Why a work life balance is so important - And how to achieve it

With the recent surge of employees working from home, the line between professional and personal hours has become more blurred than ever, leaving workers integrating both lives into one. But how does this affect a person’s mental health, and can anything be done to improve it?

As it turns out, the key is separation - leaving the work at work, and achieving a healthy work-life balance. But what exactly is that? and what does a healthy work-life balance look like?

What is work-life balance?

First of all, work-life balance refers to the equilibrium between time and energy spent on professional responsibilities and personal life. It’s about setting healthy boundaries that allow you to maintain productivity at work without sacrificing your wellbeing, relationships, or personal development.

In today’s digital world, where work can follow us home via phones and laptops, achieving this balance has become both more challenging and more essential than ever.

Where did work-life balance come from?

Work life balance may be a modern term we hear often, but its roots started as far back as 1871 with the Trade Union Act. For the first time, unions were made legal in the UK, giving employees the right to collectively bargain and reach agreements with their employers.

Nowadays, breaching an employment contract wouldn’t lead to imprisonment — but most of us don’t work in medieval times (I hope). 

Moving forward, the Employment Rights Bill 2024 has recently been introduced. This bill is a significant shift from 150 years ago, giving employees a multitude of rights such as:

• A guaranteed number of hours for those with a zero-hour contract
• Strengthened sick pay, parental and leave rights
• The right to request flexible working, although employers can refuse on reasonable specified grounds
  

So, it seems things are improving?

Yet, a recent study found that 91% of UK adults experienced high or extreme stress at some point in the past year. Most were women and young people.

One in five adults in the UK even needed to take time off work due to poor mental health caused by pressure or stress.

The issue at hand

In 2021, a survey of more than 9,000 workers in the UK showed that 65% of job seekers prioritised work-life balance over pay and benefits.

And what about the 4.2 million self-employed people in the UK? 

Well, working for yourself has even more so pressures. Elena Dexter, a self-confessed ‘solopreneur’, states:

“I figured, that being in charge of my schedule would let me catch up on my health, interests, personal improvement projects and other things I wanted to do with my life but couldn’t find the time for.

Instead, I was spending my days glued to my chair, forgetting to eat and take breaks. And it’s not that I couldn’t stand up and do other things, I just didn’t.”

Licensed counsellor and professor at Northern Illinois University Dr. Suzanne Degges-White, says: 

“Getting burned out from spending too many hours on the job can negatively impact our health through poorer sleep, slower reaction times, and lowered productivity”.

Bea Montoya, Chief Operating Officer at Simply Business, commented:

“The worrying state of small business owners’ mental health has been laid bare in our recent research – with over half suffering from poor mental health in the last 12 months alone. During a cost of living crisis, the self-employed are working at capacity. Long hours, rare breaks and sleepless nights are leaving many on the brink of burnout.”

Laying out the facts

In 2023, the NHS conducted a survey of small business owners from across the UK collected some eye opening figures, they say:

• Three quarters (73%) take fewer than 20 days of annual leave per year -significantly less than the national entitlement of 28 days
• Anxiety (59%), depression (38%) and loneliness (22%) all reported as major issues for small business owners
• In the midst of a cost of living crisis, 41% say ‘financial worries’ are having the single biggest impact on their mental health

It’s clear from the research that spending less time working and more time taking breaks can positively impact a person’s mental health.

But that can be easier said than done.

It’s a work-life balancing act

Reading up on all this research led me to collect some helpful tools and techniques to better the balance for those struggling, so I thought I’d share:

1. Setting out rules/hours
   Working for yourself can be beneficial, such as setting your own hours, but that also means you may adopt the mindset of ‘I’ll stop working when the job’s done’.Spoiler alert – it’s never done. Working within a practical number of hours a day means less burnout and more productivity! 
2. Enjoy a relaxing reset
   You may be tempted to always have your work phone nearby ‘just in case’, or you may even fall asleep with your laptop, but as soon as those notifications come through (and they will), it means zero REM sleep. Shutting off for the day gives your mind and body a healthy reset.
3. Have a holiday/time off
   Go somewhere. Anywhere. It doesn’t have to be the Maldives; it can be a mile down the road for all I care, just take a break from everything and enjoy it. Prepare for some time off way in advance, automate messages to your clients and switch off without guilt.
4. Do what you’re good at
   You’ve started your job for a reason: you care about others’ health and wellbeing, and maybe not admin or paperwork. But good news, there’s a platform that does it all for you, giving you more time to build meaningful relationships with your patients and have some time to yourself.

