Work-life balance

What is work-life balance?

Work-life balance simply means getting a better balance between your work and your home life. Some of the recognised benefits of a healthy work-life balance include:

  • Reduced stress levels, at work and at home
  • Greater focus and concentration on the task in hand
  • Higher levels of job satisfaction
  • The opportunity to participate more fully in family and community life
  • More time to pursue personal goals and hobbies
  • Improved health

How do I achieve a healthy work-life balance?

Achieving a healthy work-life balance is all about striking the right balance between your work commitments and your personal life, and it needs to be done in partnership with your employer.

There are some specific programs aimed at accommodating the needs of working parents, mature-age employees and workers with carer responsibilities, and you should always feel able to approach your employer and ask what sort of policies and programmes they have in place.

How do you get a good work-life balance? Here are carecareers' top tips:

  • Work out what matters – be realistic about your needs and goals – it's far better to know that you won't be able to manage on a Part Time salary before you've started discussions with your employer than to realise halfway through. 
  • Know your entitlements – there's a lot of information available on flexible, family-friendly working arrangements, so make sure you take advantage of it and know exactly what you're entitled to.  
  • Negotiate an agreement – whatever outcome you're looking for, aim for a win-win situation by anticipating your manager's concerns, and highlighting business benefits.
  • Schedule your time – an easy way to manage your time is by using activity logs, prioritised to-do lists, and action plans to successfully monitor where time goes.
  • Learn to say ‘no' – to get real balance in your life; you sometimes need to say ‘no' to unreasonable demands and leave work with a clear conscience.
  • Ask for help – if you're working to the best of your ability, and you're still feeling the stress, ask for help, or delegate because there are people and processes in place to help.
  • Be web-savvy – a growing number of companies now offer their services online, making many time-consuming chores a thing of the past. Banking, paying bills, and grocery shopping can all be done electronically, and help you maximise time.
  • Look after your health – make sure you get enough sleep, eat healthily, and exercise regularly. Relaxation is a great stress-buster, so make time for your favourite hobby.
  • Focus on end results – stay motivated, focus on positive outcomes as much as possible, and take action rather than procrastinate.
  • Take time out for you – resist the temptation to let work spill over into your personal life. Consider ‘unplugging' regularly from your laptop, email and mobile phone.

Challenge Disability Services

Challenge Disability Services have been named an employer of choice for their work on improving conditions for their employees. Their initiatives include:

- Six weeks paid maternity leave
- Negotiated extra leave
- Purchase of up 2 weeks extra leave
- Counselling available to employees, as it is recognised that performance and well-being are affected by what happens at home and at work

Visit Challenge Disability Services' website

How does the sector encourage work-life balance?

Many roles in the disability and community care sector do not conform to a standard 9-5 working day, or even a standard week. Shift work and part-time roles can offer greater flexibility when it comes to organising family life, or working while you study or pursuing a particular hobby.

How can a work-life balance benefit me within my role?

There are times when working in the community care and disability sector can be challenging, so it is useful to have a peer or colleague to share with and offload to. This type of debriefing is beneficial. You can also talk to a qualified professional about particular situations or experiences you have had, in order to help you cope with it more effectively.

carecareers encourages you to share your experiences and seek advice whenever necessary. On the carecareers website the community section is are all about the sharing of experiences and provision of online peer support to those working in the sector.

Glossary - Work-life balance

  • Employer of choice

    An employer of any size in the public, private, or non-profit sector that has met the high standards of employment offerings. These are employers that are recognised for their leadership, their culture, and best practices that help to attract, optimise, and hold top talent.…

  • Work-life balance

    A broad concept including proper prioritisation between career and ambition on one hand, and pleasure, leisure, family and spiritual development on the other.…