8.) Reviewing Past Articles ; Diverse Different Views by Professionals On Work-Life Balance

Reviewing Past Articles and, Exploring Different Views by 

Professionals on Work-Life Balance

By Nirmala Rathnayake

Taking time to rest and recharge is vital to help you succeed in what is important to you and scheduling regular time off for yourself each week to relax, read a book, play sports, spend time in nature, or just do nothing is important to unwind yourself. Having said that we have spent a great deal of time considering the importance of balancing our personal and professional lives as we try to understand the complexities of work-life balance. 

I have emphasized the crucial importance of work-life balance throughout this investigation, emphasizing its realization through various lenses, including leadership, time management, artificial intelligence, literature support, and boundary lines, and acknowledging the reality of Sri Lanka's current environment. 

Today's Journey Embarks On A Thoughtful Exploration;

The concept of work-life balance (WLB) is crucial to human resources management. This holds true for all organizational administration. Work-life balance measures how satisfied an employee is and how well their demands are addressed in both their professional and personal lives. (2015) Alison A. Rife and Booz A. Hamilton As a result, the purpose of this essay is to determine if work-life balance strategies qualify as strategic human resource management issues. The outcomes and benefits of implementing work-life balance methods in human resources management are shown in a variety of research covered in this paper. These benefits extend beyond only the employees' own lives to include their families, businesses, and society as a whole. Rene. N. N. (2020). While understanding literature reviews, today we will explore the following 2 Topics;

1.) We'll revisit my past blog entries, unveiling valuable insights. And additionally, 

2.) We'll delve into diverse perspectives shared by Industry Professionals, gaining a deeper understanding of their viewpoints on "Work-Life Balance"

1.) Reflections On The Previous Blog Posts;  Valuable Insights:

Let's think back on the numerous treasures we've discovered as we approach the end of this remarkable adventure. Work-life balance is a shared goal and ongoing cycle of life and not an individual one. My Blog story is shaped by the interplay of Leadership, Time management, Technology, Literature explanations, Border Line to say No and pick a priority, and also our Sri Lankan identity. Together, they provide each other with the tools we need to achieve a successful balance between our obligations and desires in personal and professional life. We create a route toward balance via steadfast support, comprehension, and cooperation, not just for ourselves but also for the overall well-being of our work and personal lives. My previous blogs covered the following topics;

• Embracing Time Management and Leadership: Mastering the art of time management is a crucial component of this endeavor. We enable ourselves to devote the same amount of time to both aspects of our lives by skillfully arranging our time. This initiative benefits from effective leadership. Leaders who promote and uphold work-life balance foster an environment where adaptability, understanding, and mutual support thrive, supporting the harmonious coexistence of work and life.

• Artificial Intelligence Support: The symbiotic relationship between people and technology in the digital age is apparent. Artificial intelligence and literature support. Artificial intelligence integration can considerably help us balance our obligations by streamlining chores and increasing productivity. 

• Literature Support: Additionally, finding solace in literature provides insightful guidance that helps us find equilibrium. The universality of the path is emphasized by learning from others' experiences, which reassures us that finding balance is both a shared goal and one that is possible.

• Respecting Boundary Lines and Navigating Reality In Sri Lanka: Where business ends and personal life begins is clearly defined by defined boundaries. Enforcing these boundaries is essential to preventing the influx of work obligations into our personal lives. Our conversation so far has been in line with universal ideals, but it's important to recognize that our route to balance is specifically formed by the circumstances of our local environment. In light of this, let's examine the current situation in Sri Lanka. We may adapt our strategy to better fit the fabric of our lives by incorporating our understanding of work-life balance into the local subtleties.

All the above articles explored more insights about work-life balance and how important it is for us to implement it by ourselves for our work and professional lives for a smooth journey.

In The Literature Review; In recent years, there has been an increased interest in work-family interaction in the literature on human resource management, particularly regarding the sources and results of conflict between these two domains. The literature on work-life balance has been explored and is available from several perspectives. Numerous research has looked at this problem from various angles. Ingram and Simons (1995) and Goodstein (1994) gave an institutional view on organizations' responses to work-family conflicts. Greenhaus and Beutell (1985) and Greenhaus et al. (1989) explored the causes of conflict between family and work. In addition, Campbell, Campbell, and Kennard (1994) investigated how women's work dedication and job performance are impacted by their family obligations.

2.) "Work-Life Balance'; Different Views By Professionals:

2.1) Jeffrey Preston Bezos - CEO Of Amazon (The World's largest e-commerce and cloud computing company)

Jeff Bezos has a different perspective on work-life balance", and in the discussion of "International - Work-Life Balance comparisons," Jeff Bezos rejects the concept of "work-life balance" and instead promotes the idea of "work-life harmony." This was mentioned in an Insider News Letter article about the significance of work-like balancing. Bezos gave advice to incoming Amazon employees during an awards ceremony, saying that the conventional idea of balance involves a strict trade-off between work and personal life.

