How to Define Your Own Version of Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance is one of the biggest issues in the workforce right now. Burnout was one of the biggest causes of The Great Resignation, according to Time magazine. Employees who reported experiencing burnout have also seen lower confidence, decreased productivity and mental anxiety.

Many women have responded by taking work-life balance into their own hands. Since COVID-19, women-led start-ups have doubled. It's apparent that more and more people are defining their own versions of work-life balance.

The importance of work-life balance has been a hot-button issue for some time now. The term is defined as an equilibrium between personal and professional priorities, though the interpretation varies.

Let's discuss how this varies from person to person, plus tips on how to create your own version of work-life balance.

What Is Work-Life Balance?

In 2018, Jeff Bezos said that work life is a circle and not a balance, calling on the need for a reciprocal relationship. People had mixed feelings about this comparison, highlighting the differences in what work-life balance means for different people.

The concept was introduced in the 1970s and 1980s, as baby boomers began facing stress and tried to strike a balance between work and life. Times continued to change.

Generation X focused on using PTO on family and priorities outside the office, according to Forbes. Millennials became more interested in careers that would support their lifestyle.

On the other hand, Generation Z gravitates toward companies that foster emotional and psychological well-being, as shared by Verge. This varies from the more traditional idea of finding a job and then building a life around it.

Work-life balance is also experienced differently in different parts of the world.

People in Italy arguably have the best work-life balance, according to OECD's Better Life Index from 2020. Only 3 percent of employees in the country work more than 50 hours a week.

Denmark, Norway, Spain and the Netherlands are also ranked highly. The U.S. comes in 29th place out of 41, as more than 10 percent of people have long working hours.

Striking this balance is often a challenge even with the best of intentions.

Workplaces are offering myriad options to show they are committed to work-life balance, including unlimited PTO, yoga classes and talks on the importance of mental health.

Yet, managers modeling the behavior is what ultimately creates an organizational culture supporting work-life balance, as cited in research shared by Harvard Business Review.

Here are some tips on how to create your own version of work-life balance instead of a one-size-fits-all group approach.

How to Create Your Own Version of Work-Life Balance

First, think about your values and what you need to prioritize, personally and professionally. It could be picking up your children from school, going on vacation, pursuing health and hobbies or spending time with elderly family members.

Second, ask yourself if the nature of your job allows for work-life quality. If not, it may be worth checking out employee resource groups. See if there are others within your company who would be interested in speaking out collectively about growing feelings of burnout and the need for more flexibility.

Third, bring everyone, regardless of gender, into conversation. A better balance for men would mean more balance for women. It is common for women to take on more housework and cut back on their paid working hours. If men were able to manage their work schedules, they would have more time to help at home.

Finally, it is important to lean into prioritization over productivity. We keep receiving messages to get things done and to maximize our time. Yet it leaves us feeling as if we aren't good enough or smart enough.

Instead, focus on allocating your time to where it is most needed and best spent. Employees can also use time-tracking apps or time-management tools like the Eisenhower Matrix and the Covey Matrix, which help categorize items based on urgency and importance.

How Employers Play a Role in Work-Life Balance

While it's possible for employees to take ownership over some facets of their work lives, employers also play a critical role in supporting work-life balance.

For example, some employees need to worry about childcare. Others may have frequent medical appointments during working hours. Workplaces can help create a healthier environment for these employees by offering remote or flexible work options.

Additionally, employers can encourage managers to review workloads and approve time-off requests. And, importantly, leadership can lead by example. If a manager doesn't respect boundaries or works late every day, it sets a precedent for employees to act similarly.

It is important to remember that work-life balance is not a one-and-done task; it requires continually examining what is important to us and remembering that we go through work and life ebbs and flows. It's a continued conversation on the choices we may or may not have, who has access and how we can create a balance that serves everyone well.

About the Author

Diya is a Global Diversity Equity Inclusion speaker, facilitator and consultant with 20 years' experience in profit, nonprofit and tech. She worked at Amazon where she led CORE+ (Conversations on Race and Ethnicity), an annual internal conference for 1.3 million employees. Her work is focused on developing DEI programs, strategies and policies at scale. She has developed global work plans for 14 Employee Resource Groups and led courses on the Future of Work and How to Rebuild Workplaces from an Intersectional Lens. She is a proven subject matter expert and is known for big vision and tactical implementation.