Work-life Balance: Achieving Productivity through Simple Changes

Australians in nearly all professions are feeling compelled to work longer hours and take their work home more often. Even if hours become longer, it is important to draw a clear distinction between activities inside and outside of work. Work-life balance is no longer a perk but a necessity, and when you break things down it is achievable!  The benefits are clear; individuals who have a good work-life balance are more likely to:

•  Produce more effective results
•  Have lower levels of stress, burnout and subsequently absenteeism
• Work 21% harder than those without work-life balance
• Maintain performance levels and the ability to do their job

Encouraging employees to implement a schedule that allows them to partake in leisure activities they enjoy outside of work will help them to become better friends, family members and employees. Although this balance is not easy to achieve and in some careers, hard to accommodate for, it is essential in enabling employees to return to work feeling refreshed and ready to do their job. After all, without a work-life balance employees aren’t able to enjoy the life they have worked so hard to create. 

As always, the best way to build a workplace culture that appreciates and understands this is to lead by example, so try out some of the below:

• Go for a weekly jog with your staff or kick the footy outside during lunch
• If you run training or development programs, include an active team building activity
• If people need to work later on certain occasions; make it up to them with a morning tea or take them out to lunch
• Share links to popular events that employees can do with their family

Don’t forget; a positive work-life balance will create an increased sense of well-being and help save time and money lost in sick days, stress leave, and even turnover.