He pushes for a more holistic viewpoint that views work and life as complementary elements rather than as competing forces. By setting aside time for family breakfasts, keeping a flexible schedule, and placing an emphasis on minor everyday activities, Bezos lives by this attitude. He emphasizes that work and life are interwoven and that there is no balance but rather a loop. He also mentioned it's depending on your energy and how you energize at work and home to add value and not a number of hours that you are working. He offers his team, from new hires to top executives at Amazon, advice that is unconventional. J. Bezos (2017)

Bezos also emphasized that he admires his employees. He also mentioned it's a very negative impression of the people who are not productive and always watch the clock to finish working hours. He emphasized, again and again, that he doesn't like the concept called "work-life balance" and he likes to call it "work-life harmony ". He also highlighted people should be flexible about changes. Jeff Bezos (2016)

Also, Job satisfaction, according to Spector (1997), refers to how much people love their jobs. While some people see their jobs as essential to living, others loathe their jobs and only show up when they have to. In other words, work satisfaction is a term used to describe how people feel about their jobs and various aspects of their jobs. It speaks to how much individuals love (or loathe; are pleased with or unhappy with) their jobs. attitudes and job happiness are two common metrics. In the past, certain studies (e.g., Porter, 1962; Wolf, 1970) have examined job satisfaction from the perspective of need satisfaction, or if the occupation satisfied the employee's physical and psychological needs. However, because most academics today tend to focus more on cognitive processes than on underlying reasons, this approach has since been disregarded.

2.2) Simon Oliver Sinek - (British-born- American author and inspirational speaker and . Author)

He mentioned "You know work in life is not opposing forces its balance is the wrong analogy. you know I'm the same person at home as I am at work. it's just different clothes at a different table. It's all one life. Let's live Balanced". Simon Sinek (2019).

Simon Sinek offers his viewpoint on the age-old goal of work-life balance. Sinek proposes the idea of work-life harmony as an alternative to the conventional notion. He urges us to reconsider our strategy and place more emphasis on the fusion of work and personal life than on their strict segregation. Sinek's philosophy revolves around aligning our work with our values and purpose, transcending the traditional compartmentalization of these aspects. By finding meaning in our work and connecting it to our passions, we can cultivate a sense of fulfillment that resonates both professionally and personally. 

He also emphasized a key element of achieving work-life harmony is the establishment of clear boundaries. Sinek emphasizes the importance of delineating specific spaces for work and personal commitments. By setting these boundaries and communicating them effectively, we create room for self-care, meaningful relationships, and activities that rejuvenate us. Nurturing relationships, both within and outside the workplace, is another cornerstone of Sinek's approach. Building strong connections forms a support network that contributes to our overall well-being. Prioritizing and investing in these relationships fosters a sense of belonging and fulfillment across all aspects of life. 

Furthermore, he highlighted mindful technology usage is a final aspect addressed by Sinek. In an age dominated by technology, he suggests being deliberate about its role in our lives. By consciously controlling when and how we engage with technology, we can prevent its encroachment on personal space and preserve a healthier work-life balance.

The majority of study considers how happy or successful a person is at juggling work and family responsibilities based on their own views (Voydanoff, 2005). However, Konrad and Mangel (2000) emphasized that by reducing friction between work and family, establishing work-life balance legislation can increase job satisfaction. In other words, content employees are more loyal and confident, which leads to higher-quality work outputs (Tietjen and Myers, 1998). It's critical to foster an environment at work where people can thrive and feel fulfilled by their employment. 

2.3) Bill Gates; (William Henry Gates, is an American billionaire who co-founded the software giant Microsoft along with his childhood friend Paul Allen.)

Bill Gates shared his view of work-life balance which he agreed to balance professional and personal life. he also mentioned " But if not for that "beginner's hunger" that fueled him in his early years, it's improbable that Gates would have ever achieved the kind of fame and fortune that he does now. People who strive to achieve greatness in all spheres of human endeavor—entrepreneurs, artists, rock stars, politicians, military leaders, social justice advocates, prophets, and priests—are motivated by a beginner's hunger. Bill Gates laments not having discovered work-life balance sooner; 

Bill Gates, a co-founder of Microsoft, expressed regret for not understanding the value of work-life balance sooner in a speech. Speaking to the graduating class at a Northern Arizona University (NAU) commencement ceremony on Saturday, Gates said he didn't believe in vacation days or weekends off when he first started working at Microsoft and that he used to keep track of workers who would leave early or stay late.

