As a corporate HR practitioner and management educator, I found balancing work and life requires setting strict boundaries, prioritizing physical/mental health, and managing time efficiently to prevent burnout. The key work-life strategies include connecting optimal work with technology, utilizing flexible schedules, intentionally scheduling downtime for hobbies and relationships. It is an evolving, personality and professional process that fuels our passion.
My best friend & colleague, Yazdi J. Bankwala, COO of Sejahtera Leadership Initiative & Global Sejahtera, who is now based in London repeatedly advise me, “Prioritize your health. Make time for exercise, proper nutrition, and adequate sleep. Don't hesitate to use sick days or vacation time to recharge. You as a heart patient with SISHS Heart Centre, learn to say No. Decline additional work or social commitments that threaten your personal time & well-being.”
I concur with Yazdi that a healthy work-life balance improves mental health, reduces stress, and prevents burnout. It actually increases productivity and career or business, as sufficiently rested professionals or entrepreneurs are more focused, creative & motivated. Balancing our professional and personal life can be challenging, but it's essential. Often, work takes precedence over everything else in our lives. Based on my own work experience, our desire to succeed professionally can push us to set aside our our well-being. Therefore, creating a harmonious work-life balance or work-life integration is critical.
Apart from impacting mental health, the stress caused by a work-life imbalance can also lead to a variety of physical health issues. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that job stress increases risks for cardiovascular disease & workplace injuries. The report also notes that work-related stress might be a factor in ulcers, cancer & impaired immune function. A poor work-life balance has serious consequences for our health.
In a nutshell, a healthy work-life balance not only reduces stress, which can help prevent disease, but it also allows us to prioritize our health by making quality time to exercise moderately but regularly (for a senior citizen of 75 years old like me) and eat a healthy diet.
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Zulkifly Baharom (hajizul50@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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