Understanding the importance of a good work-life balance is essential for both employers and employees. Proven benefits include increased productivity, reduced work absences and a happier, less-stressed workforce. Who wouldn’t want to experience these benefits?
But did you know that 25% of the UK working population are unhappy with their current work-life balance? Some common side effects of a poor work-life balance can include mental health problems, depression and anxiety. And with over four million employees working 48 hours a week or more - a rise of 350,000 people in the last decade - this is rapidly becoming a serious issue for the UK workforce.
With this in mind, here are four tips for a better work-life balance.
1. Learn to disconnect and leave work at work
Are you the type of person to juggle a busy work life and a family? Learning to disconnect from your work can be one of the most effective ways to establish a clearer line between work and life. If you often find yourself responding to texts or emails when you’re supposed to be spending time with your family, then why not try to put your phone down and simply enjoy the moment? You may find this tricky at first, but once you get into the habit of disconnecting from work you’ll learn to appreciate quality time to the fullest.
Do you often find yourself working over 50 hours a week? Over 70? Over 100? You could be working less hours and still completing a similar amount of your work. Research suggests that work output at 70 hours a week differs little from work output at 56 hours a week. Once you find the opportunity to cut down your working hours and leave your work at the office, rather than taking it home, it’s likely that you’ll see your productivity levels skyrocket!
2. Exercise regularly
The power of exercise goes a long way. It can help to reduce stress, boost energy levels and improve your ability to concentrate. The NHS recommends that an average adult should be taking part in physical exercise for 150 minutes a week although, if you have a tight schedule, it could help to gradually work your way towards this. If you are pressed for time then you could start off by taking a walk at lunchtime, waking up an hour earlier to go to the gym, or even just trying some office exercises. Remember – every little helps!
3. Enjoy the outdoors
Having a taste of the outdoors can do great things for your work-life balance. So much so that Amazon are planning to put 40,000 plants into their biodome workspaces in Seattle! As we mentioned in our previous blog, research shows that office workers can be 15% more productive when greenery is introduced.
Working from an office with access to nearby green spaces, such as parks, can be another great way to reap the benefits of the outdoors. It can provide space to get away from your desk and can be ideal for a lunchtime walk, especially in the summer. In fact, at Carrwood Park we have over 100 acres of green space to escape from your work! With over 1,200 trees, bird boxes across the whole site, and even two pairs of nesting red kites at Carrwood, we like to think that we provide the perfect environment to encourage a good work-life balance.
Whilst these changes may be difficult to implement at first, they really can make a significant difference to both the quality of your work and your life in general. Other easy changes that you can make at work include investing in better office furniture, such as desks and chairs – why not check out our blog on the future of office furniture?
Are you a business owner in Leeds? Why not book a viewing at our high quality offices in Leeds and find out how we can help improve your work-life balance?
