The Downside of a Poor Work-Life Balance
OK so, having a good work-life balance is very important. It can lead to greater success, a sense of achievement and a happier life overall. this is what can happen when your balance is good. But what if it’s not? Well, this is when there’s an issue. It might only seem temporary, but having a poor work-life balance can actually affect your health in later life.
Once again, technology comes into play with how we are affected. With the ability to do more work, we are often putting pressure on ourselves and aiming to complete as much work as possible in our time-frame, however this has come at a cost. In 1910, on average, the amount of sleep a working individual would usually get was around nine hours, however today it’s only seven. Losing sleep, whilst working harder is not a healthy combination. This is a worrying sign, given that sleep deprivation can lead to variety of negative effects on it’s on including a greater risk of cardiovascular disease.
The mental side can also be greatly affected by a poor work-life balance. There have been studies to suggest that those who work long-houred weeks, upwards of 55 hours, have a tendency to develop mental health issues including anxiety and depression. The study suggests that those who do work 55-hour weeks have a 1.6% chance of developing depression, and a 1.7% chance of gaining a greater sense of anxiety. Not only this but these long hour jobs can also lead to a higher percent of 1.3 of leading to a stroke later in life. Therefore, it is vital to keep your work-life balance in check.
So – please listen to our procrastination podcast as well, and find that balance in your life to stay fit and mentally healthy by spending more time on yourself and your family.