Bill Gates said in his commencement speech, "But as I got older — and especially once I became a father — I realized there is more to life than work." "Don't wait as long as I did to learn this lesson. Spend some time strengthening your relationships, celebrating your successes, and lamenting your losses. When you need to, take a break, Gates said. Be kind to those around you when they require it. Gates said in his speech that the graduates should "have some fun" and live in the moment because what they do now won't affect them in the future" 

2.4) Indra Nooyi (Indian-American business executive, CEO of PepsiCo (2006–18), and Chairman of the board (2007–19).

Indra Nooyi mentioned work-life balance is not easy but you need to develop different methods like cope-up mechanisms, delegation of work and personal responsibilities, get support from friends and colleagues. It is a very interesting conversation in that she shared her personal experiences in life and how she succeed in her career and manage her family life with all those challenges.  ( TheBetterIndia - Facebook (2021)

       

However, while balancing the demands of work and family life are associated with employees' physical and mental health as well as occupational variables like job satisfaction, performance, absenteeism, and turnover intentions, maintaining a positive attitude toward one's job is crucial to increasing an organization's productivity (Aquinas, 2007). Understanding the complexities of human nature is essential for managing people in both their personal and professional lives. And also Women and men generally have a distinct idea of what the "life" component of the balance entails, according to Rebbecca Bundhun, who is cited in The National (2009), an Abu Dhabi National Paper. Spending more time with family is more common for women, whilst personal interests are more common for men. She also cited a report by Dr. Katty Marmenout, a research fellow at the INSEAD School in Abu Dhabi, who wrote that achieving a work-life balance requires more than just splitting one's time equally between work and personal obligations; rather, it requires creating a harmony that represents one's priorities. 

• What do you think of Work-Life Balance?

"I'd like to turn the spotlight on all of you since Work-life balance is a subject that affects us in various ways. As we wrap up this blog, I invite each of you to share your thoughts: What does work-life balance mean to you between your professional and personal commitments? 

Your insights and experiences are invaluable, and they contribute to the conversation. Let's open the floor to your perspectives – feel free to leave your thoughts while you comment on my post. 

Last but not least, Thank you very much everyone for your great support comments, and encouragement to complete this task successfully. 

• Conclusion:

"Work-life balance" understanding has revealed crucial truths that influence how we go about obtaining balance between our personal and professional lives. Success emphasizes the importance of self-care and regular breaks, highlighting the requirement to set aside some time each week for activities that renew and replenish us. The importance of establishing a balance that is in line with our own objectives and commitments has been the main topic of this investigation. We've built a great knowledge from my prior blog entries that emphasize the complex nature of work-life balance. Through a variety of lenses, including leadership, time management, technology integration, literature guidance, boundary setting, and embracing local context, this journey has highlighted its significance and explored its reality. Our personal and professional lives are increasingly integrating, thanks to our unwavering support, comprehension, and teamwork.

Work-life balance is essential for achieving harmony in personal and professional lives. It involves self-care, regular breaks, and aligning work with personal aspirations and obligations. Industry professionals, such as Jeffrey Preston Bezos' work-life harmony approach, Simon Sinek's philosophy, and Bill Gates' lessons, offer diverse perspectives on this complex subject. By integrating work and personal life harmoniously, we can achieve a purposeful and fulfilling life, promoting holistic well-being and a long-term future. Maintaining a balance while acknowledging and supporting personal and professional commitments is crucial for a fulfilling life.

• References:

1.) Iddagoda, A., Hysa, E., Stangrecka, B. H., & Manta, O. (2021). Green work life balance and greenwashing the construct of work life balance myth and reality. Jounal of Energies, 14(15), p.4556. 

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2.) Singh, S. (2014). An empirical study on the status of work life balance in oil and natural gas corporation limited. Prabandhan Indian Journal of Management, 7(1), p.27.  

Accessed on: 15 August 2023

3.) Bezos, P. J. (2017). Work life balance. YouTube [online]      

Available at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfGbyW6fs5w

Accessed on: 15 August 2023

4.) Bezos, P. J. (2016). Amazon employee work life balance. Code Conference.  [online].  

Available at;    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTYFEgXaRbU

Accessed on: 16 August 2023

5.) Sinek, S. (2021). The right way to do work life balance. YouTube [Online]

Avaibale at :  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0yxJH2i0DE

Accessed on: 16 August 2023

6.) Gates, B. (2023). Regrets not enjoying life outside of work. Sky News Australia. [online]

Accessed on: 16 August 2023

7.) Gates, B. (2023) A commencement speech. Fortune. [online]

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8.) Rene, N. N. (2020). Work life balance and its impact as a strategic human resources management policy in private sector organisations in equatorial guinea. SSRN Electronic Journal. [online]

Accessed on: 15 August 2023