Balancing Acts: How to Manage Work and Life
You slump over at your desk, eyes glued to the piercing blue glow of your computer screen. Nervously tapping at the keys, you can’t help but fixate on all of your unfinished tasks. Encroaching deadlines loom ominously above you and each grueling second ticks away faster and faster on the clock. It’s getting late, but you still have to do your pile of dirty laundry, finish that report, and respond to a few emails before you can turn in. Finally, you give in — only four hours of sleep for tonight.
If this sounds familiar to you, then you’re probably one of the many people who struggle with work-life balance. Whether you’re a college student, an employee, or both, achieving work-life balance can seem difficult, if not impossible. According to an article from Small Business Trends, 66% of full-time employees in the U.S. “do not strongly believe that they have work-life balance.” This upsetting, but unsurprising, statistic shows just how overworked many people are.
So, how do we fix this problem? Well, before we figure out how to tackle overworking, we have to understand the complexities of work-life balance. If it was a simpler issue, then everyone would be well-rested and serene all the time, but achieving work-life balance is actually extremely difficult and distressing for many people. We may never completely solve the imbalance, but if we want to make progress, we have to reevaluate what work-life balance really means.
Re-defining work-life balance
The traditional concept of work-life balance implies that all of our time spent at work is draining and that our lives outside of work are filled with more enjoyable tasks. Realistically, we find both joy and stress in the workplace, as well as in a home environment. Work can mean getting to do what you’re passionate about, or having to tackle dreaded assignments. Similarly, life can include fun opportunities, or mundane obligations that we may try to avoid. In a Forbes Leadership Forum article, John Coleman explains the changing definition of work-life balance.
“In this construct, all of our meaningful activities, personal and professional, have elements of both work and life,” said Coleman.
The Digital Corps is comprised of college students and staff with industry experience, which means that we have to manage work-life balance for people with very different lifestyles. Riley Paulsen, our Facilitator for Training and Design, is both a full-time staff member and a college student. He is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Public Administration through Ball State University. For Riley, work-life balance is important because he juggles the rigors of graduate school, personal obligations and activities, and his career.
“There’s this expectation in society that there are increasingly blurred lines of who you are personally and who you are professionally,” said Riley.
Separating your personal and professional lives may be difficult, so let’s start by changing our perception of them. Redefining how we view work-life balance is the first step in figuring out how to effectively practice it, which is becoming increasingly important for many people. But why does it matter in the first place? A good work-life balance can mean the difference between positive productivity and draining obligations. By acknowledging that work and life aren’t mutually exclusive, we can begin the journey toward finding that rare balance.
Why do we need work-life balance?
We’ve all been there: grinding it out while stealing frantic glances at the clock, eventually breathing a resigned sigh and giving into the circumstances. Working late is perfectly fine (even necessary) every once in a while, but constant overworking is detrimental to your health and the quality of your work. You might be thinking: “But wait… doesn’t working ‘too much’ make me a dedicated employee, student, or parent?” Well, the side effects of overworking can actually cause negative changes in performance — both in the workplace and in your day-to-day life.
Overworking is practically ingrained in our idea of what makes a good employee and a successful person. In order to advance at work, we have to be on-call at all times, accept every new project, and always give 110%. If that wasn’t enough, we’re also expected to have active social lives, spend quality time with our families, and maintain our personal health — all while excelling at hobbies and staying on top of chores.
All of these tasks are rewarding in their own way, but trying to ‘do it all’ every day just isn’t sustainable, let alone beneficial.
Digital Corps Apprentice, Maggie Lewis, knows a thing or two about trying to manage a busy schedule. Not only does she balance work with education, but she also stays involved with campus life by playing soccer for Ball State. She is the Vice President and Social Media and Website Manager within club soccer, which means that she has lots of responsibilities in addition to playing the sport. Maggie devotes much of her attention to coordinating and communicating with her team, which means that planning is also one of Maggie’s obligations.
