Aung Aye (Yangon University) - Balancing life and work

Imagine the current “work-life balance”

There is an old saying that “Time files when you’re having fun.” Time also files when you’re too busy. I think it records it even more accurately than when you’re having fun. Before long, you start to feel stressed, which can wreak havoc on your mental and emotional well-being, as well as your physical health. When there’s not enough time in the day, something has to give. Will you give up your work? Or will you give up your personal life? Finding “balance” is one of the most important challenges of the day.

Below are some of the main reasons why more and more people are taking the topic of “work-life balance” seriously.

• As more women enter the workforce, it becomes more difficult for those with children to juggle work and family.
• As people live longer, the number of workers who have to care for aging parents and relatives is increasing.
• With the increasing pressure of modern technology and longer working hours (for example, overflowing email inboxes , a constant stream of information from the Internet, and constantly ringing phones), people are finding themselves sacrificing their youth for work.

According to government figures, the UK has the longest working hours in Europe. Even if we don't compare it to the UK, it's true that our workforce is not as productive with shorter working hours as some countries. So while people are spending more time at work, they are not getting more of what they deserve.

There is a widespread push for flexibility and adaptability in the workplace to achieve higher levels of satisfaction among workers, reduce stress-related illnesses, reduce sick leave, reduce the number of office shifts, and increase productivity.

People who can balance their work with other responsibilities and interests are more motivated and productive. In other words, happy people are better at their jobs.

Step (1) Understand the meaning of the concept.

“Work-life balance” is a very personal concept. It’s not a tangible or statistical concept that people can look up, figure out, and use as a guide. It’s a dynamic issue , and different people have different needs at different times. This means that one person’s standard may not be the same as another’s.

" Work-life balance" can sometimes be confusing when trying to find ways to reduce work or make work more flexible. This is because for some people, a good balance can be complicated by the fact that it often conflicts with the most important demands of work. In a nutshell, "work-life balance" is a feeling of control over your life. It may involve making choices and finding a balance between your own needs and the needs of others, whether at work or at home.

If you are not happy with what you are experiencing at the moment, don't worry. There is a lot of information you can create yourself. The first step is to analyze and note what is balanced for you and what is out of balance. Then, understand what important information can be balanced and out of balance if you do it. Once you have identified these, you can start to work on finding solutions for the future.

Step (2) List the symptoms associated with imbalance.

We need to find a way to move forward and make it a permanent part of our lives. So the best advice is to “learn from the past” and look back first.

• Take a blank piece of paper. Think back to the last time you really lost your balance. Write down some words that describe how you felt at that time. For example, you felt out of control, confused, scared, stressed, dizzy, or sick.
• Make a list of the people you worked with during that time. Write down any behaviors you noticed about them during that time. Make a list of your family and friends during that time.
• Write down their descriptions of the time. • If there are other stories of loss of balance, write them down as best you can remember, using the information above.

Step (3) Identify the key factors that have caused you to lose your balance.

Think back to the stories above where you felt out of balance. Think about the source. Ask yourself:

• How did every story of loss of balance begin?
• Did you do that event? If you did, what are the details of that event?
• Is this an external event that you cannot control? If it is an external event, what external source did it come from?

Once you have listed all the stories as suggested in Step (1), review the key points. Are the main points the same? For example, was your boss putting too much pressure on you when you felt out of balance? Was it because you were on the same level as your coworker or your best friend? Was it because you had been on the outside before?

Special recommendation

Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths in and out. Imagine that all the negative or stressful thoughts you can remember are gone with the exhale. Take a moment to relax before reading step (4).

(4) Analyze how you feel when you are in balance. 

It may come as a surprise. It's not always easy to describe balance. There are many variations depending on who you are, how it happened, and when.

• Take another blank piece of paper. Think back to the last time you were truly balanced and write down some words that describe how you felt. Do you still feel those feelings when you think back now?
• Make a list of the people you worked with at work. Write down the behaviors you noticed during that time.
• Then list your family and friends from that time and write down their descriptions.
• If there are other similar stories, please write them down as best you can, based on the information above.