Answer

Work Life Balance

            According to Nigel Marsh, many individuals have misled ideas regarding what a work-life balance means. This is because many tend to loose themselves in their work, forgetting about other important factors such as spending quality time with family members. A work-life balance is so much more than simply taking a few minutes in the gym. It is about forming meaningful personal relationships out of work, and finding a proper balance in the amount of time spent working and relaxing at home.

            People need to establish boundaries in their lives that will be suitable with their current status. That is why Marsh argues that certain job positions may not be ideal for people with young families. It is because they will end up struggling to maintain the work-life balance that is needed to lead an optimum life. Additionally, he argues that it should not be a competition on who dies with the most money, but rather who manages to work and still establish a great family relationship (TED). The arguments presented by Marsh reminds me of an uncle who was very rich. Unfortunately, when he passed on after a road accident, his children wished that he had spent more time with them. They argued that it would have been better than the inheritance he left behind.

            Huffington and Vaynerchuk also analyse the issue of work-life balance. It is evident that burnout is a major problem that is caused by a lack of proper work-life balance. Therefore, after a long day at work, it is important that the employee has time to refuel so that the energy will be recovered (Cheddar). It is what enables them to become more productive since they get a purpose to work hard every day. In the work-life balance, living should entail the things that the employee enjoys doing such as hobbies and simply spending time with family members who will make him or her feel loved and appreciated. Interacting with friends and family, whether on social media or face to face should not be perceived as a problem that impacts productivity. Overworking often leads to burnout and reduce productivity since the body and mind does not get a chance to rejuvenate. Harfoush notes that overworking should not be the case as it means that the work goals are more important that mental and physical well-beings of employees (CBC News: The National). After high school, I was forced to work two jobs since I was trying to save up for my first car. Well, a year after, I was tired and demotivated. I even lost interest in my first car. It was because I was constantly working that I forgot why I was doing it in the first place. However, after I decided to balance work and life by quitting one job so I could get more free time, my dreams became achievable once more.

            Without a proper work-life balance, the identity of employees becomes distorted. Basically, the reason why people overwork is because they assume that it is the only way to achieve their set goals. Burnout prevents one from functioning at the best of their ability. It is the reason why some of the best employees suddenly become unable to function. Therefore, getting the perfect balance is important as it ensures that work is not affected, as well as the health of the employees.