We often hear about work-life balance, or the famous balance between personal life and work. We always imagine it as a scale, where the two spheres are sharply separated and not communicating with each other, constantly searching for a point where the needle on the scale stops exactly in the middle, in perfect balance.
A survey conducted by the International Labor Organization revealed that 35.4% of the global workforce worked more than 48 hours per week. This highlights that so many hours are devoted to work and fewer hours are spent focusing on one's passions and personal relationships.
It can be rewarding to survive work stress and achieve great results in one's career, but it is not necessary to sacrifice other aspects of life all the time, because nowadays we have alternative ways to achieve results and instill confidence in our clients and partners.
For some, balance means keeping work and private life separate.
For most public relations professionals, however, this is not entirely possible, so it may be useful to open up to a new idea of the relationship between life and work, namely the integration.
The idea of work-life integration is increasingly making its way into work culture around the world because it is an approach that creates synergies between all areas that define "life" (work, home/family, community, personal well-being and health) instead of pitting them against each other.
This process begins with an analysis of how you work best: ask yourself where, when, and how you perform at your best.
And here are some useful insights:
- Public relations is unpredictable, and optimimanal and balanced time management is essential for any professional working in this field, including those who work remotely. Having the right digital tools (e.g., a workflow management platform--e.g., Basecamp) can streamline tasks so you can focus on the demands of a hectic news cycle;
- The perimeter of schedules does not always have clear boundaries, because the perimeter of the media with which a PR person interfaces is not defined. The media have different times and schedules than what we consider classic working hours. A journalist, for example, might need to interview a client on the weekend or at any time outside of work, and PRs must still be ready to respond to such requests. These are exceptions, but they can happen, and it becomes necessary to find ways not to overload and maintain a balance (e.g., by finding an appropriate balance)
- Try to blend the personal and professional aspects of life. Whether it is taking a midday break for an outdoor activity or integrating hobbies into the work routine, finding ways to combine work and personal life can lead to greater satisfaction;
- By nature, PR roles require flexibility. Attending events during non-work hours or, for example, handling last-minute crises and unforeseen events are some of the situations in which PRs need to pull out all the stops to balance life and work. Therefore, it becomes important to consider experimenting with different ways of working that best suit your lifestyle to find a balance that suits you.
Other examples of work-life integration may include:
- Participating in an unexpected video call while picking up a child from school;
- Set aside time for exercise or a walk during the lunch break;
- Working from the airport while waiting to board a flight for a trip or from the train;
- Taking care of a child, loved one or dog while working from home
Each person has his or her own personal needs, which can no longer be completely sacrificed for work, but must find their place in the everyday, where all spheres can become one, mitigating in some cases performance anxiety, fomo and social pressures.
Thus, one might think that integration is the best solution with respect to work-life balance, but as specified earlier, one needs to ask oneself what can be applied depending on the sector and especially what is more in line with one's needs and habits.
A clear separation between life and work is unavoidable, for example, for those who work in an office and do not have the option to work remotely as well. In addition, this mode is ideal for those who struggle to detach themselves from work demands and for those who tend to work excessively even after working hours. Having clear boundaries, therefore, can be critical for many people to avoid ending up in burnout.
For others, however, having the flexibility to manage their time and thus being able to choose how to intersect the various commitments of the private sphere becomes vital.
What can we draw from this reflection? Is there a right or wrong choice?
Definitely not, everyone needs to listen to each other and understand their own needs, but one thing is certain: whether it is with an integration or a clear separation, each person is a human being apart from his or her profession and has the right to devote himself or herself to the nurturing of his or her personal passions, relationships, and interests in order to build a fulfilling life both humanly and professionally.
Article by Paolina Consiglieri
