How important is work-life balance in the modern world?

Work is an inescapable fact of life for most of us - which makes it important to ensure your days in the workplace are benefiting your overall wellbeing. It’s been calculated that a third of your life is spent in the workplace, and the experiences you have there will shape you as a professional and as a person. However, it’s also been reported that more than half of British workers are unhappy in their jobs, and a large part of that is down to long hours and overworking. 

It’s hard to switch off in the fast-paced, ultra-connected world of business, but it’s vitally important for your health, mood and job satisfaction to do so. In fact, more employers than ever are trying to encourage their colleagues to switch off and step back by promoting a better work-life balance in the workplace. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, around three-quarters of UK employees surveyed said that flexible working benefits would make a job more appealing to them. We've all had to adapt to hybrid ways of working since March 2020, so what are benefits are there to doing so? We've taken a look:

A good work-life balance increases mindfulness

Having a good work-life balance isn’t just about relaxing: it’s also about improving productivity within the workplace, and when you switch off in the evening you’re much more likely to return to work the next day feeling fresh and ready to go. People who feel they have a good work-life balance work 12% harder than those who don’t, as they focus on the task at hand without worrying about work, home or anything that might be made worse by overworking. As a result, you’ll be more productive, more positive, and you might just be able to finish that project you’ve been working on for weeks. 

Makes for a happy workforce 

With all the benefits of a good work-life balance, it’s no surprise that the employees who enjoy more flexibility in the workplace are markedly happier than their counterparts. Not only is their mood better, they’re also more likely to benefit from more loyalty to their company, and a higher job satisfaction to boot. After all, who doesn’t want to work somewhere that takes their colleagues’ happiness and wellbeing into account?

Many employers are turning to improving their colleague benefits to attract new jobseekers and retain current ones. After all, in a society where millennials care more about work-life balance than advancing their career, a happy workforce can be invaluable in convincing them to stay. 

Improves health

When we’re stressed, it’s not just bad for our social lives. Brits are notoriously bad at prioritising work over our mental and physical health, with obvious repercussions. A recent study of workers showed that those who worked three or more hours more than they were supposed to had a 60% higher risk of work related problems than those who didn’t. Alongside this, longer hours have also been linked to bad mental health and ‘burn outs’, where people felt that overwhelmed by working  too many long hours. 

Making the effort to develop a healthy work-life balance can therefore have a massive impact on your happiness: by setting boundaries, you can enjoy working sensible, productive hours and recharge at the end of the day, ready to start work fresh in the morning.

How one working mum manages it

Abbi Kimber is testament to the importance of work life balance, juggling her busy position as Branch Manager at BSS Leeds with her role as solo mum. After taking time out to have her daughter Georgia, Abbi returned to Travis Perkins for three days a week, ramping up to four days before moving into a full-time Account Manager position. Her ability to balance her home life with her work aspirations has seen her appointed Branch Manager, a role that is busy and requires exceptional organisation skills to balance with her family commitments.

Abbi says Travis Perkins are more than supportive and really do put family first, helping her to achieve her career goals whilst ensuring she has time for her family. Whilst it’s a juggling act, Abbi encourages other full-time parents to consider returning to the workforce, as many employers – such as Travis Perkins – are more than happy to support you.

Find the perfect balance with Travis Perkins Group

Within the Travis Perkins Group we enable a culture that lets you create a work-life balance that’s right for you, including Shared Parental Leave, and providing family leave policies for moments that matter. 

Find out more about why you should join us and start your journey with us by exploring our available part-time jobs.