspective
Hours, days, weeks, months spent at home encouraged or indeed forced us all to embrace things other than work … We opened books again, dusted off our trainers and walking boots, fine tuned our baking and cooking skills to name but a few. We enriched our lives with matters other than work. Granted there was no balance here as many of us were not working and the balance was all in favour of recreational matters. However, the seedling was planted for other interests and routines to develop.
We were all given time to embrace new experiences and to rediscover simple pleasures. Many of us had that conversation with family and friends about how good it felt to slow down and how did we ever operate at the pace we had been doing. I don’t say all of this flippantly and I am desperately aware that this was not the case for an awful lot of people – our NHS and frontline workers, the people that fell outside of the financial support parameters, people who lost loved ones or were ill themselves with this horrific virus. I am conscious that I am generalising, and this was most definitely not everyone’s experience of that period.
Focus on a work-life balance
However, for those of us who where blessed to have been given time, I think we entered back in the ‘new normal’ with a little more balance and perspective and the desire to maintain a little of it moving forward. I think a lot of us are working in environments where this balance is now much more supported and encouraged. The phrase work-life balance is talked about much more and worked towards. I have a friend who has always talked about the ridiculous hours that she works and how she never has time to do anything and pre the new normal I would sympathise and worry about her. I almost held her in higher regard because she was so busy, and we always knew our plans a friendship group had to be worked around her work commitments. However, now I feel slightly less patient with her. And if I were braver, I would want to tell her that being over busy and over committed isn’t actually the medal of honour I once thought it was …
So, in summary I think a lot of us are truly blessed to being working in a period when people are seeing work-life balance as a strength, something to strive towards as opposed to a weakness, a lack of interest in your career. Balance and perspective are vital and something that we need to make sure we don’t lose as we move away from this torrid period.
Our tips for maintaining a work-life balance
Employees
Speak up
If you are struggling speak to your manager. They might be able to make adjustments to your workload or offer flexible working. It also helps to review priorities together, so you can be in control and on top of your workload. Employers understand that there are some extenuating factors that can impact your work. Internally, they need to know where pressures lie in order to address them.
Look after yourself at work
It’s important that you look after your health whilst at work – drink plenty of water, take proper breaks and don’t skip lunch. Sometimes taking a step back for a couple of minutes can help you think clearer and make you more productive.
Accept your life stage
There are times in your life when you have less time than normal. For example, when you are moving house, have really young children or starting a business. If you can relate to this, there may be little that you can do to change your circumstances. However, simply accepting that it is just a phase of your life and remembering that it won’t last forever will make you feel less stressed. But also making any little changes can definitely make an impact, even carving out 10 minutes for yourself during the day would be a benefit
Expand your timetable and prioritise
Write a list of everything you have to do and prioritise what’s important both in and out of work. If it’s not possible to get everything done in a week consider expanding your timetable. Rather than stressing about managing to meet up with your friends or family, schedule it on a fortnightly or monthly basis instead.
Switch Off
It’s important to switch off after work, so you don’t take your stresses home. I like to write down or put in my calendar my ongoing tasks and things I need to complete the next day, before I leave the office or close my laptop if I’m working from home.
Try getting some exercise after work to clear your mind. In addition, schedule some time to relax. Have a long bath, or watch a movie or your favourite TV programme.
Set a deadline each day to switch off your smart phone and stop checking emails. To help you sleep, try doing the same with your personal phone an hour before you go to bed.
Don’t be a perfectionist with everything in your life
We all like to do everything well and to the best of our ability. However, sometimes when you are very busy it’s better to let your target of perfection slip than your relationships with those close to you.
Always take and make use of your annual leave
Make sure, if possible, that you use all your annual leave and if you can use it for things that you enjoy. Take time for yourself; spend time with the people who you care about; and do things that make you happy.
Employers
Check In
Schedule regular meetings with your employees to make sure they are happy and not overwhelmed at work. Doing this allows to you identify any potential issues before they snowball, identify areas of improvement and will make your business a better place to work.
Encourage discussion
Encourage your staff to talk openly about their feelings in the workplace. This creates a mini support network, allows for honesty, things to be addressed and positive change to happen in the workplace.
If people are afraid to speak up, feelings and problems are internalised, which will ultimately make them worse.
Be flexible
The pandemic has shown that employees can be flexible in terms of working location and hours and still be as productive. It’s important that employers recognise this and take it forward in the new normal. For example, if an employee has a hospital appointment and it’s nearer to their home than the office, let them work from home. Flexibility works two ways, if you are flexible with your employees, they will be flexible with you. For example, if you want them to work late one day to meet a deadline.
We are finding that more and more candidates in the Legal, HR Finance and Accountancy sectors are looking for more flexibility, and those employers who don’t provide this will ultimately lose out in the war for talent
Rewards
Reward your staff for their hard work, it will make them feel valued and increase loyalty to your company. We find that valued employees are always more productive. Try a team building event or offer incentives. For example, half a day off spent as a team doing something fun if they reach a milestone. Read our top tips for creating successful team building events here. Currently we have a trip to Edinburgh planned as an incentive, but it doesn’t have to be this big. What about a team lunch or breakfast even?
Blog by Jo Hood, Head of Eventus Finance and Eventus Recruitment Cheshire.
Get support with your work life balance
Half the battle of a good work life balance and being happy in your work is doing a job that you love. As the Chinese Philosopher Confucius said: “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” If you are unhappy in your current role or are looking to work in Law, HR, Finance or Accountancy, we are here to help.
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For further tips on maintaining a healthy work life balance, please click here.