Here’s how to improve your work-life balance while working in a country that lacks balance

Work-life balance; it’s an increasingly popular buzzword that has proliferated in all manner of industries, especially among a new generation of hires entering the workforce. But how exactly does one achieve it?

Malaysia has an especially spotty track record in this regard, especially if global human resources services company Remote is to be believed. Findings from a study by the organisation suggested that out of 60 high GDP (gross domestic profit) nations, our country occupies the second-last spot in their Global Life Work Balance Index. By that measure, we also rank the lowest out of all Asian countries assessed from the list.

Culture

Books to read that will uplift your self-confidence and unleash success from within

Living

The best indoor plants and herbs to cultivate a positive mental health

Work-life balance: Malaysia ranks second-last out of 60 countries in new study

Conversely, New Zealand topped the rankings for offering the best work-life balance ratio, followed by Spain and France. In Asia, Taiwan placed 16th while our Causeway neighbours Singapore landed the 19th spot.

To determine which countries could offer the best ratio in work-life balance, the study was carried out based upon a few areas of consideration, which included:

1. The number of statutory days off, which included paid time off and public holidays.
2. The minimum statutory sick pay percentage, based on the percentage of an individual’s flat pay amount.
3. The amount of statutory paid maternity leave, and the leave payment rate based on a percentage of an individual’s flat pay amount
4. The statutory minimum wage amount (based on USD rates accurate at the time of the report’s publishing), calculated by dividing the annual minimum wage amount across 52 weeks, then by the standard hours in a single work week.
5. The country’s healthcare system.
6. The country’s average Global Happiness Index, based on a scale of 1 to 10.
7. The average number of hours worked per week, based on figures provided by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
8. The country’s LGBTQ+ inclusivity index, based on a scale of 1 to 100.

Coming in on the 59th spot, the report indicated that the average employee in Malaysia only had 19 days of statutory days off and 14 days of maternity leave, while noting that paid sick leave is accrued based on the duration of one’s tenure with their employer.

Additionally, it asserted that Malaysia’s minimum wage amount came in at a measly USD1.07 (RM5.03) per hour, with a Global Happiness Index score of 5.71. As for the number of hours worked, the average Malaysian employee clocks in 40.8 hours every week.

While Malaysia does offer universal healthcare across the board, it only managed to nab 15 points for LGBTQ+ Inclusivity, bringing our total index score to 27.51 out of 100. Only Nigeria fared worse, with an index score of 17.03.

Given the less-than-ideal findings, it begs to question as to what exactly employees can do to tip the scales more favourably to strike a balance between their professional and private lives. While institutional reforms are a far-fetched solution that requires involvement in a legislative capacity, small changes in one’s day-to-day routine at work can make a world of difference. Here are some actionable steps you can take today to improve your work-life balance.

How do you strike the golden ratio of work-life balance?

1. Setting clear and reasonable boundaries

More often than not, we are inclined to appease our employers by agreeing to take up more work and responsibilities at their convenience. Consequently, this tends to come at the cost of our own time off, which can translate to longer days at work. While it is understood that overtime can be inevitable in some cases, it is equally important to learn the value of the word ‘no’ and know when to wind down to avoid burnout.

Setting boundaries between your professional and personal life is crucial in maintaining a sense of overall well-being, lest you make a habit of replying to work emails or attending to tasks after clocking out. With that said, always be considerate and keep your teammates and manager apprised concerning your working hours to align expectations and circumvent any potential conflicts in schedule.

2. Enforce good time management

Setting boundaries goes hand-in-hand with implementing an adept sense of good time management. This is to say that you should make the most out of the time you have at work and complete your tasks to the best of your capacity in that period, without running into the risk of clocking in more minutes after the workday concludes.

To that end, here are a few pointers that could help improve your time management skills:

• Keep a daily planner or download a project management app like Monday.com to get a better overview of your day.
• Set time limits on each task you have to complete so that you don’t spend too much time working on a single concern.
• Avoid distractions that can interfere with your productivity at work.

3. Take small breaks

It’s one thing to stay focused throughout your day for the sake of productivity, but always remember to strike a balance by taking small breaks when you need them. This can mean anything from practising a few minutes of Chloe Ting’s ab-busting exercises at your desk to watching cat videos to soothe a weary soul. Whatever your panacea happens to be, give yourself the brief luxury of succour to help you get through the workday.

Here are a few ways to destress at your desk:

• A low impact workout
• Controlled breathing exercises
• A gentle sound bath (to be enjoyed with headphones on)

4. Maintain separate digital accounts for work

This is quite a common practice in many corporate settings, where company emails are allocated to employees for data security purposes. But if your company does not provide you with an email for work or you happen to operate on a freelance basis, make a habit of setting up a separate set of digital accounts to cater to professional demands. In doing so, you can establish a clearer distinction between professional and personal digital interactions, especially after you’ve clocked out.

5. Take your weekends seriously

Weekends are for cutting loose, so be sure you actually make an effort to do just that! Give yourself a reason to look forward to the end of the week by planning activities you’ll enjoy (we happen to have a list of fun activities here, updated weekly, for your reference). Or sometimes, if you feel like retreating into the comfort of your own home and keeping to yourself, stock up your pantry with snacks in anticipation for a weekend-long hermit session with Netflix. Relaxation takes on many different guises for different people, so pick the one that fits best for you.

The most important thing is, you’re taking the time to put your needs first by giving both your body and mind the time and space it requires to heal.

As for employers, it’s important to keep in mind that maintaining work-life balance in the workplace comes with a myriad of benefits, with studies indicating that it can not only improve productivity in the office, but increase retention rates and overall workplace satisfaction as well.

Feature and hero image credits: Ketut Subiyanto/Pexels