When the country was on lockdown two years ago, employees in many industries were forced to work from home. For most employees, the experience was daunting and life changing.
This is especially true for working mothers. In addition to juggling their time between meetings, performing their key work tasks, mother also had to look after their children and doing household chores. Achieving a work life balance, in short, was a challenge.
Now that the Philippines is under Alert Level 1 status, many companies are busy preparing for the return of their employees to the office. This, again, will require another period of adjustment. After working in the confines of their homes for two years, employees will now have to commute once more and make their way to the offices.
Even before the loosening of the quarantine restrictions, some sectors were pushing for the adoption of the hybrid work set up. The hybrid work set up provides some flexibility on where, how and when work is completed. Some businesses may require employees to work in the office twice a week or only when required by a client. It can also be in the form of requiring groups of employees to work in the office during a particular week while the rest work from home on an alternating basis. Calls for the adoption of this set up were further strengthened with the rising gasoline prices, which may eventually lead to higher fares.
Balancing act
Whatever work set up will be adopted, It is important to strike a work-life balance. Achieving this though is a challenge especially if you work long hours and are online most of the time. In fact, working from home can also blur professional and personal boundaries.
However, a study showed that Filipinos have some of the best experiences of work life balance in Southeast Asia.
According to recruitment portal Monster.com, nearly two thirds (65 percent) of working professionals in the Philippines said they are generally satisfied with their current work life balance, although 28 percent said they would like more options to spend time with their friends and family.
The study found that 41 percent of Filipino professionals feel content with the balance of their personal and professional lives, significantly higher than employees in Singapore and Malaysia, where only 24 percent and 32 percent, respectively, reported feeling the same way.
This data was gathered from more than 1,000 respondents across Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines as part of Monster’s #WorklifeBalance campaign, which aims to explore working professionals sentiments around work life balance and raise awareness among employers as to what aspects of work life balance are most valued by their employees.
Flexible working hours
The major aspect of work-life balance for Filipino professionals is having flexible working hours that are suited to their lives and needs (59 percent). Beyond this, Filipinos want to be able to leave work on time (51 percent), while 47 percent say they simply strive to find the right blend between work and life.
According to Mayoclinic.org, if you are spending most of your time working, your work and home life might be negatively affected. The consequences of poor work life balance include:
Fatigue. It is difficult to work productively and think clearly if you are tired. This could in turn have a negative effect on your professional reputation that may lead to costly mistakes.
Poor health. Stress can worsen whatever medical conditions you already have and may put you at risk of substance abuse.
Lost time with family and friends. If you spend too much time working, you might miss out on important family events or milestones. You will start feeling left out and your relationships with your family and friends will be affected.
“As long as you’re working, juggling the demands of career and personal life will be an ongoing challenge. But by setting limits and looking after yourself, you an achieve the work-life balance that’s best for you,” MayoClinic.Org said.
To achieve work-life balance, MayoClinic.Org suggests the following strategies:
Manage your time. Give yourself enough time to get things done. Don’t overschedule yourself.
Learn to say no. Evaluate your priorities at work and at home and try to shorten the list of things that you have to do. Delegate the work that you cannot handle or share your concerns and possible solutions with your employer or others. When you quit accepting tasks out of guilt or a false sense of obligation, you will have more time for activities that are meaningful to you.
Detach from work. Working from home gives you the feeling that you are always on the job and this can lead to chronic stress. Talk to your manager about expectations for when you can disconnect. If you work from home, dress for work and have a dedicated workspace, if possible. When you are done working each day, detach and transition to home life by changing your outfit, taking a drive, walking or doing an activity with your kids.
Consider your options. Ask your employer about flex hours, a compressed workweek, job sharing or other scheduling flexibility. The more control you have over your hours, the less stressed you are likely to be.
It is important to cope with stress and to achieve work-life balance. Eat well, engage in physical activity in your daily routine and get enough sleep. In addition, aim to:
Relax. Regularly set aside time for activities that you enjoy, such as practicing yoga, gardening or reading. Hobbies can help you relax, take your mind off of work and recharge. Better yet, discover activities you can do with your partner, family or friends – such as hiking, dancing, or taking cooking classes.
Volunteer. Research shows that volunteering to help others can improve your connections with others, as well as lead to better life satisfaction and lower psychological distress.
Develop a support system. At work, join forces with co-workers who can cover for you and vice versa when family conflict arise. At home, enlist trusted friends and loved ones to pitch in with child care or household responsibilities when you need to work late.
“If your life feels too chaotic to manage and you’re spinning your wheels worrying about it, talk to a mental health provider. If you have access to an employee assistance program, take advantage of available services,” Mayoclinic.org said.
“Creating work-life balance is a continuous process as your family interests and work life change. Periodically examine your priorities and make changes if necessary to make sure you’re keeping on track,” Mayoclinic.org added.
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