Work-Life equilibrium is generally the right balance between work and life, which may differ from one individual to another.

This term was first used in the UK in the late 70s to describe the balance between individuals work and personal life. It was further used by the US in 1986.

It involves four elements for any individual

Work

Family

Friends

Self

In the 21st century, this term could be used interchangeably with work-fun equilibrium. It implies meaningful achievement and enjoyment in our daily lives leading to a satisfying life. With advancements in technology, this is not an era of 40-hour workweek but 24-7-365 work availability. The work may end with 9 to 5 working hours, but the responsibility continues and employees are expected to be remotely available and responsive. Second, only to compensation, work-life balance is one of the most talked-about concerns in the corporate sector. With higher demands of work-life balance and to control attrition rates, employers of choice are coming up with benefits and family-friendly policies like remote work locations, flexible working hours, paid sabbatical leaves, paternal leaves, outbound training etc.

If this term work-life balance is studied for the life of women versus men, there could be a visible difference. According to me, traditionally, women tend to weigh their personal life on a higher scale than men. However, the traditional stereotypes are being broken with more women entering the workforce and organisations also focusing on diversity enhancing policies with women-friendly work environments. Instead of single bread earners, families have more members entering the workforce and contributing to the financial well-being; in some cases, responsibilities are being jointly managed at home with no gender biases.

The crux is that the onus of balance lies with an individual. I think the driving force for work (in most cases) is financial stability. Working when focusing on the “play” too would not mean a lower pay-check, but in fact, reduced stress levels with a happier and healthier you. How to add play could be varied for each individual depending on interest levels, like:

Participation in social events Daily gymming or yoga Contribution to sustainable activities like tree plantation drives, blood donation etc. Involvement in art events Engagement with spiritual groups

All these contribute to the well-being of an individual who, I think, would be ten times more productive at the workplace than an individual involved only with work. Needless to say, a person’s well-being is directly linked to his/her performance which in turn impacts the growth and success of the organisation where he/she is working.

We could have a look at the role of technology in bridging the gap between an individual’s work and personal life. In order to fully utilise the potentials of technological advancements, one needs to learn the psychological and social skills required to use the tools. The simplest example could be a mobile phone – with loneliness plaguing the society at large, it is more of a device of mails, navigation, entertainment etc. than connecting with people (over a phonecall) which was its intended purpose.

With an appropriate balance of work coupled with fun, an individual can offer higher growth to himself and his connections in terms of family, peers in an organisation and the organisation itself.