You take on a job that provides security, feeds your professional hunger, and nurtures your sense of purpose. If you thrive in your dream job and your preferred industry, you reap the benefits. However, it is not always the case and you may end up in a toxic environment. Even if you are living your dream career, you may suffer adverse strain. You enjoy your work, but if you are not careful, your health may suffer soon.
Ways Your Job Influences Your Health
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Strained Relationships For Workaholics
Employees struggle to have a work-life balance because of their “always-on” mentality that causes unnecessary strain on their relationships, aside from themselves.
They love their job so much that they put long hours into it. Unfortunately, if you are a workaholic, you hurt your marriage, do not get enough sleep, and always feel compelled to perform above and beyond your usual responsibilities. You also compromise your health by being a workaholic.
Body-Clock-Disrupting Rotational Shifts
Workers who do not work the same shifts daily can have an unhealthy body clock. Changes in shifts that happen too often can result in sleep deprivation, dizziness, and insomnia. If you work multiple shifts monthly or weekly, you do not follow an exercise routine that causes your well-being and health to suffer.
You may also feel lethargic and experience brain fog. Physical activity, such as getting up from your desk to take a break, can help your mind recharge.
Unhealthy Eating Patterns
People who have busy schedules and work long hours on challenging projects can develop unhealthy eating habits, such as skipping meals and mindless snacking. Stress can cause you to dabble in stress-eating that includes comfort or snack foods to help you stay alert or deal with stress. Unknowingly, eating during stressful situations can delay satiety.
If you have to attend several meetings and projects, you may forget or not find time to eat. You do not realize you are hungry and may even spend the day without eating. Lack of nutrition can affect your overall productivity and mood. Not eating and overeating impairs the amount of nourishment your body requires.
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Discouragement, Anxiety, and Depression
Positive company culture is vital to employee satisfaction, but if you work with a group of micromanaging bosses and mean colleagues, you will not feel any motivation or comfort.
Your workplace can lift your spirits or lead to health issues if you spend a lot of time under pressure and stress. If you feel trapped in your company, you become anxious, discouraged, and depressed. You no longer feel comfortable working with your team.
Is There A Way To Achieve Work-Life Balance?
Work-life balance is essential in a healthy work environment because it reduces stress and prevents burnout in the office setup. Chronic stress is a prevalent health issue resulting in hypertension, chronic aches and pains, digestive issues, and heart problems. It can also affect your mental health because you are at risk of having insomnia, anxiety, and depression.
Experiencing stress for long periods can result in burnout, which can then cause irritability, fatigue, and mood swings. Ultimately, you suffer a decrease in work performance. Employers can maintain a more productive workforce and save tons of money if they prioritize work-life balance, but how do they do it if the definition differs for everyone?
How Baby Boomers Define Work-Life Balance
The Baby Boomer generation experienced several hardships even at a young age. Earning a decent living is challenging, and people desire stability in the workplace and value the opportunity to work. Work-life balance was not a priority because they stayed in their companies for long hours.
How Gen Xers View Work-Life Balance
On the other hand, the Generation X generation saw their parents working long hours for an unsatisfactory work-life balance. They knew the effects on relationships, so they emphasized creating work-life balance in their lives.
Employees spend more time with family and use more PTOs; thus, they believe in the significance of work-life balance when they apply for work. They want perks such as extended paternity or maternity time, telecommuting, and adequate vacation leaves.
How Millennials Interpret Work-Life Balance
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Millennials were born in a generation with the harshest student loan responsibility. They seek stable employment to pay for the costs of higher education for themselves and their children. Increasing housing costs is also one of their priorities. Several employers overcompensate by including beanbags and game rooms in the work environment to make them more Millennial-friendly. However, Millennials want a career that can support their lifestyle.
Making The Work Environment Flexible and Happy For All
Promoting work-life balance can be a daunting task, and checking studies about it can give you more insight. It is essential to remember that work-life balance differs from generation to generation. There must be flexibility and happiness in the workplace.
Creating this type of environment can satisfy the needs of many employees. You may prefer a work-from-home scheme with unlimited PTO, but some of your colleagues may want another arrangement.
Work-life balance does not mean lesser working hours, and employers must strive to achieve a conducive workplace experience for everyone. Cultivating a happy environment and prioritizing a lively culture promotes work-life balance. You become upbeat about your work, and it feels like your second home.
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Final Thoughts
Attitudes about work-life balance can change with generational, cultural, and economic changes. However, flexible leaders reinvent the workplace culture for workers who desire work-life balance.
Maximizing productivity will always be the goal, but you are more likely to stay in an office where you enjoy the company and environment.
