Why work-life balance matters

Workload has to be managed very carefully to find a balance that doesn’t hinder output or morale. Employees who are at capacity in terms of workload feel the best about their safety, resilience, and well-being. However, this is a fine line to strike as, conversely, those employees with workloads far below or above their capacity express negative views of the same factors.

When working from home, phones should be kept out of the workspace to prevent the blurring of home life into work hours. Likewise, boundaries should be created with personal phones and work. Encourage employees to try removing work-related apps, such as email and Teams, from their personal phone. Or, try moving the apps to a folder so they’re less visible when using their phone outside of work. Work-related notifications should be turned off after hours, weekends, and when taking time off.

And remember, healthy boundaries are impossible without employer commitment. It’s important for management to be seen practising what they preach by taking time off, not overworking themselves, and being an example for others.

To help employees cope with stress and find a better work-life balance, organisations can offer mental health resources, such as counselling or other stress management outlets. These could include stress management classes, courses in meditation or yoga, or chair massages. Employees can also visit LinkedIn Learning for a wide selection of courses designed to help improve mental wellbeing in the workplace.

Employees who build supportive connections in the workplace are more likely to feel engaged with their work. For those who lack social connection, organisations can help by facilitating interactions with co-workers in a healthy setting - this can be through off-site events, virtual coffee calls, or even simply rearranging office seating plans. Employees also feel more engaged when they can connect with their colleagues outside of work, so whether it’s through book clubs, running clubs, fitness classes, or virtual fitness challenges, it’s always beneficial to encourage social connections between employees.

One of the more common misconceptions about work burnout is that work alone is the problem. In reality, what people do outside of work is just as important in preventing burnout. Talk to your employees about engaging in restorative activities that are meaningful to them outside of work. The key here is to choose activities that aren’t work-related, and better yet, don’t involve looking at a screen.

For many people, taking meaningful time off has been difficult over the past three years because they couldn’t travel for a vacation. And while a staycation can be restorative, the temptation to check work tech might still be there. Always encourage employees to fully step away from work while they’re on vacation. Doing so helps them recharge and return to work with renewed energy.