Workforce Management
AVI SHARMA | February 10, 2022
Are you one of those people who takes pride in working extra hours? Or is that a general expectation of you by your superiors and peers?
Sometimes, realization like this comes as a lightning bolt when your spouse complains to you for the thousandth time about your workaholic nature. Yes, this life is short, and no, life is not just about work. But work is indeed an important part of this life.
So how do you balance it? How do you know if there is a problem in the first place? And what to do if there is one?
Let’s figure this all out.
Is There a Problem?
There are different theories related to this concept. Some believe there is nothing to balance in the case of work and life. As they are both, apparently, the same thing. But is that the case?
Especially with this new ‘Work from Home’ culture, the boundaries between the two have become meagre. People easily get stressed out due to incessant pressure. This distinction is further diminished if you are an entrepreneur. You never know how much enough in the initial years is.
So yes, work-life balance is subjective. However, if you occasionally feel as if you are not devoting enough time to your family, or if you are easily exhausted, there may be a problem. So how can you be sure?
Self-Assess: Take a pen and paper. Write down how you feel about your work-life balance. Let it all out and see how happy you feel by the end of it.
Ask Your Loved Ones: See what they feel about your availability. Do they agree with your self-assessment?
Observe: Lastly, observe your lifestyle. How many hours a week do you work? How much are you working during that period? Keep that list intact in your mind.
What If There Is a Problem?
So you are a workaholic after all, or you have realized that you aren’t happy with that unbalance. It’s all right. We can do something about it with a snap. (No Pun Intended)
If you are an employee, then you can take these steps right now:
At Office:
1. Assess your Workload: Is it too much? Is it all unorganised and staggered? Take a look at your job responsibilities and see how much time you are spending doing the ‘extra’ work.
2. Assess the Frequency: Are you supposed to work extra hours every other day, or every once in a while? If it isn’t that frequent, then maybe it is fine.
3. Observe your Peers: How many hours are they working? Is it happening to only you, or is this a ‘culture’ in your office?
4. Talk with your Manager/HR: Bring your observation in a calm mood to your immediate supervisors/HR. Tell them that it is becoming a problem in your life. See how they respond.
5. Know Your Rights: As an employee, you get legal rights related to all of this. Keep all those things in mind and know that you aren’t at fault if the situation comes to that.
6. Decide: Lastly, after you have done all these things, you have to observe how seriously your complaint is taken. If you aren’t taken seriously, you have to make the tough decision of looking out for the right environment for you to work.
Every employee should know that they aren’t ‘owned’ by their respective companies. If you feel there is a problem, you have to do something about it.
Talk with your other colleagues and see if they feel the same. If you can successfully bring this matter to the higher management, you might bring a mini-revolution in your organisation.
But for that, you have to try and not settle for injustice.
At Home:
1. Take Feedback from Your Loved Ones: Talk with your spouse, other family members, or your friends. See how you can make time for them and take their feedback. They might have some useful advice for you.
2. Plan Things Ahead: Once you have managed things at your workplace, you will know when you will and when you won’t have time. Talk with your spouse or friends and assess their schedules. You need to plan ahead for your ‘Fun Days’ and ‘Family Time’.
If the problem isn’t in the system, but with yourself, then it is important to manage yourself. To do that, you need some time and a break.
Breaking your identity is easier said than done. Being a workaholic might be able to really mean that you either love your job too much or it is a source of escapism for you.
The problem might be a bit too deep for you to get out on your own. You might consider seeking help from therapists. If not, you have to make that big decision yourself and push yourself to stick to it. You can ask your friends, family members, or manager to push you through it.
Here is some advice to escape your workaholic side:
1. Re-prioritize: Is your work above your health and family time? If so, consider the outcomes of a trash diet and a lack of physical and social activities. You might want to set your priorities right after that and give importance to things appropriately.
2. Let Go of Perfectionism: It is a very fine piece of advice that can benefit any working personnel. Going for perfectionism is an acute wastage of time. Everyone (Manager or Client) expects their demands to be met. You have to prepare them for minor mistakes and delegate your work appropriately.
3. Meditate: Allowing yourself to let go for a few minutes can do wonders in your life. Close your eyes whenever you feel compulsive to your workaholic nature and ask yourself if the stress is worth it.
Work-life balance isn’t an achievement but a cycle. Many people struggle through it or are frustrated with their routine. The only thing that helps them is to remind themselves to take a break and not be too harsh.
Here are some things to consider if you are a manager or supervisor:
1. Assess: If you come across this issue and realize that you are burdening your employees with tons of work or stretching their working hours, see why that might be the case. It is a management issue, and you should take this seriously.
2. Self-evaluate: You might yourself be a workaholic, and if that is the case, you might be expecting the same from people under you. If that is the case, you have to seek help or do something about it on your own.
3. Find Solution: Conducting a meeting with your employees helps. You can take their advice and act accordingly. Or if there are some issues with the policies given to you, you have to conduct a meeting with HR and higher management.
Conclusion
Should managing your work-life balance feel like a task? In an ideal world. Certainly Not! But sadly, that’s not the case. You have to make it ideal. Does that mean you have to compromise on one aspect or the other?
If all things are planned properly and you know what you intend to do, maintaining this aspect of life can feel like a piece of cake. But if not done correctly, life might look like a stressful maze.
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