work life balance many men barely survived their retirement

work life balance many men barely survived their retirement

Introduction

In spite of overwhelming evidence of the harmful effects of long work hours on both employees and employers, many professionals find it difficult to break free from their assumptions and deeply ingrained habits regarding job hours. How can we escape these undesirable patterns and establish a more sustainable and satisfying work-life equilibrium? To shed light on this issue, we conducted nearly 200 comprehensive interviews with 78 professionals from the London offices of a global law firm and an accounting company. Our research uncovered valuable insights on how these individuals managed to transform their work and personal lives for the better.

Recognizing the Need for Change

The majority of our interviewees, both men and women, described their work as highly demanding, exhausting, and chaotic. They seemed to take for granted that working long hours was a prerequisite for professional success. However, around 30% of the men and 50% of women in our sample consciously resisted the notion of working excessively long hours. They devised various strategies to maintain a healthier work-life balance. While each individual’s circumstances differed, our findings revealed a common psychological process that consistently helped these professionals change their approach to work and life.

The Five Steps to Transformation

  1. Pause and Denormalize

Taking a step back and reflecting on the sources of stress, imbalance, and frustration is the first crucial step. What aspects of your current situation are affecting your performance, your engagement with work, and your personal life? What are you prioritizing, sacrificing, or neglecting? By acknowledging and pausing to examine these factors, you can begin to address them. For example, Maya, a senior partner at a law firm, reached a breaking point after years of intense focus on her career. Recognizing the toll it was taking on her family and her own well-being, she made a conscious decision to step back.

  1. Pay Attention to Your Emotions

Increasing your emotional awareness is key to understanding how your current situation is affecting you. Are you feeling energized, fulfilled, and satisfied? Or do you experience anger, resentment, or sadness? One interviewee shared how the lack of work-life balance made him bitter and resentful, realizing that it was consuming valuable time. Developing emotional reflexivity allows you to identify the changes you desire in both your work and personal life.

  1. Reprioritize

With heightened cognitive and emotional awareness, you gain the ability to put things into perspective and reassess your priorities. What are you willing to sacrifice and for how long? If work has taken precedence over family, for instance, question the necessity of this priority. Consider past regrets and future potential regrets to guide your decision-making. The individuals who achieved a more positive work-life balance intentionally reprioritized how they spent their time, ensuring it aligned with what truly mattered to them.

  1. Consider Your Options

Before implementing changes, evaluate the aspects of your work and life that could be different to better align with your priorities. What specific modifications do you envision? One participant emphasized that improving one’s situation takes time and experimentation. By gradually evolving their work patterns, they were able to strike a balance between their personal and professional lives.

  1. Implement Changes

Finally, it’s time to take action. Whether it’s a public change that explicitly alters colleagues’ expectations or a personal change that adjusts your work patterns without necessarily affecting others, sustainable implementation is key. Establishing boundaries, rejecting additional responsibilities, and seeking support from mentors, partners, and colleagues are effective strategies. Both public and private adjustments, when executed thoughtfully, can lead to lasting change.

Conclusion

The five steps described above constitute an ongoing cycle of reflection and improvement rather than a one-time fix. Breaking away from a culture of long work hours requires consistent efforts to pause, acknowledge emotions, reassess priorities, explore options, and implement changes in both personal and professional spheres. While major life events may trigger these transformations, it is possible to proactively reassess and realign at any point. By embarking on this journey, you can create a healthier and more fulfilling work-life balance that prioritizes what truly matters.