Counselling for Developing a Better Work Life Balance

The phrase ‘a good work life balance’ is a common one. Yet what does it mean? What does it look like? How would we know if we have achieved it? Most importantly, how do we get it if we feel we don’t have it?

Counselling for developing a better Work Life Balance is an exploratory and challenging look at you and your needs, your career, your family and your friends to help you to find a place where these components are equally supported in a way that is fulfilling and pleasing to you.

How will I know if I am struggling with my Work Life Balance?

In the UK, individuals work an increasing number of hours . . . This can be especially true of a city such as London.

Work, and what that means for you, will vary. For some it will be an office role, for others physical labour. It may be that you work from home, commute to a place of work daily or a mixture of the two. You may travel lots and be away from home much of the time. You may be self-employed or employed, employer or work part-time. It does not matter what form your work takes, developing a better work life balance can be a relevant issue.

How does a poor Work Life Balance effect our health?

Struggling with the work that you do, and balancing it with the other lifestyle factors in your life, can have a damaging effect on both your mental and physical health.

If you are struggling with the balance of work and lifestyle. You may be feeling or experiencing some of the following:

Feeling unhappy with the amount of time you spend in work
Feeling as though other areas of your life are suffering / being neglected because of being in work. This can include:

Your mental health (e.g. feeling depressed, anxious or irritable)

Your physical health (e.g. stress taking its toll on you physically)

Your personal relationships (e.g. distance from your partner or children or not enough time spent enjoying and cultivating friendships)

Bringing work home / a feeling that there is little or no separation between work and your personal life
Feeling a sense of lack of personal development, that your life is weighted in a way that does not reflect everything you want to get from life, achieve in life and want for yourself

How can Counselling for developing a better work / life balance help?

Counselling is an exploratory and confidential space where you can begin to look at and discover the meaning of work for you, the reasons behind the amount you are working and what is making you unhappy about your work.

Sometimes, this exploration can bring about the answers and changes that you may be looking for. It provides a space that allows for objectivity and distance from the issue that can being to provide clarity as to what you would like to change and how to go about making those changes.

However, counselling, can also provide practical support around issues such as boundaries, both personal and professional, bullying if this is relevant and self-care.