Even after a long time, the phrase “work-life balance” has not faded in popularity. These trends can be attributed to younger workers taking over the workforce in greater numbers. It’s no secret that businesses are scrambling for strategies to engage millennial workers. By 2025, millennial workers will account for 75 percent of the workforce, prompting organizations to rethink what work-life balance entails for their employees.
Work, Leisure, Family Balance Over The Years
Baby Boomers (1946-1964)
The individuals born between 1946 and 1964 are collectively known as the “baby boomer” generation. Boomers whose parents dealt with the Great Depression are more likely to respect hard labor than their predecessors.Baby boomers are fiercely competitive, but they are also fiercely loyal to their employers.
They’re well-known for putting their careers ahead of anything else. Due to this, they had to put in long hours and often missed family gatherings or school events involving their children. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance was never a priority for this generation.
After hearing their grandparents’ horror stories of losing everything in the Great Depression, many people resolved to do everything in their power to avoid the same financial tribulations as their ancestors did.
Gen X (1965-1980)
The term “Generation X” is used to describe the generation of people born between 1965 and 1980. As a rule, they come from a generation that was raised by baby boomers. This group is less inclined than their parents to remain in the same job or career path for the rest of their lives.
If they aren’t happy with their current circumstances, they don’t find anything incorrect with moving to a new firm or undergoing a career shift. Work-life balance is significantly more important to them than other aspects of their lives. Gen-Xers may be the first group in the United States to use the term “work-life balance,” according to some social scientists.
Occasionally leaving the workplace early to watch their child’s soccer game may be all it takes for some gen-Xers to find a work-life balance. The perfect work-life balance for some people entails working at home to pick up their children from school or drop them off after a long workday. So long as their efforts are recognized,many workers are willing to work long hours for their companies.
Millennials (1980-2000)
The millennial generation encompasses those born between 1980 and 2000. Millennials, Generation Y, and the “Oregon Trail” generation are among the labels that have been used to describe this group of people. It’s not uncommon for them to change jobs or even industries throughout the length of their career, just like Gen Xers did.
Millennials place a high value on doing anything they want whenever they want. They want to work from home, set their hours, and may even be prepared to take a reduced wage in exchange for more control over their workday. The fact that millennials value wages and perks doesn’t mean they aren’t concerned about the financial aspects of their work environment.
Millennials place a high value on their pay, perks, and retirement plans. As a result, Millennials are more likely to work with companies whose values and aims fit with their own.
Tips To Maintain Work, Family, Leisure Balance
To be successful and have a good life, it’s critical to find a way to combine job and family life. Technological advances have made it easier for people to carry out their daily responsibilities, even while working from home. However, it can be difficult to maintain a proper work-life balance if your professional obligations extend into your downtime.
Here are some tips people can use to create a balance between their work, family, and leisure time.
1. Avoid Unimportant Activities
It’s easy to be sucked into things like reading personal email, perusing social media, and surfing the Internet, which can take time away from more productive endeavors. Look at your daily tasks and identify the ones that aren’t as productive as possible. To improve your output and well-being, cutting down the amount of time spent on these activities is recommended.
2. Learn To Say “No”
“No” can be difficult to utter, especially when you’re speaking to your supervisor or manager. When it comes to your work-life balance, though, knowing when to say “no” might be critical. As your workload grows, you may get stressed and less productive due to constantly saying “yes” to every task or project you are asked to complete.
3. Establish Boundaries
Thanks to modern technologies, workers can stay linked to their jobs via their cell phones and computers. Employers can now offer employees more leeway in their work schedules, but this also means that employees are available around the clock. As a result, they often take their work home or check their email after regular business hours instead of waiting until the next day.
After working hours, accessibility must be limited, and tasks should be left at the workplace. Avoid reading your business email at night and exclusively address urgent communications.
Importance Of Work, Leisure, Family Balance
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential for a productive workplace. Reducing work-related stress and avoiding burnout are two of the many benefits of a healthy work-life balance. Inability to find fulfillment in one’s job can lead to burnout and diminished productivity. Achieving a healthy equilibrium between personal enjoyment and professional obligations is critical.
Having a positive outlook on life can give people a renewed sense of purpose and motivation to take on the day’s problems. Achieving a work-play-leisure balance isn’t always simple. Relationships with people, whether at home or in the workplace, play a critical role in making life manageable and pleasurable.
It takes effort and time to develop and maintain close personal bonds with colleagues and others. If you cannot maintain a sense of balance, you may feel disjointed and exhausted. If you are unable to meet your demands and responsibilities and the requirements of others in your professional and personal life, your performance and emotional connections will suffer.
Looking To Have A More Balanced Life?
If you or someone you know is looking to live a more balanced life and needs help, Wise Family Group can help. We are experts when it comes to helping people find a balance between their work, family, and leisure. We have helped thousands of families achieve a happier lifestyle through comprehensive family planning guides.
Our wide range of services includes helping families gain control over their time, having a happy lifestyle, managing their time, and a lot more.
Contact us to learn more about our services.