Beyond the cubicle- How different jobs enhance work life balance.

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Finding Balance in a Busy World

In today’s fast-paced society, balancing work and personal life has become a significant challenge. Many people feel overwhelmed by their job demands and struggle to find time for themselves and their families. This growing concern highlights the need for better work-life balance solutions.

Amongst many, there’s a general consensus that office jobs are not always as conducive to a healthy work life balance as those that do them might like. In fact, a survey carried out by Randstad found that 65% of job seekers in the UK prioritised work-life balance over pay and benefits. So, is there another way? 

What is work life balance?

Work-life balance means different things to different people. For some being able to pick your kids up from school and getting in your exercise. For others taking holidays when they want are popular markers of achieving work-life balance. In general, it’s the way in which your professional and personal lives can gel, keeping you healthy, fulfilled, and happy. 

Why is work life balance important?

When our work life balance is sitting too far on the ‘work’ side of the line, we may find ourselves getting burned out. Consequently, this can result in unproductive, not to mention neglectful of our health. Additionally this could lead to time off sick due to stress.

You should be able to dedicate time and energy to both work and life in equal measure, and leaving either of these areas lacking will see you fall behind professionally, or make sacrifices in your personal life that you’ll later regret. 

Why is it hard to achieve work life balance in an office?

The nature of an office job means that you’re often required to sit in one place for the working day, which, if you’re full time, can be up to 8 hours every weekday. This leaves you evenings and weekends to run errands, look after yourself, socialise, and relax. Understandably, many find it hard to fit everything in, which is why jobs outside of the office become appealing. 

Here are some different jobs that may tip the work life scales in a way that makes them a little more equal:

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Yoga or Fitness Instructor

If you could do with a little more flexibility in your days, and the idea of keeping fit and healthy as part of your job sounds ideal to you, working to become a yoga or fitness instructor may be a path to follow. As a yoga or fitness instructor, you can choose when to teach classes – if you’re an early bird, target the pre-work crowd, for example. This leaves more time for the other things you love! 

Personal trainer 

You’ll be helping others reach their goals and feel strong and confident, all whilst keeping fit and living life outside of the office – what’s not to love?! The satisfaction and flexibility that being a personal trainer provides is a reason why many swap the desk for the dumbbells. 

Working at a kids camp 

If you’re young at heart, working at a kid’s camp might just make work just a little less of a slog. This generally seasonal work allows you to get the satisfaction of dedicating yourself to the wellbeing of kids during school holidays, as well as enjoying the benefit of a shorter working day. Take a look at recruitment boards that camp counsellor jobs, for example. 

Photo by Rick Gebhardt on Unsplash

Dog walker 

Prefer pets to people? Walking other people’s pooches lets you swap colleagues for furry friends and helps you get your steps in. Dog walking is usually a self-employed job, so you can choose your hours to fit your life more easily.

Gardener 

If the outdoors is calling and your desk job has you dreaming of a more outdoorsy lifestyle, consider becoming a gardener. Gardening can keep you fit and healthy. As a self-employed gardener, you can choose your hours, making it easier to feel in control of your workload.

How to bring more work life balance in your existing job 

Some job options described might not be suitable if you’re a trained professional in a specific field. However, a change is as good as a rest, as they say. Often, you just need a change of scenery. Take your annual leave! Staycations and day trips, like visiting the beach, can leave you feeling refreshed and relaxed.

Set time out for recreation, give yourself a pamper hour, or meditate. Simply switching off all media and taking a long walk can also help. Take up a hobby such as pottery or painting to relax and divert your mind from work stress. These breaks make you more capable of handling work stress.

How do you handle work life balance please do share your tips in the comments below.

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