Before the American Industrialist and Businessman, Henry Ford applied the 8 hours, 5 days work week and made it a norm, the idea of work-life balance was nowhere to be found. Some people even say that the early-age workers used to work 12-14 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Sounds intense doesn’t it? Well, it was, until a movement started and the government had to change some things.
In between the early tough labor days and the modern-age 9-5 jobs, many things happened as the world started getting accustomed to achieving a work-life balance. We are here to discuss just that and tell you why work-life Balance is important for you as well.
Past Of Work-Life Balance
Before we talk about how the concept of work-life balance became a norm, here is a brief glimpse into the history of work-life balance.
● The Early Days
Back in the early days, before the 19th century and even before that, the concept of work-life balance was non-existent. Most of the workers were in agriculture along with their family and even children. Other than that, people used to work in mines, under command, and in construction or labor.
There were no set working hours, and sometimes the work would keep people occupied for as long as 12-14 hours a day. So if you add the time of sleeping, eating, and going to the toilet, people had little to no time for leisure or family.
● The 8-Hour Movement
Cutting down the absurd labor rules, the 1830s brought some relief into the life of the whole working and labor class. As part of the Industrial Revolution, employers implemented 20-hour work days and 6 days a week rule. As a result, they actually saw an improvement in productivity.
In 1869, the Knights of Labor organization founded in Philadelphia took it upon itself to pass the 8-hour workday law. More and more people from industries and factories joined the movement.
● From 20th to 21st Century
The 19th century saw the rise of more and more companies that started implementing the 8-hour workday. It was especially followed after the Ford Motors founder, Henry Ford reduced the work-day to 8 hours for 5 days a week and their productivity skyrocketed.
After that, continuous technological advancements helped people achieve a balance between work and life. It helped them take more leisure time and family time. After that, let’s learn its meaning and importance in today’s hyper-connected world.
What Does It Mean By Having A Work-Life Balance In Today’s Digital Age?
Now that we are surrounded by technology and smart gadgets, it is important to maintain a proper work-life balance to remain healthy and wise. Although it is hard, here are some strategies that will surely help you out.
● Unplugging Yourself For A While
Every day, every once in a while, it is important to unplug yourself from technology and connect with the real world. Get off from work, turn off your gadget, turn the notifications off, take a break from social media, and go have some fun. Also, you can read a book, meditate, or spend time with your family.
You will have to make this a habit to follow every day, even when the deadlines are looming in your head. Unplugging yourself from electronics can be really beneficial for your whole body. It will reduce stress, improve sleep, and promote overall well-being.
● Building A Routine
As you age, you start getting more and more responsibilities. It goes up to a point, when you have more tasks to do than there are hours in a day. At this point, a strong routine or schedule will help you manage your time better and be more productive.
For this, you must start by going to sleep earlier and waking up at the first break of the day. You will start feeling fresh already. Now whether you are a 9-5 job holder or a work-from-home entrepreneur, set 8-9 hours a day for work and not more than that. Once they are completed, unplug yourself for a while to rejuvenate your mind and body.
● Thinking More About Self
Many of us get lost in work so much that we forget to give ourselves some time. Time to get fresh, rejuvenate, learn a new skill, play with kids, chat with loved ones, or take that long-overdue vacation.
Every once in a while, start doing some self-care routines, like getting a salon session, going for a walk, taking time off, or just celebrating life with friends or family. Other than that, there are many great activities everywhere that will also help your physical and mental health. These include playing pool, swimming, hitting the gym, etc.
● Using Technology For More Flexibility
Technology has really helped us achieve more and do more in less time. It is because of technology that we learned more about work-life balance, its importance, and strategies to make it happen for us.
Today, there are many tools that work well as best stress relievers for a busy life. One such great example is the Balance Me app which helps business owners, office workers, and everyone else manage priorities and do more with life than just work.
Final Takeaway
The world, as we know it today, has come a long way from over 12-14 hours work days 7 days a week to 8-hour work days for 5 days a week. And that happened for the good of everybody.
Work-life balance has really helped us in more ways than one, and technology has a big part in making it a reality. Things like robotics technology, smart technology, and digital integrations technology have helped us manage our work better, automate tasks, and be more productive every day.
Achieving work-life balance is highly important as it helps boost mental health, improve physical well-being, let us achieve more success, and have more fun. Work can wait; achieve a work-life balance and be present for the family when it matters the most.
