We all want to live a happy and fulfilling life, both personally and professionally. However, the current demands of many corporate jobs are driving away workers in record numbers. Employees all over the world are turning their backs on jobs because of burnout, unfulfillment, and low pay. In fact, so many workers have left their jobs that this phenomenon has been nicknamed “The Great Resignation.” The fact is, many employees want to work and have a career, but they don’t want to sacrifice their entire personal life to make that happen. That’s why more and more employees are seeking flexible work arrangements. Creating a harmonious work-life balance isn’t easy, but it is crucial for our physical, emotional, and mental well-being. It is also the best way to ensure a successful career because it means less stress, lower risk of burnout, and increased productivity. Meaningful work-life balance offers countless benefits for managers and employees alike, so consider these tips for creating a healthy work-life balance for yourself and your team.
1. Offer Support
Supervisors need to learn to be more supportive of their employees by implementing family-friendly policies. For example, be understanding if an employee needs to work from home to care for a sick child or if they need to leave work early to attend a school function. This can also pertain to employees who might be caring for an elderly parent. Employers who are understanding and supportive of these personal matters are more likely to have employees who are more satisfied with their jobs.
2. Offer Flexible and/or Remote Working
The hybrid work model has become more widely accepted in recent years and more and more employees are seeking this type of work. Flexible arrangements make it possible for employees to better meet family and personal needs. In return, they tend to produce high-quality work because they are happier in their jobs.
3. Assign Manageable Workloads
Employees with huge workloads and limited time to complete them are likely to suffer from mental stress and exhaustion. When employees are overloaded, they tend to feel frustrated and therefore produce lower quality work. Furthermore, they are at greater risk of burnout. Review employee workloads on a regular basis in order to restore a greater work-life balance.
4. Promote Collaboration
Foster a culture where employees are encouraged to collaborate and work together to complete tasks. This approach helps employees learn from each other, while also sharing the workload. Cross-collaboration among employees helps keep employees engaged and motivated, while also reducing burnout and stress.
5. Encourage Time Off
Employees get vacation time for a reason, so encourage them to use it. Foster a culture that respects time off and make sure employees feel comfortable using their vacation days. Everyone needs a mental break from time to time and this makes for happier employees.
6. Create Policies Regarding Work Hours
Contrary to what you might think, working more actually results in reduced productivity. Therefore, encourage employees to work only during specific hours. This includes remote employees. Encourage them to turn off their notifications between certain hours so they can focus on their breaks or family time. In the evenings and on the weekends, employees shouldn’t feel obligated to answer emails or slack messages.
7. Promote Self-Awareness
Employees value empathy in a manager and nothing shows you care more than promoting self-awareness within your team. Recognize the pressures of mental health and encourage employees to walk, exercise, or take time off if needed. Seek to understand their feelings and what triggers them and teach everyone to be sensitive to others’ emotions, ultimately creating a path to success for the entire team.
8. Set a Positive Example
If you want to promote a healthy work-life balance, this begins with your example. Adhere to company policy about work hours, take personal time off, make exercise and wellness a priority, and be understanding and supportive of your employees. When they see how much you value this healthy balance, they will follow suit.
9. Learn to Say No
We all have limitations and there are times when you just have to say “no.” Learn to delegate when possible and avoid taking on more than you can handle at one time. Not only will doing this prevent you from overworking, but it sets a positive example for your team. They will see that work-life balance is valued at your company.
10. Ask for Feedback
It’s not always easy for managers to tell exactly what factors could be causing burnout. The best way to understand is to gather real-time feedback with tools that encourage anonymity, so workers can be honest. Perhaps it’s work hours, support, flexible schedule, or heavy workloads that are causing burnout. When you identify the root issue, you can address it head on.
