“Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life” – Dolly Parton (American Singer)

The idea of hustling in our culture is almost romanticised. The words ‘driven’ and ‘ambitious’ have so permeated our psyche that exhaustion is a celebrated virtue. Workplaces reward “workaholics” for working 14-hour shifts. However, the next time you stand on the podium with the prize that is given to dedicate your life, ponder on whether it is really the title that you are looking to be recognised by.

Unfortunately for us, success is defined in monetary terms, and money is given to the hard-working. Moreover, because we are a culture of hard-working individuals, understanding work-life balance in India can be slightly more challenging. However, while work is an important part of life, our friends, family, and loved ones are equally (if not more) important elements. Human beings are essentially social animals, and to keep this interactive side of us alive, finding a work-life balance is imperative.

Along with making money, one must also spare time in investing it in the right financial tools for a secure future. Every working professional with financial dependants must invest in term insurance to ensure that their loved ones live comfortably even in their absence.

 Here are some tips that will help you maintain a healthy work-life balance and step out of the race:

Re-visit Your Dreams

While this might be an overused analogy, it rightly conveys the message. You may have heard that life is a race to win. However, this is as far from the truth as can be. Therefore, when you are running the race and are exhausted with its speed, stand still for a moment to understand whether it is meant for you or not.

Maybe being the best employee of the month is not as rewarding as it is supposed to be. Your calling could be something else entirely. The first step to finding a work-life balance is to identify your dream and see whether you are working in the right direction to address it. If you don’t know what your dream is, then think of what you most like to do during the day. This will help you understand what you enjoy and should pursue further.

Living your dream does not necessarily mean quitting the job. You can simply find out what you like and ask your superiors or managers to assign you more of those tasks.  

Ask for Free Time

How many of us are currently hoarding leaves? There are usually two reasons why employees don’t take their due leaves: either they are worried thinking that asking for leave will affect their reputation as a hard-working professional, or they are expecting the leave reimbursement.

However, to optimise your work, leaves are essential. At the end of the day, instead of the store-bought gifts you give to your children or your spouse, what they will enjoy most is your time. Aside from making them happy, taking leaves will also help you recover and change your perspective of dealing with life.

Catch up with your friends over a cup of coffee, if not a meal, instead of ignoring their calls with excuses of being busy. This will make them feel valued and will enhance your relationships with people who you would like to have in your life.    

Understand the Importance of Work-Life Balance

Countless studies reveal that ignoring the work-life balance can have severe health implications. The importance of work-life balance should not come to you when you are suffering from chronic stress, depression, hypertension, digestive troubles, body aches, heart troubles, etc. Your mental health needs to be prioritised for a healthy body.

While both genders need their due break, work-life balance for women is often dismissed as an unattainable myth. Women tend to not only exhaust themselves at work, but instead of relaxing at home, their work hours only extend by taking care of their child, cooking, looking after aged in-laws, and maintaining countless other household chores.  

To prevent burnout, work-life balance for women needs to be planned with more intricacy. Work-life balance for women can be maintained by indulging in self-care, understanding time management, and staying connected with loved ones.

Plot Time for Your Finances

It is important to be confident about your finances so that you are not over-working with the worry that you have inadequate funds. Financial security is all about making the right investments. Investing in a term plan form early on is the first step in ensuring a stable financial future for your loved ones.

There is often a misconception that you need a term plan only after you are married or when you are older. However, every working professional who has financial dependents, be it a spouse and children or aged parents, needs a term plan. Moreover, when you invest in term insurance early, the premium amount is lower as compared to when you are older.

Tata AIA term insurance comes with unique features and customisation options to suit your financial needs at different stages in life. Aside from investing in term insurance, one must also invest in wealth-building financial tools for a seamless retirement.  

Use Time Wisely

The importance of work-life balance slowly starts to reveal its benefits. While it might initially be challenging to make time for yourself, once you take the first step, things begin to ease. To ensure a work-life balance in India, you can engage in yoga, travel, pursue outdoor activities, and personal hobbies such as reading or painting. Not only will this calm your mind and body, but it will also help you enhance your skills. You can even use your spare time to learn new things that you are interested in or those that will help you enhance your career.

To conclude, taking small steps to find the balance between your work and relaxation is essential. It will go a long way in strengthening your relationships with loved ones and maintaining a healthy mind and body. Additionally, it will also improve your performance at work.   

L&C/Advt/2021/Jun/0917