Balance, burnout, and how breaks can (and can’t) help reset the scales

With Mental Health Awareness Month coming to a close, it felt like a good time to reflect on work, life, the ever-tricky balance between the two, and what a decent break can (and can’t) do. 

The enemy of good 

Before I dive into a discussion on something so important, I need to get something off my chest. As one of the agency’s wellbeing champions, I have often been asked to write blogs or comment on the topic. This is a completely reasonable request, of course, but it’s one I’ve always struggled with. My immediate reaction has always been to ask myself, “Are we doing everything we possibly can as an agency to promote wellbeing? More importantly, am I?” 

The answer to that is inevitably ‘No.’ That’s not to say nothing’s being done. In fact, the agency recently implemented a well-being allowance and an external career coach for all employees, amongst other support offerings. But, especially on an individual level, you can always do more. With something as important and sensitive as mental health, I always worry about being preachy or performative – who am I to talk about this? What am I actually doing? 

But maybe talking about it (or writing about it) is a start. 

In my day-to-day role, I’m lucky enough to work with some great thought leaders and spokespeople. One in particular in the world of cybersecurity has a mantra when discussing ways to make companies more secure from cyberattacks: “You can’t do everything, but you can do something.”  

This is good advice in all walks of life. You probably find this with your work. When you have something important that you need to get right, you put it off. Sometimes, it doesn’t get done for ages, not because it doesn’t matter, but because it does. Sometimes, you’ve got to eat the frog. Do something, even if it’s not perfect – it’s better than nothing. 

Finding a better balance

So, with that disclaimer out of the way, I’m going to try to talk about the sometimes-contentious but oh-so-important idea of work-life balance.

Of course, taking a month off work is a brilliant way to unwind, recharge, and do something you wouldn’t normally get the chance to do (I was lucky enough to travel around Asia). But it doesn’t fix your work-life balance in the long term, it just tips the scale the other way for a while. It’s the same with any annual leave: it’s important (most people would agree breaks are essential, who doesn’t love a holiday?), but it’s not enough on its own to manage stress or prevent burnout over time.

In fact, it can sometimes have the opposite effect. I’ve known people (not at Babel, I should stress) who work non-stop in high-stress environments, finally take a break, and then end up signed off or unwell. Once they stop and relax, the full weight of the stress they were under hits hard. So yes, time off can be a double-edged sword. Breaks are great for reflecting, especially when you’re too deep in the day-to-day to realise something’s not quite right, but they can’t do all the heavy lifting.

Relying on time off (or a once-in-three-years sabbatical) isn’t a sustainable wellbeing strategy. It’s like eating junk food every day and expecting a juice cleanse a few times a year to make up for it.

Check yourself before you wreck yourself

So, what does good balance actually look like? I think, just like your physical centre of gravity, it’s different for everyone. It’s not just about how people find balance, through flexible working, hybrid schedules, or whatever works for them, but where that balance sits will also vary from person to person.

It’s a personal thing, but to help notice patterns or reassess your work-life balance, ask yourself these questions. It can help to do this after you’ve had some time to reflect on things, but don’t let that ever stop you from ‘checking in’ on yourself. Here are questions to ask yourself:

• Do I regularly feel rested and recharged at the start of my workday?
• Am I able to disconnect from work outside of working hours (e.g. evenings, weekends)?
• Do I often feel overwhelmed, anxious, or burned out by my workload?
• Can I take breaks during the day without guilt or disruption?
• Do I make time for activities I enjoy outside of work?
• Am I physically and mentally healthy, or am I ignoring warning signs (e.g. fatigue, irritability, headaches)?
• Do I feel in control of how I manage my time, or constantly reactive and stretched thin?
• Are my boundaries between work and personal life clear and respected (by myself and others)?
• Do I feel supported by my manager or workplace in managing stress and workload?
• Is flexible or hybrid working helping or hindering my balance?
• Am I using my annual leave regularly and meaningfully, or letting it build up?
• When I’m off work, can I truly switch off, or am I still checking in or worrying about things?
• Do I have enough time for relationships, hobbies, exercise, or rest outside of work?
• Is my current pace at work sustainable in the long term?