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October 18, 2016

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Wellbeing quiz: Do you have a good work-life balance?

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Getting the balance right between work and family time can be difficult.

Long work hours, colleague expectations and the desire to progress can all have a detrimental effect on an employee’s health and wellbeing. However getting the balance right can lead to an increase in productivity, motivation to succeed, better workplace cultures and a happier family lifestyle.

To help employees find out whether they should reassess their work-life balance, AXA PPP healthcare have built this simple visual quiz.

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If you find out you might be suffering from an out-of-kilter work-life balance, these practical steps by Psychological Health expert Eugene Farrell will help you get back on track:

  1. Prioritise work tasks rigidly and stick to doing the most important first.
  2. Schedule work into the day in time slots as you would with meeting appointments and work to that time.
  3. Take regular breaks, get up every hour and walk. Go and get some water or a drink and return to your work refreshed.
  4. Ensure you take a proper lunch break away from your desk where you can eat and drink.
  5. Take all of your annual leave each year, with a least one full week, and preferably disconnect from work once a quarter.
  6. Use out of office message and a nominated cover when you are away from work so that you don’t have to check emails all the time.
  7. Understand your limitations of work that you can successfully and reasonably achieve.
  8. If you feel uneasy about saying no to more work from your manager then negotiate taking on the work whilst delaying something else.
  9. Being fit for work is as important as work – get good sleep, eat healthily, exercise, spend time with family and friends.
  10. If you are a leader of people, set the example and send the right message.

For more tips and guidance on achieving a work-life balance, visit AXA PPP healthcare’s Work Life Balance portal.

What makes us susceptible to burnout?

In this episode  of the Safety & Health Podcast, ‘Burnout, stress and being human’, Heather Beach is joined by Stacy Thomson to discuss burnout, perfectionism and how to deal with burnout as an individual, as management and as an organisation.

We provide an insight on how to tackle burnout and why mental health is such a taboo subject, particularly in the workplace.

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Bob Wallace
Bob Wallace
7 years ago

So, because I always read my E-mails when out of the office as I have an enabled phone; my work / life balance could be better. What a load of rubbish! If I chose to, because I have the time to do so, yet always go to the gym for an hour at lunchtime and get home by 1800 every evening for dinner with my wife (although I do start at 0630); why is my balance wrong? I am not stressed and would rarely have to say no to my boss, as I manage to prioritise my work and spread… Read more »

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The w! | Champs Consulting
7 years ago

[…] Wellbeing quiz: Do you have a good work-life balance? […]

Nigel Dupree
Nigel Dupree
7 years ago

Needless to say I think everyone would be chuffed by Bob’s pro-active approach to his work/life balance accepting the employers facilitating an appropriate working and break cycle allowing better contact time with family than the rest of us with a 9 to 5 week throughout the year. However, for the remainder of the working population the concept of WEL (Work Exposure Limits) has a long way to go before it is perceived to apply to everyone’s wellbeing and not just those in more hazardous jobs. Exposure and over-exposure to work related stress in any form resulting in either physical or… Read more »

David P
David P
6 years ago

Not sure i agree with this with the way it starts. I take lunch every day so according to the diagram above I miss the question about overtime, which I regularly do. Poorly laid out diagram. The question on overtime should come first.

William
William
5 years ago

I start work at 0800hrs have a light working breakfast at desk, usually porridge, I sometimes go for lunch sometimes not, I should finish at 1800hrs however routinely stay in office a couple hours longer unpaid, I then go to my room after work probably go to gym or go a run. I will shower then either go to dinner or have a snack in my room, then I will Skype my wife and son for a bit until he gets bored and wants to go back on Xbox. I will watch a bit of Dish TV then hit the… Read more »