Managing and maintaining your wellbeing

The importance of balance

We all have a limited amount of energy to use each day. How we use that energy across all areas of our lives affects our work-life balance. Putting too much, or too little, energy into one area can lead to an imbalance and imbalance can affect your wellbeing. When your wellbeing suffers, so can your physical health, emotional health and your relationships with family and friends. If your wellbeing is in a bad way for a long time, it can lead to burnout. Burnout is emotional, mental and physical exhaustion.

What is balance?

Balance is about giving the right amount of time and energy to the important aspects of your life. As we’re all different, the ‘right amount of time’ is different for each of us. To get the right balance takes time, self-reflection and some ‘trial and error’. It’s important to re-evaluate and change things if it’s not working.

We also need to be flexible so we can deal with changes and challenges. Sometimes we may need to work a bit harder or sometimes rest a bit better.

Balance isn’t static – once you’ve achieved a good balance, you need to keep working at it. As life changes and you face new challenges you need to adjust your balance and know how to bring yourself back in line with your goals. There are six main elements to managing your balance:

self awareness – what you need for a good balance
time management – managing your load
goal setting – what you need to change
problem solving – removing any obstacles
stress management – managing pressure
assertiveness – saying no when you need to

Common elements of balance

Some common areas of life that affect our wellbeing:

work – paid, voluntary, home duties, study
personal development – identity, self-esteem, learning and stimulation
social – family, friends, groups and teams
spiritual – values, beliefs, religion or faith
psychological and emotional – managing thoughts and emotions
physical – exercise, sport, activity, diet
leisure – relaxation, rest, play

Benefits of balance

A balanced life increases your personal health and wellbeing by:

reducing stress and preventing burnout
stimulating the immune system and promoting recovery from illness
increasing general sense of happiness and wellbeing
providing perspective
increasing physical health, energy and motivation
increasing self-esteem, self-development, productivity and flexibility
providing social support and connectedness

Recognising imbalance

Signs of imbalance may include the following:

decreased energy, motivation and flexibility
increased stress, frustration or worry
withdrawal from others
getting overly involved in work
negative attitude towards work, people or self
negative changes in general health and performance
negative lifestyle habits. For example, increased smoking, drug use, caffeine and fast food intake or reduced activity

Over time these signs can impact on your heart health and immune system. This can lead to an increased risk of burnout and lifestyle diseases, such as heart disease, obesity, ulcers, diabetes and some cancers.