Do we work to live, or do we live to work?
This has become an ordinary question in the latter-day, but in truth, the answer lies somewhere in between. Our work provides us with the means to enjoy the things we do in the rest of our lives.
But equally, through our work, we can find purpose, a sense of accomplishment and achievement, and meet goals that allow us to grow both in our careers, as well as outside of the workplace.
But what makes a workplace great?
This is a question paused for you to deep think and meditate about; but regardless, here are my thoughts and conceptions: What makes a workplace great is its sense of connection, with not only the work we do, but also our workspace, our responsibilities, and of course, our coworkers?
It’s working alongside people who inspire us and drive us to do better, because we know we are capable of achieving our best. It’s finding opportunities that help us grow both professionally as well as personally.
It’s a vocation that offers us work full of meaning; that gives us a sense of purpose and fulfilment. And it’s a place that doesn’t forget that we are both colleagues and human beings, who are all trying to find a successful balance between work, play, and living within a thriving, joyful community.
We all have short and long term objectives at work that need to be achieved. But it isn’t always easy to find a reason to get up every morning, especially if sometimes, work is the last place you want to be.
Instead of focusing on the daily grind of reaching those objectives, set a to-do list that includes layers of tasks you know you can tackle, and treat yourself to something that makes you happy once you’ve completed them.
Reward yourself
Rewards can include anything from buying yourself flowers or a book you’ve been eyeing, going to the cinema or theatre, and taking a longer walk at lunchtime, to soaking in a hot, fragrant bath once you’re home.
These don’t have to be financially-straining or time-consuming ー they can simply serve as a regular reminder that there is more to life than work.
If you are overtasked, and this creates feelings of negativity, resentment, and anger, it might be time to have a conversation with your boss to establish clearer boundaries. Don’t be afraid to assert yourself and ask what the requirements of your job are ー and make sure they reflect your job description.
By the same token, if you are the first to arrive at work and the last to leave, consider reframing your work hours for a better work-life balance. For example, avoid scheduling meetings after 5pm, set an alarm to remind you that it is time to leave, or commit to a regular activity that forces you to leave work on time.
Once you get home, leave work at work. This means waiting until after the weekend to respond to emails, and not answering work related phone calls or messages after hours (or while you’re on vacation!). Switch your phone off if you think you will be tempted to check.
Turning the other way around, even social time builds friendships. Friendships mitigate division, bias, gossip, and office politics. I have come to understand that almost all forms of social time boost mood, but technological remote forms such as texting and social media have thresholds — mood drops after moderate amounts.
While both remote and in-person socializing is beneficial, in-person interaction has the greatest impact on mood.
But that doesn’t mean you have to overdo it or that social connections have to drain time to be effective. Create regular opportunities for people to get to know each other through work.
Finding the ever-elusive ideal of a work-life balance isn’t always easy and with burnout being something that can compound easily, it can be challenging to keep work stress from taking over your life. It can be even more difficult to handle when you feel that the only option is to leave the job in question ー especially when that may not always be a viable solution, or at least not right away.
Conclusion
Let work be a lifestyle that comes with a whole lot of baseline passion and freedom to exercise the talents you have to offer but keeping it in mind that value addition and growth around these talents is inevitable as long as you are in an active workspace.
All work obstacles can eventually provide grounds for you to succeed — package your work mindset in a positive direction and see the magic that comes with it.
Derrick Katushabe is a PR and Advocacy Associate at SafeBoda. He is also a writer, administrator, and a journalist by profession.
