The employment sector was one of the hardest hit by the global pandemic at its height in 2020.
Employers worldwide had to make difficult decisions due to the financial constraints brought about by COVID-19 lockdowns and quarantine measures. Some employees were laid off, while others had to adapt to remote work setups.
Though remote work and work-from-home (WFH) arrangements were a welcome respite, this invariably led to feelings of stress and burnout.
Employees have experienced difficulty in achieving a work-life balance, as they cannot divide their time between job responsibilities and household duties.
Now that the pandemic is slowly waning and return-to-office policies are in motion, achieving a work-life balance remains a priority. Employers are mulling over drastically changing the work environment by adopting full remote and hybrid arrangements.
Such changes beg the question, "How do employees re-establish a healthy work-life balance?" "How have employees' priorities changed after the pandemic?"
This guide explores tips on work-life balance and how Luxoft is pioneering this change with its flexible work culture.
1. Define your boundaries
Many employees tend to adopt a "people-pleaser" attitude at work. They take on projects beyond the scope of their responsibilities and even take it upon themselves to handle other people's tasks.
While it is a noble virtue, a people-pleasing approach can negatively impact mental well-being. The sheer amount of work can strain the employee and decrease productivity due to having less time for their core responsibilities.
So, it shouldn't come as a surprise that one of the most crucial tips for achieving work-life balance is defining your boundaries. Setting boundaries for yourself and your peers is an effective way of avoiding burnout.
For example, once you clock out of your shift, try not to respond to pending emails or think about upcoming projects. You may want to consider using a separate laptop or phone for work and leisure activities, so you can shut off your device once your shift is over.
If these aren't possible, use separate browsers for your personal and professional lives. Don't allow your personal life to bleed into a professional setting and vice-versa.
Try setting boundaries in every aspect of your working and personal life. Doing this will gradually help you and your peers respect workplace limitations and set expectations regarding your availability.
2. Take short breaks
If you work in a company with a flexible schedule, take short breaks throughout the day.
Think about it: We spend 40 hours a week staring at our computer screens, answering emails and doing various other work-related activities. That's about 2,080 hours annually spent working — almost a quarter of the year.
The thought that we spend almost 25% of the year at our jobs would break anyone’s spirit. The solution? Take short breaks.
If possible, take 5-10 small breaks throughout the day. For instance, if you're working remotely, get up from behind your desk once in a while and take a quick walk around your house or apartment.
When setting up a meeting, invite your teammates to a cafe for a more relaxed environment. The personal touch of meeting face-to-face with your peers while being able to take coffee breaks will do wonders for your mental health.
Luckily, some companies like Luxoft support the personal lives of their employees by implementing flexible working arrangements.
Those who feel overwhelmed because of struggling to meet deadlines can enroll in time management training which teaches Luxofters how to wisely balance their time spent on work and their personal lives.
Just take the word of fellow Luxofters Nguyen Ngoc Minh and Nguyen Thanh Trung who've found time management training extremely helpful. Not only are they more empowered to finish their tasks, but they’re also able to instill a sense of reward by setting aside leisure activities after work.
3. Find a job you love doing
Everyone must work: This is a fact of life. However, your career shouldn't hinder you from achieving a better work-life balance — quite the contrary.
When job-hunting, look for a career that you'll enjoy and appreciate. You don't need to love everything about your job, but you must like it enough so that you don't wake up each day feeling dreadful.
Find a career you’re so passionate about that you won’t mind devoting a lot of your time to it. If you feel overwhelmed and drained at the start and end of your shift, something isn't clicking.
If you're thinking of switching careers, why not consider applying for a job in tech? Sectors such as eCommerce, computer services, fintech, and artificial intelligence are extremely profitable, as innovations and digital solutions continue to be developed.
Nothing compares to the sense of fulfilment you'll get by being part of a project from its inception to its completion.
If a tech career interests you, here's a list of Luxoft IT job opportunities. This is your chance to become a web developer, software engineer or other IT specialist for the biggest Fortune 500 companies in the world.
A perfect role awaits you at Luxoft with a healthy work environment that aligns with your passions and expertise.
4. Make health a priority
Did you know that poor work-life balance can lead to a string of heart-related problems?
A study conducted in 2020 found that burnout increases the risk of developing a heart rhythm problem, known as atrial fibrillation. This causes the heart to beat unevenly — either too fast, too slow, or irregularly.
A way to achieve work-life balance by improving your physical health is by taking a day off if you feel unwell. Don't force yourself to show up to work when you're physically unable to do so. You may think it's a noble act, but you’re disadvantaged twice over: you will need longer to recuperate because you’re not resting, and the quality of your work will suffer — we’re overall less productive when we’re not feeling well.
Another technique is optimizing your personal habits. Ensure you've had enough sleep before beginning your shift. Avoid eating sugar or carb-laden food that makes you tired or sleepy. Go for meals that will make you feel active and energetic, such as nuts, fruits, lean proteins, whole grains, vegetables, etc.
5. Unwind when you need to
When discussing work-life balance, remember that your personal life is as important as your professional one.
Unwind when you feel the need to do so. Cutting off the outside world for a few hours can help you recover from daily stress. It also gives your brain space for creative thoughts and ideas to arise.
At Luxoft, we equally value our employees' professional and personal priorities. We believe that creativity is only possible in an environment where our employees' passions and expertise are allowed to flourish.
