With the advancement of science and technology, a lot has improved in our way of life. Tools ranging from simple to sophisticated are available at our convenience to simplify our tasks. Communication evolved from written letters to long-distance audio-visual conferences. Travels that took months have been reduced to hours and days. Our health care has also improved in a lot of ways to heal us and extend our lives. Gathering resources and necessities can be done inside our homes thanks to online shopping. The 21st Century has made a lot of what people thought was impossible possible.
Time is a luxury
Despite all the conveniences we have today, have you ever felt you do not have time at your disposal”•time to do your office work, time for your family, time for yourself, time for friends, or time to do whatever it is you want? Have you ever felt you do not have the freedom to do it all? Almost everything in the 21st century is doable. You can do so much, travel to places, indulge in many activities, and the only thing you need besides money and resources is time. Time has become a luxury in this 21st century world.
Demands of life
Since time has become an irreplaceable resource, what do we need to do to make the most of it? How do we spend time so that we truly live? How can we fit everything into our schedules? How do we balance the demands of living in the 21st century: family, friends, health, career, money, business, leisure, travel, and others? And why do we need to balance these demands?
Risks of an unbalanced life
Being unable to balance our work, life, and everything can be harmful to us. As we work harder and longer, we tend to sleep less to have some time for ourselves. I know because I have been there. As a millennial eager to prove himself, I have accepted more responsibilities and tried to accomplish them alone. To do this, I would work longer and still have time for myself by sacrificing some hours of sleep. But, we have always been reminded that getting a full night’s rest is needed so our body can recuperate and fix itself. If we do not have enough rest, we are at risk.
Fatigue. Overworking ourselves takes a toll on our body and mental health. This can lead to even lower productivity.
Poor Health. Working can be stressful, and as we work longer shifts, stress can negatively affect our immune system, which makes us vulnerable to diseases.
Social Disconnection. As social beings, it is in our nature to be with others. When we devote too much time to work, we deprive ourselves of this necessity. This can lead to feelings of isolation, and at worst, can destroy our relationships.
Increased Expectations. As we prioritize work over, we tend to accept extra responsibilities. These responsibilities carry increased expectations, which can affect our confidence and contribute to stress if we cannot meet.
So how do we do it? How do we balance those demands? A 2019 blog found in https://www.pasadenavilla.com/2019/05/08/work-life-balance-importance/ gave the following ideas:
SMILE to achieve work-life balance
We have always heard experienced people say, “set limits and learn to prioritize” then you can have work-life balance. These are timeless pieces of advice. For me.
S–Say No. When we say no, we accept our limits. We can do and accomplish so much, but there is a time to stop, say no, and rest. By saying no, we make time for things that are more important to us.
M–Make a list. Identify all the things we need or want to do. By listing them, we can plan how to accomplish each and stay focused.
I–Identify necessary from unnecessary. Not everything we need to do or want to do must be done simultaneously. Some are urgent; some are not. Some are important; some are not. This only means that some activities must be prioritized over others.
L–Leave work at work. We can spend the whole day working, and there would still be much to do. Work has become endless, and so we must decide to separate work with life.
E –Enjoy. Life is too short to do something we do not enjoy. If we do something because it pays our bills, then we need to learn to find joy in it or find something better.
Achieving work-life balance is not a definite science. There could be a hundred ways to accomplish it. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa. Our tolerance for different levels of stress is also a differentiating factor. Still, we must strive to find what works for each of us. Otherwise, we face the risks of an unbalanced life. If time is important, so is our health.
At the end of the day, it is we who decide how to live our own lives. So, let us make the most of it.
The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, De La Salle University. This article is part of his blog for the course on Leadership, Ethics, and CSR.
The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the position of De La Salle University, its faculty, and its administrators.