Increased productivity
Work-life balance helps you get things done. Although we don’t like to admit it, some tasks have a habit of expanding to fill the time given to complete them. Without a commute to mark the end of your workday, deadlines and projects can too easily slip into the evening. On top of this, add various household chores, family obligations, and doorbells, and your home begins to resemble a veritable minifield of distractions. Unless you make a conscious effort to achieve work-life balance, your productivity drops and jobs take longer to complete.
A separate office and a clearly defined clocking-out time gives you the hard target you would like to get things done. Whether it’s a desk behind a door on a quiet corner of the house or a fancy coworking space near home, having a physical location that you simply hope in and do your work helps you focus more easily.
Lower stress
Stress and burnout are two of the most common health problems in the modern workplace, and they can lead to physical symptoms such as nausea, aches, fatigue, and high blood pressure. An environment that prioritizes a healthy work-life balance reduces stress by having set working hours and creating a boundary between your responsibilities at the office and the rest of your day.
By separating your personal and professional lives, you can work smarter, not longer. Choose a time to shut down and stick to it. Close your laptop and step away from the desk. The more you’re able to disconnect from the work mindset, the more relaxing and enjoyable you’ll find your spare time, and the happier and more productive you’ll feel the next day.
Improved health and well-being
A decent work-life balance gives you greater control over your schedule, freeing up parts of your day to spend on exercise, meditation, and meal planning. With less time spent working late, more energy, and fewer work-related distractions in the evenings, you can cook at home more often rather than relying on last-minute takeout meals.
Remembering to set aside time in your schedule for a gym session or a couple of laps around the park—and having the discipline to plan your daily tasks around your personal life—can bring exponential benefits to your health, happiness, and well-being.
Improved home life
By untangling your work and home lives, you can give both sides the attention they deserve. Time spent with family and friends, improved when you’re less stressed and more energized. By keeping regular hours and observing a mental boundary between your office and the rest of the world, you can create time and space to spend with loved ones, work on personal projects, and tackle chores around the house.