“I have a calendar and a to-do list with me at all times. The only way I make everything work is knowing my schedule when I wake up, listing what I need to get done, and then executing,” said Maggie.
But, devoting all that time to school, work, and extracurricular activities can take toll on people. When we’re stretched too thin, our work, daily life, and health actually suffer from the side effects of overworking. Two of the main issues associated with overworking are stress and sleep deprivation, both of which are almost habitual for many people. Let’s examine some of the specifics to see how overworking really impacts us.
Too stressed to be blessed?
Seventh grade health class will tell you that there are different types of stress — good stress (eustress) and bad stress (distress). Both kinds of stress manifest everywhere in our daily lives. From brainstorming sessions, to family activities, and from approaching deadlines, to the pile of unfolded laundry, both kinds of stress are ever-present. In fast-paced work and home environments, even the good stress can lead to mental clutter.
Normally, a little stress is a great motivator to get the job done, but too much can cause more problems than it’s worth. Whether you’re a student or employee, overworking is often the result of the pressure to perform perfectly. We want to have the best GPAs and résumés, not to mention good relationships with our superiors. This drive to succeed makes us hard workers, but when does the stress become unhealthy?
According to the Mental Health Foundation, more than a quarter of employees feel depressed, one third feel anxious, and more than half feel irritable when working long hours.
Everyone experiences stress differently, but for many people, stress manifests in increased heart rate sweating, and nervous energy. A Touro University Worldwide article says that stress doesn’t just affect our bodies physically, but it has lasting effects on our brains as well. When we’re under stress, our bodies produce a hormone called cortisol, which is supposed to restore the energy expended in our physical response to stress. Too much cortisol can impair brain function — meaning that it can kills brain cells and even reduce the size of the brain.
Is sleep really for the weak?
The old Benjamin Franklin saying goes “Early to bed and early to rise, make a man healthy, wealthy, and wise,” but its meaning is shifting with our definition of success. Now, modern workers are trying to maintain health, wealth, and wisdom all while staying up through the night and avoiding the snooze button.
Whether you’re a morning person or a night owl, functioning without enough sleep isn’t sustainable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that adults ages 18 to 60 need 7 or more hours of sleep per night. Proper rest patterns are necessary for a high quality of life, but many people don’t prioritize sleep.
But why do we actually need that much sleep? Again, you might be thinking: “If I’m getting good grades or doing well at work, then why does it matter how much sleep I get?” Sleep can actually affect more than just your morning energy levels.
The detrimental effects of sleep deprivation extend into mental health and can make or break your ability to function.
The Harvard Business Review states that sleep deprivation “lengthens reaction time, impedes judgement, and interferes with problem solving,” all of which are important day-to-day functions. Peter Meerlo, a neurobiologist at the University of Groningen, explains “that the hippocampus — the part of the brain involved in learning, memory, and emotions — is very sensitive to disruption such as sleep deprivation.” So, lack of sleep can actually cause the hippocampus to shrink, which negatively impacts brain function.
Maggie Lewis makes special efforts to ensure that she gets the rest she needs. For someone with mentally and physically demanding obligations, a proper sleep schedule is an absolute necessity. Maggie aims to get at least 7 hours of sleep per night, making sure to head to bed early when she has to get up early the next morning. This can be a tough goal when soccer practices run late, but ultimately sleep makes the difference in her ability to handle life.
“Sleep is the most important thing in my life. I cannot function at 100% if I don’t get at least 7 hours of sleep every night,” said Maggie.
How to make it achievable for you
Now that we’ve discussed why work-life balance is important, let’s talk about how to accomplish it. Everyone has different, busy schedules, and not all practices may work for you. Maybe meditation is a good way for you to relieve stress, or maybe you prefer unwinding with a jog. Don’t force yourself to adopt practices that add more difficulty to your life, but try to keep an open mind when it comes to seeking work-life balance. To achieve it, you have to actively pursue it at work, in class, and in your personal life. This may seem daunting, but hopefully breaking it down will help make your life easier.
