| You can achieve
work-life harmony |
| |
 |
| Congratulate yourself when you finish a project —
take a break with your friends. |
|
|
|
| |
Personal work-life effectiveness refers to an
individual’s ability to manage multiple
responsibilities. To help individuals achieve
personal work-life effectiveness, the Work-
Life Unit of the Ministry of Community
Development and Sports (MCDS) produced a
handbook titled My Work. My Life. My Choice.
A Handbook on Personal Work-Life
Effectiveness. Featured here are some excerpts.
With the advancement of technology,
our workplace is becoming more
mobile. Some of us work at odd hours
telecommunicating with our counterparts in other
countries or rushing out reports due the day
before, and yet have to put aside time for our
family, friends and ourselves!
In the midst of long, irregular working hours,
we usually sacrifice things that are dear to us,
such as personal pursuits like hobbies and
relationships. If the work, family and personal
aspects of our life are not managed well, stress,
burnout and strained relationships could result.
In order to attain a healthier and well-balanced
life, it is crucial to effectively balance our work,
family and personal needs.
It is a common mistake to assume that
ensuring work-life effectiveness is solely the
responsibility of employers who need to put in
place corporate programmes like flexible work
arrangements, leave benefits, employee support
schemes and work-life infrastructure. Actually,
we as individuals all need to do our part and strive
to achieve personal work-life effectiveness. Here
are some useful pointers on how to do so.
The first thing to do is to set realistic goals. When you achieve goals, you feel motivated and
satisfied. However, unrealistic goals only leave you
frustrated and stressed when you cannot achieve
them, so keep in mind your capabilities when setting
goals. At the same time, remember to assess your
goals to see if they are in line with your definition
of success in life. Ask yourself these questions:
|
| |
|
• |
Am I doing
too much overtime? What else could I be doing? |
|
• |
When was the
last time I spent time on my hobbies? |
| • |
Is it more worthwhile
to spend extra time at work or on my family/personal
life? Why? |
|
| |
To achieve your goals in a more focused
manner, you can organise your goals in order of
their importance, and zoom in on those at the top
of the list. The goals can be revised daily or weekly.
While pursuing your goals, remember to
schedule some time for yourself to pursue your
interests in sports, the arts or religion. These activities
give you an opportunity to unwind and allow for
your development as a well-balanced individual.
Learn to congratulate yourself when you
succeed. It might just be a simple coffee break
with your friends and colleagues to reward
yourself, but it works wonders because you will
feel refreshed and recharged.
At the same time, learn to encourage yourself
in the face of setbacks. By taking a positive
stance, we can learn from our mistakes and better
equip ourselves for the future.
Remember to ask for help when you
encounter difficulties. You will be surprised at
how your family, friends or employer may be more
than willing to go the extra mile to help you! |