The benefits of a healthy work-life balance

A balanced life isn’t just about feeling good, it has measurable benefits. Studies have shown that people with a healthier work-life balance experience:

• Reduced stress and anxiety
• Improved sleep quality
• Increased job satisfaction
• Higher productivity and performance
• Stronger personal relationships
• Lower risk of burnout

Maintaining this balance contributes not only to mental and emotional health, but to overall longevity and happiness.

Why work-life balance is crucial for healthcare professionals

For healthcare practitioners, burnout isn’t just an inconvenience - it’s a threat to both personal wellbeing and patient care. With emotional labour, administrative demands, and client expectations piling up, practitioners like you are at high risk of stress-related conditions.

Work-life balance allows healthcare professionals to:

• Maintain empathy and focus with patients
• Preserve their own mental health
• Deliver consistent, high-quality care
• Sustain long-term practice success

Platforms like Finbogo exist to reduce admin and give you more time to focus on care - and most importantly, yourself.

How Finbogo can help you achieve balance

Finbogo offers healthcare professionals a way to reach more clients, with less admin. By combining the UK’s first healthcare marketplace with a user-friendly management platform, Finbogo offers professionals a better way to healthcare.

Grow your business
Promote your business to 1000’s of people in your area on the UK’s only healthcare marketplace, using our advanced filters to appear at the top of search results.

Free up your time
Accept and manage bookings anywhere, anytime with our booking system. Streamline tasks, and patient communications so you can focus on delivering exceptional care.

Streamline client engagement
Personalise communication through automated appointment reminders, reducing no-shows and cancellations. Ensuring client loyalty, referrals and positive feedback.

Improve client retention
Work from anywhere, securely in our online video consultation suite. Enabling you to share information, build stronger relationships, and improve treatment outcomes.

Add a personal touch
Through our custom form builders, you can customise pre-designed templates for client intake forms, consultation notes, aftercare instructions, and more.

Gain actionable insights
We provide detailed analytical reports with data on services, clinic location and number of patients. So, you can make informed decisions and optimise your operations.

Interested?
Finbogo is offering an exclusive pre-launch offer to those who sign up. Register your interest now, and access a better way to healthcare for your business.

References:

1. Labour Relations Agency (2024). Index of employment-related statute (Acts and Orders) 1871-1976. Available at: https://www.lra.org.uk/legislation/index-employment-related-statutes-northern-ireland/1871-1976#:~:text=Northern%20Ireland)%20Order,1871%20%2D%20Trade%20Union%20Act,well%20as%20legal%20status%20issues. (Accessed: 19 November 2024).
2. UK Government (2024). Factsheet: Employment Rights Bill overview. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67125a75386bf0964853d7ff/employment-rights-bill-overview.pdf (Accessed: 19 November 2024).
3. Mental Health UK (2024). The Burnout Report. Available at: https://mhukcdn.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/19145241/Mental-Health-UK_The-Burnout-Report-2024.pdf(Accessed: 19 November 2024).
4. Randstad (2021). Employer brand research2021 global report. Available at: https://workforceinsights.randstad.com/hubfs/REBR%202021/Randstad-Employer-Brand-Research-Global-Report-2021.pdf(Accessed: 19 November 2024).
5. IPSE (2023). The Self-Employed Landscape 2023. Available at: https://www.ipse.co.uk/campaigns/the-self-employed-landscape/self-employed-landscape-2023(Accessed: 19 November 2024).
6. Medium (2023).The self-employment dilemma: is work-life balance possible?https://elenadexter.medium.com/1-the-self-employment-dilemma-is-work-life-balance-possible-569698274e57(Accessed: 19 November 2024).
7. Forbes (2023).Yes, You Can Avoid Burnout. Here’s How To Find Work-Life Balance When You’re Self-Employed. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ginnyhogan/2023/05/01/how-to-find-work-life-balance-when-youre-self-employed/(Accessed: 20 November 2024).
8. Simply Business (2023). Over half of small business owners have experienced poor mental health over the past 12 months. Available at: https://www.simplybusiness.co.uk/about-us/press-releases/mind-your-business-launch/(Accessed: 20 November 2024).
9. NHS (2023). One in four adults and one in 10 children experience mental. Available at:https://www.england.nhs.uk/mentalhealth/#:~:text=One%20in%20four%20adults%20and,care%20for%20people%20who%20do(Accessed: 20 November 2024).