It’s Time To Talk About Work-Life Harmony
A multi-faceted, fulfilling life makes work more rewarding
April 3, 2023
“One last email and then I’m done for the day”
How many times have we said that to ourselves while trying to complete a few more tasks before clocking out for the day? Firm boundaries can be difficult, especially for people who work from home. When there is no concrete demarcation between your office and home, it’s easy for the lines to blur.
Ever since email became accessible through your phone, work correspondence has intruded upon quality family time and even scheduled holidays. We live in a 24/7 economy where gig work, short notices, and tight deadlines are the norm for most people, whether remote employees, essential workers, self-employed people, or freelancers.
Advice to avoid burnout always includes making time for exercise and proper sleep as well as striking the right work-life balance. A fulfilling life is about more than just balance though — it is about harmony.
Aim for harmony
You are so much more than what you do for a living, but when work is the counterbalancing force against life, you’re giving your job much more weight than it warrants. You are consequently shrinking all other aspects — family, friends, hobbies, passions, and communal work — that create joy and fulfillment. This constrains everything else interesting about you under one label called life.
A harmonious life simply implies that each facet should be given its due importance. This also frees you from needing to find fulfillment in work. Work doesn’t have to be who you are if contentment comes from all your other roles that combine to create the wonderful, unique person you are.
“Neither work nor leisure time must satisfy all your psychological needs. Instead, each role in life you have (eg, experienced foreman, loving husband, caring son, dedicated Red Cross volunteer, and avid chess player) plays an important part in an orchestra. Coordination of these different roles, and satisfaction of needs via active engagement in these roles, results in what we call ‘life domain harmony’ – the symphony of your life.” How to Craft A Harmonious Life, Jessica de Bloom and Merly Kosenkranius from Psyche Magazine.
Depending on the phase of life a person is in, their roles and focus may shift. For example, young people may give more importance to their friends and peers, as they get older they want more time with family, and eventually, as empty nesters, they may be inclined to focus on community and hobbies.
Self-Determination Theory (SDT) deals with motivation and needs satisfaction. The theory suggests that people whose needs are satisfied through other aspects of their life, tend to be more productive at work. These people are also more willing to go the extra mile for their company and the people they work with. All these various roles you play should work in harmony and enrich your experience in other roles.
Take control
To understand how you can live an authentic and fulfilling life, where all your needs are met, you must first understand what those needs are. According to the DRAMMA model, there are six basic psychological needs, the satisfaction of which will lead to a harmonious life. These needs are Detachment, Relaxation, Autonomy, Mastery, Meaning, and Affiliation.
Audit your time
What are you spending the most time on and is it making you happy? For an entire week, write down your daily routine. In Swit, the Projects drop-down menu under My Tasks can be customized to add project titles you are collaborating on. One of the default settings is Personal, and any tasks created in this project won’t be visible to anyone else. Use this to create personal checklists to take stock of your work and leisure hours. This is a great way to feel grounded and ready to start your day.
Create time for detachment
An audit of your time will give you a clear idea of what needs are currently being neglected and where your focus should be. Detachment is the need to disengage from physically and mentally exhausting tasks. In order to practice detachment, you need to discontinue the activity and stop thinking about it. Swit runs on a RAN model (Remote, Asynchronous, and Non-Linear). Non-Linear means that your 8-hour shift does not have to be consecutive. You can take breaks to refresh your mind, take a walk, or run errands and make up the time later.
Learn to relax
Once you have successfully detached, you can truly relax. This may include activities that aren’t physically or mentally demanding. One way to completely shift your focus can be to work on something else. Easy, effortless tasks that can be done on autopilot are a great way to relax your mind while still being on the clock. In Swit, you can check things off your list, catch up on notifications, or just connect with colleagues in chat channels to unwind.
Cultivate your sense of autonomy
A sense of autonomy and power over your day is an important aspect of an enriched life. Jobs, family, friends, and passions all make demands on us and can be overwhelming. The freedom to spend your time your way is your prerogative. Through Swit’s Approvals section, you can apply for PTO and take time off to travel, attend important events, or just chill at home.
Find mastery and meaning
It’s a worthwhile exercise to reflect on what you value. Look for ways to align your life with your ideals. Don’t just talk the talk, but live it. Maybe you want to give back to the community and will find volunteering to be an enriching experience. You could want to keep your brain agile by learning new skills. Swit’s Education Fund encourages employees to continue to better themselves through seminars, educational degrees, and technical courses.
Focus on affiliation
Affiliation is all about a sense of connection to others. Acts of kindness are a powerful way to fulfill this need. Being useful and a source of good in your home, your community, or your workplace can be a rewarding experience. Swit believes in employee connection where it counts. Work retreats, care packages, chat channels, and monthly break rooms are just some of the ways we create lasting relationships and strong bonds.
Create a harmonious life by carving out space for yourself and addressing your emotional needs. Swit fosters employee connection and makes work management easier so you have more time for life. Contact Swit today to learn more!
Nyda Ahmad, Copywriting Manager
