Forget the Work-Life Balance Myth – Blending is Better

Everyone talks about the work-life balance, but it doesn’t really exist. There is no

perfect balance between work and the rest of someone’s life, and trying to find a

perfect balance often leads to people giving up sleep or other things they need,

which can lead to poor health and other issues. It’s the idea of working so hard the

person can’t go on the way they were anymore. Instead of a work-life balance idea

that is too hard to grasp, it’s worth looking into blending work and the rest of life, so

everything fits together better, and employees have a better chance to balance

everything in their life.

A lot suffers when employees have to chase the perfect work-life balance. They’ll

often end up trying to do everything, even though there isn’t enough time in the

day. This leads to a lack of sleep, poor nutrition, and minimal exercise. It also leads

to many people having little to no time for relaxation or downtime, and they tend to

become overworked. After a while, this leads to health issues, as they aren’t getting

what they need to stay healthy. It can also lead to family issues if they don’t have

time for family responsibilities.

Employers have a huge impact on how the employees see their work-life balance

and whether they believe it’s within reach. Employers can enact policies that blend

work and life together, creating a better work environment so employees can get

the time they need for things outside of work and have the support they need while

they’re working. Employers can also model better choices and how to blend work

and life together, instead of trying to portray having the work-life balance perfected.

Business owners can consider a number of policies to help bring work and life

together, creating a cohesive blend that’s better for everyone in the workplace.

Healthy snacks in the workplace can help employees eat better. Email-free

weekends can help the employees get the relaxation they need at the end of the

workweek. Other policies can include paid parental leave, paid time off to volunteer,

required work-free vacation time, and more. Employers can also provide employees

with more flexible work times where applicable. This way, the employees can make

sure their schedule fits their needs, leading to reduced stress and better mental

health.

The work-life balance is something that’s often talked about and sought by

employers and employees, yet the ideal balance doesn’t really exist. Trying to

chase this ideal balance often leads to a variety of personal and health issues, as

it’s not possible to do everything and be everywhere at one time. Instead, blending

work and life can help create a less stressful environment, ensure employees can

remain healthy, and be a better option for everyone. As a business owner, you have the opportunity to work on creating the perfect blend for your employees using

some of the tips here.