BALANCING FAMILY LIFE AND A BUSY WORK SCHEDULE: WHY WORKPLACE WELLNESS MATTERS

By Karishma Motiram

busyness. We wear long working hours like a badge of honour, juggle never-ending to-do lists, and stretch ourselves thin trying to be everything

The reality is that work and life outside of work are deeply interconnected. When one is out of balance, the other suffers. If work is overwhelming, stress seeps into home life. If home responsibilities feel unmanageable, it impacts focus and productivity at work. The key to thriving in both areas isn’t about doing more - it’s about being intentional with our time, setting boundaries, and understanding what wellbeing means to us, as an individual. Because spa days and fancy restaurants

The Myth of Work-Life Balance

The idea of ‘work-life balance’ suggests that these two aspects of life should be perfectly equal, but the truth is, they rarely are. Some weeks work demands more of us, and other times, we need to focus on family. Rather than striving for a perfect 50/50 balance, we need to practice allowing for needs and demands, whilst appreciating the natural flows requiredcreating a life where both work and home can coexist more naturally.

This requires appreciating yourself and what you are trying to achieve. Ask yourself: What do I need right now? What do I want right now? Answering these questions can help quieten the ‘noise’ of intense demands we place on ourselves and shift the focus from just being busy to being intentional with time.

Practical Strategies for Managing Work and Home

1. Set Clear Boundaries – As a business owner, it’s often challenging to define clear work hours and stick to them. It can be easier to define clear ‘break’ hours to give your mind rest.

2. Time Blocking – Assign specific blocks of time to work, family, and personal activities. This ensures that everything has its place and reduces the stress of multitasking. Be intention about starting your days with things that fuel you and squeeze ‘drainers’ in between to keep up your energy.

3. Prioritise Self-Care – You can’t pour from an empty cup (yet everyone tries to!). Remembering that ‘self-care’ can mean taking a brisk 10 minute walk, having a cup of tea away from the desk or remembering to drink enough water throughout the day. It is your basic needs – the rest is luxury (which is always more enjoyable when we have taken care of ourselves!).

The Bigger Picture

At the heart of it all, success isn’t about ticking off endless tasks - it’s about how you feel while creating the life you want. So ask yourself: is rushing through it all, without joy, really worth it? Because the truth is, slowing down - even just a little - could be the very thing that changes everything.