WORK-LIFE BALANCE
HOW IMPORTANT IS A
WORK-LIFE BALANCE?
BY: RYAN CAIN
I
f you’re committed to your career
and are happy to work hard, you
may well feel that the current buzz
around work-life balance is overrated.
However, although what’s right is
different for everyone, there are benefits
to stopping to reflect on your lifestyle. whether it’s for the evening or the
weekend—is key to being able to enjoy
your job. If you spend all of your waking
hours in the workplace, you’ll forget that
there’s a world outside where it’s equally
possible to find satisfying and stimulating
experiences.
No matter how much you love your job,
it is possible to have too much of a good
thing. Balance in all areas is what makes
individuals happy and well-rounded and
ultimately prevents burnout. Here are
just a few reasons why having a work-life
balance is so important. Finding other ways to spend your time
and creating a little more harmony in
your schedule will help make work feel
less of a chore and any problems that
crop up seem less overwhelming.
BOOST YOUR HEALTH
There are many jobs where long hours
are part and parcel of the role, but regular
breaks are still essential. If you put your
body under too much stress for too long,
cracks will start to appear.
Exhaustion shows in many different
ways, but it often starts with a weakened
immune system. Whether it’s being
constantly under the weather, tired,
or feeling stressed, it’s important to
recognize the signs early.
Give your body a break when it needs
it, and your overall health will respond
positively. Don’t be tempted to dismiss
this important sign, or else you could find
you end up taking an enforced break.
YOU’LL ENJOY WORK MORE
You may already get a kick out of your job,
but for some, this can be accompanied
by a sense of dread of what the day might
hold. When your work-life balance is out
of whack, any problems at work can seem
worse than they are, and it’s easy to lose
perspective.
Knowing how to switch off and being
able to actively disengage from work—
8
INCREASE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY
If all of the other reasons to introduce
more balance in your life are falling on
deaf ears, here is one thing which should
get your attention: productivity.
Whether it’s solving a tricky task or hitting
the heights of productivity, your brain
requires a rest. By changing the scene and
doing something different, you’ll give your
performance a real boost. Whether that’s
a yoga class, a meal with friends, or even
cleaning your house, taking some time
away from your job will enhance your
productivity in the longer term.
FIND WHAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU
There’s no right or wrong work-life
balance, and what feels comfortable
to one person may seem unfeasible for
another. Understanding your own physical,
emotional, and mental health will allow you
to create a work-life balance which will leave
you refreshed, renewed, and ready to face
another day. +
After graduating from The University of New
Brunswick in 2017, Ryan began his Insurance career
at Cain Insurance Services Ltd as a Personal Lines
Broker. Since then, he has joined the Commercial Lines
Team at Cain while completing his Master of Business
Administration (MBA) degree in Sales Management
and Leadership