There are some clear differences between personal and professional life and maintaining a healthy distance between our working lives, and our personal lives, is important. Many of us will behave differently in work to how we do at home. Whether it’s the way we dress, talk or interact with people, there’s no doubt that we approach the world differently, depending on whether we are working or enjoying some downtime.
The worlds of work and personal life are not completely parallel however, and there are some intersections. Personal life can have a huge impact on someone’s work, just like how someone’s work can have a huge impact on their personal life.
Let’s see how.
The Science On Personal Life In Business
Recognising its importance, most companies now have policies in place to ensure employees get the work-life balance right. This isn’t just about altruism, evidence suggests that work-life balance equals happiness, and happiness means an uptick in productivity. Not to mention, working for over 55 hours a week increases the risk of stroke and heart disease. Work-life balance is definitely important, and it’s the first step everyone should make towards a healthy mind in a healthy body.
But the toils of personal life can also affect professional life. As many as 1 in 5 workers suffer from a mental health issue while working. Exercise can help, of course, but it’s not guaranteed to solve the issue.
So we can see that personal life plays a huge role in how people act at the workplace, and vice versa. But what can be done about it? How can people live more healthily, especially when it comes to work?
Hard work
A work hard culture is good for business. Some, for example Gary Vee, even encourage business owners to work nights, holidays, and birthdays toward achieving their goals. The science doesn’t seem to agree with this attitude however.
There’s definitely value to being willing to work overtime as a business owner. For example, if it’s either overtime or lose a client, there’s really no choice.
Research does indicate however, that working 55 hours per week and over has its downsides. Just 40 hours of productivity each week can be enough to build an extremely profitable business. And if that doesn’t cut it one day, or one week, there’s an extra 15 hours to use each week (approximately) without endangering one’s health.
But for a lot of business owners, the grind means 70-80 hours a week. Even more. And that’s not ideal for a long and healthy life. It can even be counterproductive too. A lot of times, it’s easier to solve an issue after a break, or even a day of relaxation, instead of working two more hours on it in the late evening, hoping to find the answer.
20-25% of adults suffer from some form of mental health problem. Burnout, or simply not enjoying the work done, can accentuate these issues for any person. That’s why focusing on health is important for any business owner. No one can grow a successful company if they’re not taking care of themselves.
So how can we ensure that we are working on our health, as well as our business. There are some easy wins that can be worked into even a busy working day. Take the time, for example, to do something you truly enjoy – whether it’s a meal, some time with a book, it doesn’t matter, what does matter is making some time. Regular exercise is also key not only for physical well-being, but also for lifting mood and increasing self-esteem.
Physical and mental health go hand-in-hand and keeping yourself well is crucial for your business and yourself.
Conclusion
While we may strive to keep our personal and professional lives separate, they will inevitably impact each other through our own selves. Looking after one’s health then, is key to looking after one’s business. While hard-work is key to success, downtime is essential. Too much strain can impact our wellbeing, which in turn becomes an obstacle to success.
