Most of us are familiar with the term work-life balance, but the real question is how many of us are actually able to practise it. In a fast-paced and competitive professional landscape, many fall prey to hustle culture or the constant pursuit of success. We have unconsciously normalized sacrificing rest and personal commitments to the extent we have forgotten to enjoy life.
Work-life balance is about being able to separate and prioritise professional and personal responsibilities. In truth, it shouldn’t be considered a benefit or a luxury, but rather an intrinsic need that promotes overall health and well-being.
Doing business involves finding ways to increase sales, productivity, and profit, but it should not come at the expense of work-life balance. At myOffice, we enable businesses of all scales to focus on their bottom line and core competencies. We provide flexible office solutions in Dubai that can overcome the common challenges in work-life balance.
5 Common Challenges in Work-Life Balance
1. Societal Stigma
Living in a digital age where social media has taken the world by storm, we are constantly exposed and subjected to societal stigma. The struggle to meet unrealistic expectations from family, peers, work, and ourselves contributes to the pressure of taking on more work than we can handle to prove our worth.
More and more individuals are experiencing imposter syndrome, believing their success is undeserved, so they tirelessly overwork themselves to get validation from others. To combat societal stigma, we must first be able to recognise and acknowledge them, then learn to compare ourselves only with the person we were yesterday.
2. Company Culture
Company culture refers to the social and physical work environment including the values, behaviours, attitudes, and standards expected from employees. Organisations that encourage a culture of long hours, presenteeism, and “always-on” communication could be detrimental to the physical and mental health of employees.
Employees should not have to feel pressured to extend work hours or feel guilty for requesting time off, especially when they are sick or unwell because they fear losing their job. Managers need to lead by example. They should be able to model work-life balance by encouraging employees to take breaks and clock out on time.
3. Lack of Boundaries
Socialising at work is okay. Working from home is also okay. What is not okay is when you can no longer detach yourself from work and vice versa. You can notice the lack of work-life boundaries when all you do is talk about work even when you’re out of the office, or you’re handling personal matters during work hours.
The best way you can reclaim work-life balance is by practising mindfulness. Set a routine that allows a standard amount of time for work, family, and self-care. It would also help to have different emails, messaging tools, or devices for work and personal use. Also, plan for vacations.
4. Limited Growth Opportunities
Limited growth opportunities inhibit work-life balance because employees tend to overwork themselves to feel seen and deserving of a promotion. In the same way, employees who are not given autonomy or trusted to do their jobs can sap creativity and innovation. They may feel boxed up and discouraged from communicating their concerns, which contributes to work-life conflict.
Employees need autonomy and flexibility to ideate and collaborate. They need a certain amount of freedom to decide their work arrangements and have a say in their workload and priorities.
5. Overutilisation and Understaffing
Companies that try to cut overhead costs by not hiring enough people force employees to take on multiple roles and go beyond their supposed scope of work. In the end, understaffing and overutilising employees proves to be inefficient because of burnout and sickness, leading to missed work days.
The occasional overtime is fine and may be necessary for key projects as long as it doesn’t become a regular occurrence and employees are justly compensated. Project managers have the responsibility to uphold work-life balance by setting realistic project goals, clear work priorities, delegating tasks and assigning deadlines based on capacity, and effectively coordinating between employees and clients.
5 Benefits of Flexible Office Spaces for Work-Life Balance
1. Thoughtfully Designed Spaces
At myOffice, we believe that employees are the bedrock of organisations. We offer flexible serviced offices for rent in Dubai business centers that are thoughtfully designed with employee well-being in mind. We maximise an open layout that paves the way for collaboration, innovation, and diversity.
You can expect every co-working space and meeting room to be fully equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and reliable IT infrastructure. We also factored in ergonomics from furniture, lighting, and insulation, to room temperature.
2. Worry-Free Work Experiences
We guarantee fully-furnished ergonomic office setups [insert link to published blog re ergonomics in the workplace] businesses of all scales can simply move into. We help facilitate work-life balance with worry-free work experiences and flexible lease terms that accommodate a variety of work arrangements and schedules, whether hybrid, condensed, remote, or flex time. myOffice even provides receptionists, maintenance staff, and an IT support team ready to assist.
Organisations also have the option to take advantage of our enterprise solutions to customise workstations. We also have a team that can handle business setup for your company so you can direct your focus and efforts on your core competencies.
3. Amenities for Wellness Breaks
At myOffice, we understand that encouraging wellness breaks fosters work-life balance. Renting any of our serviced office spaces in our Dubai business centers will automatically give you access to our luxurious business lounges.
When you need to take a breather from work, our business lounges have floor-to-ceiling windows that will give you a breathtaking view of Dubai’s central business district. Here, you can have your fill of complimentary water and delight in a cup of coffee or tea prepared by our in-house baristas.
4. Network With a Professional Community
Addressing the human need for interaction and connection, myOffice gives businesses the chance to network with a diverse and global professional community. You are welcome to join our networking mixers or book our event spaces to organise conferences, workshops, team-building sessions, and the like that can boost employee morale.
We understand the need to talk to like-minded individuals who are familiar with our line of work. Our shared office spaces in Dubai make these interactions happen, enhancing work experiences, and ultimately contributing to work-life balance.
5. Convenient Business Location
myOffice gives way to work-life balance by making flexible offices available for rent in convenient business locations. Our business centers in Dubai Marina Plaza and Boulevard Plaza are accessible through all modes of transportation to reduce commute stress. We are near metro stations, airports, hotels, malls, and restaurants, so you can indulge your personal life as soon as you step out of the office.
We empower organisations and individuals to leverage business opportunities in the UAE. Professionals from all over the world can meet at myOffice in Dubai. And now, in collaboration with Office Square, our partners can venture into Abu Dhabi and avail 20% off fees on flexible office spaces and business services. [insert link to published blog re collaboration with office square]
Final Thoughts on Flexible Office Spaces Overcoming Challenges in Work-Life Balance
Work-life balance is integral to individual well-being. Without it, employees are prone to stress, fatigue, and burnout, which could dampen productivity and morale. Organisations and managers play a key role in providing a positive and healthy work environment where individuals can thrive and experience work-life balance.
myOffice offers flexible office spaces for rent with a human-centric design to promote harmonious and enjoyable work experiences. Businesses of all scales can situate themselves in Dubai’s central business district to elevate their brand image and implement work-life balance into their company culture.
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