Himanshu Vashistha, Head- Human Resources
In this fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and forget the most important ingredient in our success: our people. We do understand that if all of us are not thriving, our business won’t either. So, it’s important that we look at what truly matters: our well-being and work-life balance.
One myth all of us live with is that work and life are two opposites. However, work is a subset of life. We are what we repeatedly do, and incidentally we spend most of our time in the workplace. Work-life balance or ‘Life’ isn’t about punching the clock and heading home; it’s about creating a life where work and personal priorities can coexist harmoniously.
With the constant threat of attention deficit that we live in and in the absence of real relationships, it’s important to look at the core of creating this balance. To plan and live is better than living and realizing that we lived an unplanned life.
To live a fuller, complete and joyful life we can practice and work on our wellness. Attributes of wellness include our physical, mental, emotional, financial, spiritual wellbeing along with our relationships.
The placement of these elements can keep changing by each one’s personal choice. As these are correlated, and have a causal relationship, one change will lead to a domino effect to all others.
Creating a work-life balance involves setting boundaries, prioritizing tasks, and fostering habits that promote well-being. Here are practical strategies:
Practice Self-Care: Undermined mostly by us, this is the key starting point. In a flight safety briefing, regarding oxygen masks, passengers are instructed to “secure your own oxygen mask first before assisting others”. The logic is that you can only help and support someone when you are fine yourself. So please take care of yourselves by:
- Exercising Regularly: The type doesn’t matter, but a regular physical activity has shown a marked boost in mood and energy levels.
- Healthy Eating: The old adage that you are what you eat – and how you eat – is very true in today’s world. A balanced diet helps in sustaining productivity and health.
- Adequate Sleep: Prioritizing 7–9 hours of sleep for optimal functioning.
- Digital Detox: Limiting screen time after work to disconnect and focus on personal life.
- Meditate/Mindfulness: Techniques like deep breathing, progressive relaxation. These times tested techniques have shown that we can self-regulate balancing ourselves.
- Daily Breaks: Take short breaks during work to relax and recharge.
- Time for Hobbies: Dedicate time to activities that bring joy and relaxation.
- Family & Friends: Schedule regular quality time with loved one
- Set Clear Boundaries: The intention is to clarify what we can and cannot do for people, which is intended to do productive efficient work. This is also correlated with the Company Culture.
- Working Hours: Define and stick to specific work hours. Avoid checking emails or taking calls outside these times. The only exception to the rule is when the organization has a challenging scenario. However, it must be noted good and detailed planning with flexibility can help here.
- Physical Space: If working remotely, designate a workspace and avoid working in personal spaces like the bedroom. At the office, respect and regard individual space as well.
- Communication Limits: Inform colleagues and customers about your availability to manage expectations. A clear messaging sets precedent to the communication code within the team. This clarity can support collaboration amongst team members.
Prioritize & Delegate
- To-Do Lists: Focus on the most critical tasks daily and avoid overloading yourself. This is a proven way to excel at work, you might trust your brain by keeping the tasks stored there, but most often we forget or get pulled into Busyness.
- Delegate Tasks: Share responsibilities at work and home to reduce your burden. Responsible individuals ask for help, delegation is a formal ask to be helped.
- Learn to Say No: It’s an art to communicate, and to say no requires to politely declining with reason and alternative solutions. The intent should be to solve the issue in hand instead of declining out rightly.
- Continuous Learning: The more you expose and learn things the more inclined you are to develop a wellness based lifestyle. These learning can be in skills at work or otherwise.
- Appreciate and Celebrate life: Each step on the way is to be accepted, acknowledged and appreciated. The most important individual to do this is you. Do this for self, family, friends and colleagues. At times acknowledging goes a long way in an individual’s journeys. Give it freely, timely and with authenticity.
At the end of the day, it’s about creating an environment where our people feel valued and supported. Wellness and work-life balance aren’t just buzzwords – they’re the foundation of a happy, productive team.
Together, let’s make this a priority.
