Is Work-Life Balance Achievable?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the beginning of 2016 approaches, MIT’s innovation@work^TM blog has started a series designed to help readers achieve a “more productive, healthy, and less stressful 2016.” Work-life balance is a constant struggle for both individuals and organizations, as evidenced by the fact that organizations focused on health, such as the Mayo Clinic, address this issue.

A lack of work-life balance will likely have negative implications. According to neuroscientist and MIT Sloan Senior Lecturer Tara Swart, it is scientifically proven that nearly everyone performs at a lower IQ when they do not get enough sleep. MIT cites three corporate examples of work-life balance: Amazon, which seems to “shun the idea of work-life balance;” Treehouse, which does not demand 40 hours or more; and Yahoo, which offers new mothers 16 weeks of paid time off and new fathers up to eight weeks of paid time off.

Some CEOs, are on board with strategies for improving work-life balance. Ryan Carson, of Treehouse, encourage employees to have a “more balanced total life,” noting he could “never buy back moments with my kids…[I’m] not going be at my keyboard at 9 p.m. on a Friday night.” Brian Halligan, of Hubspot, advocates naps at the company headquarters, believing that inspiration can come from rest and solitude.

To follow the innovation@work^TM series, visit their Web site.

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