The Health Benefits of Finding Your Work-Life Balance
By Chris Brown
In the rat race of corporate America, work-life balance has become a subject of increasing concern. As worker talent and competition compound yearly, workers often feel they must work greater and greater hours to stand out. However, studies over the years have shown that work quality doesn't necessarily correlate to hours worked. A poor work-life balance can cause burnout conditions that ultimately lead to decreased productivity and self-worth. The way of avoiding burnout is to make an asserted effort to manage an appropriate work-life balance and, by doing so, counterintuitively move ahead in the workplace.
Why is a Work-Life Balance Important?
Poor work-life balance can lead to either unemployment (if heavy on the life side) or, more often, burnout. Workplace burnout from insufficient downtime not only decreases effectiveness and efficiency in the office, but can cause problems in one's personal life. Burnout decreases feelings of control and gateways to depression and mental health problems. Physically, it can increase fatigue and worsen the likelihood of stress-related ailments like heart disease or diabetes.
What Is a Healthy Work and Life Balance?
The proper ratio of work to leisure is subjectively dependent upon an individual's personality, interests, and even their generation. In a Forbes article titled, "The Evolving Definition Of Work-Life Balance," Alan Kohll speaks to how, as a generalization, baby boomer's poor work-life balance has influenced the following generations' altered work perspectives. Generations following the baby boomers have prioritized work benefits that allow more free time over increased pay and many companies have adapted to this by incorporating leisure activities, such as pool tables, pinball, and arcade games, into their offices. These amenities, though, can be work-life balance traps, giving workers a temporary release that keeps them in the office longer. For most, short breaks are not enough to fully recharge during a busy work week.
How to Create a Work and Life Balance?
Creating an effective work-life balance requires intentional effort. It is easy to get overly invested in projects or work assignments, but without asserted focus to pace oneself, the consequences of overworking are sure to arise.
Once the workday is over, someone's free time decompression activities are also important. What activities rejuvenate differs for everyone. For one person, this may mean socializing with friends. For another, it could mean precious alone time to chill and do nothing on the couch. However, if one's time off is simply filled with life responsibilities, they will return to work unmotivated and even more worn out.
A trip to the chiropractor can be a perfect opportunity to decompress. Let a chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic ease your work tension through spine and joint adjustments at a stress-free, walk-in session. You will leave feeling lighter, more balanced, and ready to return to the office grind.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Northridge, Calif.