The importance of work-life balance cannot be underestimated.
Of course, we all know that we are supposed to maintain this balance. In fact, we have heard it so many times that we may beat ourselves up for not achieving it.
We may cringe when we hear about self-care. That’s because it feels like just another thing on our “to do” list. Somehow, we have to learn to take care of ourselves and enjoy our personal lives, without making it a chore.
In order to do that, we need to look at the reasons behind the importance of work-life balance. This will help us to understand the challenges that we face and how to overcome them in ways that foster self-compassion. It will help us actually get that balance rather than feeling bad about not doing so.
Understanding the Importance of Work-Life Balance
As aforementioned, we already know the importance of work-life balance. However, for so long, it’s been drilled into our heads as something we need to do “because it’s good for us.” This makes it a chore.
Therefore, we need to go back to the root of the issue. We need to stop thinking, “I have to do this” and really just look at why work-life balance is so important.
There are so many facets to each of us. However, a New York City career can become all-consuming.
We learn to identify with “what we do” instead of with all of the many things that make up who we are. As a result, we over-emphasize work to the exclusion of all other things that we enjoy.
For example, we don’t make time to sit down and draw in an art journal because we think we “should” use downtime to study, network, and grow our careers.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with loving your job. Furthermore, it’s great that you want to do your best at it. However, if you do so at the expense of all other parts of yourself, then it can come at a big cost. You might
- Feel at a complete loss if you lose your job
- Lose self-worth when things are not going well at work
- Sacrifice personal relationships
- Get overwhelmed by demands from others for your time
- Feel confused about what you really want
Ultimately, you might feel a lack of satisfaction or fulfillment in your life despite the fact that your job is going well.
Work-Life Balance Is About Wholeness
In other words, the importance of work-life balance isn’t about achieving more or doing things right. Instead, it’s about acknowledging all of the different aspects of ourselves.
We tend to think that work-life balance is something we need to “do.” However, it’s really about letting all parts of ourselves simply be.
It’s about making space for the parts of you that love cooking, dancing, being silly, watching comedies on TV, walking the dog, playing an instrument, and studying obscure languages.
So often, we tend to think that if something doesn’t further our career, then it’s a waste of time. However, the more fully-developed each part of your self is, the better you will be as a whole person.
Giving more time to the “life” part of the work-life balance doesn’t mean that you sacrifice work. You can keep your 24/7 NYC career thriving while still setting personal boundaries that make space for the rest of who you are.
In fact, if you develop yourself in non-work areas of life, then your work will actually thrive. You will be happier and more excited about life, and your work will show that.
—
Work-life balance is only one of many career issues that people in NYC face. Learn more about how I can help with job support issues here.