How to make work work for you
According to the Mental Health Foundation, the most important way to create balance at work is to “encourage a culture of openness” and honesty about workloads and deadlines. This means that a workplace should be people-focused and place its employees’ mental health above productivity.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that workplace productivity isn’t important, but rather that the wellbeing of employees should come first.
After all, many workplaces have safety requirements to protect employees’ physical health, so why shouldn’t there be protections for mental health as well?
Here are several small ways that you can help create an open environment in your office:
- Communicate with staff about how much you can realistically take on.
- Ask your coworkers for help if you’re struggling with a task.
- Avoid checking your work communication system outside of the office.
- Try not to take your stresses from work home with you.
- Understand that your work isn’t a reflection of your worth.
Along your efforts, leaders in your workplace should also take responsibility for employees’ wellbeing. Managers should prioritize their team while still motivating them to accomplish their goals, which might sound easier than it actually is. Here at the Digital Corps, we have regular check-ins with Team Leads to monitor everyone’s work levels. Students also answer pulse surveys about our experiences at the Corps, which compile data to help staff understand how they can best structure our office.
By starting conversations about mental wellbeing, bosses can provide more support for their team and build positive relationships with employees.
Learning to cope with stress
If you’re an employed student, separating your education from your career can seem difficult or even unnecessary, especially if you’re studying a field that you plan to go into. You don’t have to completely break connections between school and work, but rather find a way to combine the learning experiences for your benefit. Even if your job isn’t directly tied to your studies, you can still explore learning opportunities within the experience. Mental Health America suggests focusing on “improving your leadership skills, time management skills, or interpersonal relationship skills” to use in the future.
At the Digital Corps, students apply knowledge gained from classes to real-world projects, which helps reinforce the course material. Pursuing a degree while working can mean that obligations pile up fast, but staying on top of schoolwork will help reduce stress that extends into other parts of your life. Riley Paulsen, for example, manages his time by taking information from his graduate classes and immediately applying it to skills he already has experience with in his career. This technique helps him learn more quickly and effectively.
“After you’ve been in a career for a while, you get better at doing this more efficiently and working to use time as optimally as possible,” said Riley.
Take a look at these tips to learn how to integrate education with work and life while still maintaining balance:
- Take extensive notes so that you don’t have to scramble for information.
- Block out specific times for homework in your schedule.
- Keep track of your assignments with planners, spreadsheets, reminders, or apps.
- Take study breaks to give your brain a rest.
- Be patient with yourself and take your time with hard concepts.
It’s all part of the game of life
Perhaps even more challenging than finding balance at work is finding balance in your personal life. “Life” is supposed to be the enjoyable half of the balancing equation, but it’s unrealistic to assume that after we clock-out, it’s all Netflix and ice cream (wouldn’t that be amazing, though?). Our personal lives can be hectic, agitating, and even more busy than time spent at work. Juggling classes, families, homework, social activities, daily chores, and hobbies can be fun, but all of these obligations may also take a mental toll. Regardless of your lifestyle, personal time can be draining, even if it involves activities that you enjoy.
“There are times when I feel really overwhelmed with everything I have going on. When that happens I start to prioritize what is most important that day,” said Maggie.
If you want to de-stress your personal life, try some of these helpful practices from the American Management Association:
- Take a little time to focus on yourself.
- Kick-back, relax, and try an activity that clears your mind.
- Add personal obligations to your work calendar to avoid overbooking yourself.
- Practice mindfulness and mentally being in the present moment.
- Be gentle with yourself; finding balance isn’t easy.
Almost any obligation comes with some kind of stress — whether it’s essays, projects, family commitments, or daily tasks. These stressors often take up more mental space than they should, encroaching upon the aspects of life that bring you joy. While you do have to deal with dreaded obligations, finding ways to balance work and life can make all the difference in how you feel. There may never be a perfect balance between work and life, but trying to find one is a step in the right direction. Remember that you are always more important than the work you have to do. Now, close your laptop and take a few moments for yourself!
