On average, we spend 90,000 hours, or 1/3 of our lives at work. How can we say we need work life balance when a huge portion of life is work? The fact is, “life” is way more complex than “not-working,” and balance is dynamic. Our priorities change constantly, so it’s almost impossible to find symmetry. Here’s how to embrace the blend of life and work:
Make Friends at Work:
Build connections and really get to know your coworkers. Studies have shown that people who have a “best friend at work” are likely to be happier, healthier and seven times more engaged in their job. Investing in relationships leads to positive outcomes that shouldn’t be confined to nights and weekends. After all, it’s a basic human need to foster social connections. Ask people about their lives in the office, and share your stories, too. A seamless integration of personal and professional will lead to friendships that make your time at work much more enjoyable.
Not sure where to start? Attend the next company outing, happy hour, or join a co-rec team. When you put time and effort into networking, it will pay off through valuable bonds and increased job satisfaction.
Work hard, play hard, and don’t be afraid to blend the two…we promise you’ll be happier for it.
Find Work You Love:
80 percent of people don’t enjoy their jobs…it’s no wonder they’re trying to separate their lives!
Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be this way, and passion is the key. If you enjoy what you’re doing and believe in the company, work-life happiness is easy. If your only motivation is “making it” to the weekend, a shift in perspective is crucial. When you are truly invested in your role, you won’t want to disconnect. Instead, you’ll be raving to your family at Thanksgiving dinner about how much you love what you do. You shouldn’t have to isolate your passion or stifle your creativity when you walk out of the office. Let it come home with you- share it, embrace it and let it drive your productivity.
Feeling uninspired? Discover your purpose through adding new challenges or projects to your life. Mixing things up can spark excitement in mundane routine, and provide just the right pick-me-up. Get involved with a nonprofit, host a donation drive with coworkers, or sponsor a fundraising event. If you’re a bookworm, start a company book-club. An athlete? Create a co-rec team or running group. The key is to connect your personal and professional passions.
Blending is key. Instead of resisting bringing your personal life to the workplace and vice versa, let the two flow together. Work-life integration works, and work-life balance may just be a total myth, but that’s okay.