One way our employees unwind is by partaking in company relaxation initiatives, such as yoga classes and mental health webinars. They're a break away from the hustle and bustle of work and help promote a healthy lifestyle for all employees.
6. Set goals
Goal setting is vital to work-life balance as it allows you to plan what you need to do for the day, helping you be more productive and manage your time better.
Try setting short-term, achievable goals whenever you can. If, for example, you have a to-do list, your goal for the day may be to cross out at least three to five tasks off it.
Setting goals also helps you declutter your responsibilities. In this way, you can cut down on redundant and administrative tasks that don't add any value to your work.
To help you set goals, identify times in the day when you're most productive. Then, block off those hours and set them aside solely for time-sensitive tasks.
A goal can also be as simple as not getting distracted at work. In your home office, for instance, get rid of objects not related to work, like handheld video game consoles. They're more likely to distract you from the responsibilities at hand.
Remember that you don't have to move mountains when setting daily goals. Small achievements done consistently over an extended period are much more fulfilling and rewarding, and ultimately deliver a healthier work-life balance.
7. Spend time with your loved ones
Employees who are working parents understand the difficulty of spending time and bonding with their children, especially if both parents are working. If this applies to you, you'll likely agree that your professional life often impedes your life outside work. It can be especially difficult for young children who need lots of time with their parents during their development stage.
The key is not to bury yourself solely in work. If you have a flexible work schedule, use your short breaks to engage in small conversations with your friends, relatives and other loved ones. Set aside the weekends for bonding with your family, be it going to the mall, watching movies or simply having dinner together.
Nurturing your social life through these simple techniques, even during work hours, can positively impact your work-life balance.
8. Ask for help from your peers
Research conducted by an American university found that employees experienced higher levels of workplace stress due to a lack of resources and a solid support system from their employers.
It's not difficult to imagine why. Employees tend to bottle things up when they feel overwhelmed with deadlines and tasks. A sense of helplessness kicks in which inevitably leads to them feeling as if no one is willing to help.
But humans are social creatures. They naturally gravitate to social situations where they feel heard, seen and accepted. Even in work, where it seems like “Every for themselves”, you'd be surprised at how willing your colleagues would be to assist you. So, don't be afraid to ask for help.
For example, approach a supervisor or teammate if you're stumped with a problem, even if you've exhausted all other resources. You’ll most likely discover how willing they are to offer a fresh perspective on your problem.
And to some extent, that helps promote work-life balance, since you’re saving time in resolving a challenging issue. You'll also be more productive, because having another pair of hands to work on a solution improves efficiency, allowing you to move on to the next task quickly and easily.
Benefits of having a good work-life balance
A healthy work-life balance is essential for your mental health, physical well-being and social relationships.
As an employee, if you view your work as something to look forward to and not dread, you're likely to work harder, make fewer mistakes and foster healthier relationships with the people around you.
Here are some other benefits of having a healthy work-life balance:
Increased productivity
A company culture that's all about work-life balance has a positive effect on employees' moods and mindsets. They have higher energy levels for work and much more room for creative and critical thinking which improves their output and performance overall.
More mindfulness
Finding the perfect balance between work and nonwork encourages you to adopt a more mindful approach to things. Mindfulness is the state of being aware of the what, how, and why of the things you’re doing.
You promote more mindful thinking and behavior by consciously setting goals, taking breaks and eliminating distractions. As a result, nothing will seem too monotonous or perfunctory. Instead, every working day will be something to appreciate and look forward to.
Avoid burnouts
A study involving over 10,000 employees across several countries found that about 70% of them experienced some form of burnout in the past year.
Contrary to popular belief, "burnout" isn't just an imagined concept or something employees can snap out of. It's caused by a host of factors, such as:
- Overworking
- Poor workplace dynamics
- Energy-intensive activities
- Lack of employer support
If all of the above are eliminated or minimized, burnouts are less likely to happen.
Takeaways on managing work-life balance
As employees are the backbone of our operations, Luxoft prides itself as a pioneer in developing a healthy workplace culture where work-life balance is a priority.
We are the proud recipient of the “Great Place to Work” certification. Over 85% of our employees say we're a great place to work, consistently delivering agile and creative solutions for our clients while having our employees' well-being in mind.
Are you looking to work for a company that values your personal and professional growth? Explore available job opportunities at Luxoft.
Frequently asked questions about work-life balance
What are the signs of work-life imbalance?
Some tell-tale signs of work-life imbalance are:
- Exhaustion
- Feeling easily annoyed or irritable
- Lack of time for self-care activities
- Inability to focus
- Being overwhelmed with job responsibilities
How can I improve work-life balance?
Here are several ways to improve your work-life balance:
- Find a mentor
- Prioritize self-care
- Plan your vacation time and other days off
- Find time to rest physically and mentally
- Include exercise in your daily schedule
What causes poor work-life balance?
Here are several obstacles to work-life balance:
- Not knowing when to say “no”
- Reacting to everything emotionally
- Equating busyness with productivity
- Always working alone
- Pressuring yourself to do everything perfectly
- Overbearing managers or employers
How many hours should I work for a good work-life balance?
Experts say that the perfect work-life balance can be achieved by working just slightly below the average of 40 hours weekly.
Another study from the World Health Organization (WHO) found that working 55 hours or above each week can increase your risk of developing a stroke or dying of heart disease.