America is in a real crisis. It seems as our jobs become more demanding, technology becomes more sophisticated, and financial planning becomes more essential, many of us are spending more and more time away from the one thing we shouldn’t be neglecting- our families.
Simply put, work life balance is becoming an increasingly foreign concept- and we figured it might be time to take just a second out of our busy schedules to remind ourselves why it’s even important in the first place.
The Origins Of Work-Life Balance
Though the term itself has seen a resurgence in today’s era, ‘work-life balance’ was actually coined as far back as the mid-1800s (it seems even our forefathers understood the importance of a break every now and then). In those days, anthropologists believed that the key to true happiness was to “have as little separation as possible between work and play.” In other words, both should be high-value priorities.
Fast-forward centuries later, and we find that many of us are having significant difficulty balancing work and family. In fact, a 2010 National Health Interview Survey indicated that almost 20% of the entire American workforce openly admitted that they just couldn’t do it. Individuals with white collar jobs in the core sector were most notorious for the imbalance– but even those in clerical or blue-collar positions had their issues. Eight years later, in 2018, those numbers have only increased.
So What’s The Deal?
So, why exactly is work-life balance even a big deal? Isn’t working hard part of the American dream?
Well, yes . . . and no.
Mental Health America, a leading source on the subject, offers a very simple reason as to why neglecting a healthy balance between work and one’s personal life can do more harm than good: it stresses us out! And, as our stress levels rise, our productivity in all avenues decreases.
And if that wasn’t enough, there’s another reason you may want to take a break from your laptop every once in a while: that same stress causes illness.
Apparently, a spike in stress levels drastically weakens our immune systems, and makes us more susceptible to illness. Chronic stress, which is often generated from years of improper work-life balance, can even double one’s risk of a heart attack.
Yep– you heard right. We said DOUBLE.
Scared yet?
Don’t be!
Combating Work-Life Imbalance
Experts indicate that one of the best ways to combat high stress levels is via proper planning and time management. And that, my dear reader, is where we come in.
At Sterling Staff Academy, we train high-quality men and women to help lighten the load of your busy, busy schedules. For a very reasonable monthly fee, our apprentices can pick the kids up from school, prepare dinner, run errands, pay bills, and even do your laundry!
Think of them as your family’s personal assistant– and your gateway to a less stressful life.
Because work-life balance is important . . . and it’s possible.
