Millions of workers around the world are struggling with one thing, and that is work-life balance. While some know the art of balancing work and personal needs, others struggle with it every day over the years.
Do you want to know the latest statistics on work-life balance that give you an insight into how others balance their personal and professional life?
In terms of work-life balance, most of the U.S. workforce spends over 50 hours working every week instead of the typical 40-hour work week. And while many work more during the week, they also tend to work over the weekends to meet their job requirements.
So, where is the world heading this year in terms of balancing work and personal needs?
Let's look at 5 updated statistics on work-life balance, but before we delve into the numbers, you need to know what work-life balance is and how you can achieve it yourself.
Let's get started.
Work-Life Balance – Overview
Work-life balance refers to the priorities between an employee's personal and professional activities in everyday life. It is all about how a person manages both their work and their personal life, for example, an individual with a healthy work-life balance will likely prioritize their work as well as their family and their personal needs.
In its purest essence, work-life balance has emerged as an ideology that focuses on keeping yourself a priority while you are working. Though you have professional responsibilities, you don't let them run into your everyday life following working hours. It also means that your time away from work is solely dedicated to yourself and your loved ones.
While a healthy work-life balance is what most people look up to but it is difficult to achieve. Moreover, with changing technological dynamics that remove the barriers of being physically present in a location to be available for work, many people need help finding the right work-life balance.
Why is Work-Life Balance Critical?
When individuals cannot strike a balance between their professional and personal lives, it can be a source of stress, leaving employees less productive and more prone to making errors. As a result, stress is emerging as a common problem among workers, and that is primarily associated with poor work-life balance.
And that's precisely why having a work-life balance is critical.
Moreover, persistent stress also makes employees more prone to burnout as they constantly juggle their professional and personal needs. On the other hand, those with a healthy work-life balance feel less stressed out and are more motivated, which reflects in their performance at work.
Having a healthy work-life balance is also critical for a person's health and well-being. When a person is constantly stressed with the demands of a 40-hour work week while struggling with family responsibilities, it is easier to forget yourself. When you do not prioritize your physical and mental health, focusing on your professional and family demands can be even more challenging as you get more prone to physical and mental illnesses.
With a healthy work-life balance, you can spend quality time with your family while maintaining your physical and mental health. It allows you to pursue your interests and hobbies with your loved one, which eventually positively impacts your quality of life.
Essentially, work-life balance improves all aspects of your life, hence critical.
5 Updated Statistics on Work-Life Balance
#1. Service Professionals in the United States Spend Over 50 Hours Working Every Week
Estimates revealed that more than 90% of service professionals in the United States spend over 50 hours working weekly.
Instead of the regular 40-hour work week that is already considered to be quite stressful for workers, the extended work week needs that professionals are spending around 10 hours at work every day during the work week.
This fact is quite alarming as how is it possible for someone who would spend 10 hours at work to spend time taking care of their essential needs like exercise? Moreover, the other primary concern is that spending long days at work would leave lesser time to cook homemade meals, which means the person will be heavily dependent on ordering take-out.
Furthermore, how can such a person find time to spend with family and loved ones which are integral for the unity and happiness of the family unit?
#2. Nearly 1/3rd of Americans Work on Weekends
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 31% of the employees with a single job work over the weekend. Moreover, 58% of the individuals with multiple jobs spend time working on the weekends.
The fact reveals that Americans not only spend longer hours at work during the week but also spend time with their work over the weekend.
So, when do they get a break?
And that's the underlying concern because you eventually need rest regardless of how good you are at your job. The weekend is a great opportunity to relax and unwind following a long and hectic workweek. But burnout is the most likely outcome for those who continue to work over the weekends.
#3. Over 70% of Americans Consider Work-Life Balance as an Integral Aspect While Choosing a Job
According to statistics, over 70% of individuals looking for a job consider work-life balance before signing up.
As an increasing number of employees are now considering work-life balance as a key deciding factor when choosing a job, employers will have to provide opportunities for greater work-life balance.
Moreover, the human resource departments will also have to prioritize how they effectively manage their team. Only when the employees and the HR departments collaborate to make work-life balance a priority will it help employees effectively manage their working hours and increase their motivation to work for the organization.
#4. Around 80% of Americans Who Work Full-Time Have Experienced Burnout at Their Existing Jobs
Are you ready for another alarming work-life balance fact?
In one of the recent work-life balance survey, 770 out of 1000 respondents reported that they had experienced burnout at their existing jobs at least once.
What is more surprising is that around 50% of the respondents have experienced burnout more than once.
Typically, the burnout experienced at the workplace is a rest of unmanageable workplace stress that not only affects the quality of work and motivation to work but eventually leads to burnout.
#5. Addressing Physical and Psychological Effects of Burnout Costs $190 Billion Every Year
This is one of the statistics that's sure to surprise you this year.
Did you know how much addressing the physical and psychological effects of burnout costs every year?
The cost is alarming $190 billion.
Work burnout is one of the concerns for the work industry, and one of the major reasons why curtailing is a priority is because of the high cost associated with managing the physical and psychological effects of burnout.
It is, therefore critical that businesses should watch out for symptoms of work burnout and address them well in time before they can impact the physical and mental health of the workers.
The symptoms of work burnout include
Lack of motivation,
Feelings of energy drain, and negativity,
Lower work productivity and,
Deteriorating work quality.
It's important to watch out for these signs of burnout and address them well in time to avoid the cost and inconvenience associated with workplace burnout.
How Can You Achieve Work-Life Balance?
Now that we have looked at the updated statistics about work-life balance, it is clear that achieving it is a pressing need of today's workforce.
So we share a few tips you can keep in mind to help you create a healthy work-life balance.
Prioritize Your Physical and Mental Health
Regardless of how critical the nature of your job is, there's nothing more important than your physical and mental health.
So, remember that even with the busiest schedules, always make time to take care of your well-being.
To take care of your physical and mental health, you can take the following measures,
Set up an ergonomic workplace using appropriate furniture, including ergonomic chairs, height-adjustable standing desks like Premium Standing Desk (E7), and other appropriate accessories,
Take regular breaks inside and outside the workplace to improve your physical and mental health,
Incorporate physical activity into your everyday schedule, and
Seek medical assistance when required.
Work for a Job You Love
The other critical factor that can reduce the likelihood of a workout and increase your job satisfaction is your love for your job. Choose jobs that you are passionate about. It will help you be more productive and feel less stressed about your work.
Set Realistic Work-Life Balance Expectations
While it seems like you leave your office by 5 and spend the evening with your family daily, sometimes it could be more realistic. Hence, you must remind yourself to set realistic expectations about work-life balance.
Final Words
Balancing personal and professional life is a pressing concern of modern times. You must have a healthy work-life balance as it can contribute to better health and well-being.
