![]() ![]() Take a step back and ask yourself: What is currently causing me stress, unbalance, or dissatisfaction? How are these circumstances affecting how I perform and engage with my job? How are they impacting my personal life? What am I prioritizing? What am I sacrificing? What is getting lost? Only after you take a mental pause and acknowledge these factors can you begin to tackle them.įor instance, after several years of intense focus on her career, Maya*, a senior associate at a law firm, described feeling like she’d hit rock bottom. This cycle is made up of five distinct steps: 1. Importantly, our research suggests that this is not a one-time fix, but rather, a cycle that we must engage in continuously as our circumstances and priorities evolve. While the details of every individual case differed, our study suggested a common mental process that consistently helped this group of professionals to change the way they worked - and lived - for the better.Īt a high level, our research showed that achieving better balance between professional and personal priorities boils down to a combination of reflexivity - or questioning assumptions to increase self-awareness - and intentional role redefinition. ![]() However, about 30% of the men and 50% of women in our sample appeared to consciously resist working long hours, describing a variety of strategies they developed for maintaining a healthier work-life balance. The majority of the interviewees described their jobs as highly demanding, exhausting, and chaotic, and they seemed to take for granted that working long hours was necessary for their professional success. We spoke with an equal number of men and women, and most of the interviewees were between 30 and 50 years old, with at least one dependent child, and in either middle or senior management roles. To explore this question, we conducted almost 200 in-depth interviews with 78 professionals from the London offices of a global law firm and an accounting firm. What does it take to free yourself from these unhealthy patterns and reach a more sustainable, rewarding work-life balance? Just ask Emily - once she started getting her balance back, she became more productive, happier, and less overwhelmed in all aspects of her life.Despite the resounding evidence that working long hours can be harmful to both employees and employers, many professionals still struggle to overcome their assumptions - and their deeply-ingrained habits - around work hours. But remember, the more your work life filters into your personal life, the more you’re losing that balance that’s so important to your health and happiness. I know that with the abundance of technology in our lives, it can be nearly impossible to unplug, and that much easier to just shoot off one more email, or take that call from your boss. Set boundaries with your employer so you both understand you’re availability. Just because you’re physically accessible all the time doesn’t mean you have to be. Don’t take your laptop to bed with you, or answer your boss’ calls at the dinner table. It’s okay to say no to things that stress you out, as long as it’s warranted. But if you agree to attend every event, take on every project, or manage every co-worker, you’ll find yourself with no time left… And the worst type of betrayal is the kind you do to yourself. Learn to say "no." Saying no can seem impossible, especially at work.But taking care of yourself is important! You need to make sure you take the time to reset and recharge, whether that’s going to the gym or allowing yourself a binge-session of your favorite show. ![]()
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