Raul Handa | Founder & CEO | The Forttuna Group | 2xTEDx Speaker | Stanford Seed Consultant.
While interconnected, an individual’s personal and professional life operates within distinct realms of experience. With the advent of technology and tools, we’re able to connect with our co-workers and our loved ones, often blurring the lines between our personal and professional lives. These blurred boundaries have helped us grow as a society by giving us the freedom to work and collaborate from countries and continents apart. However, they have also disconnected us in many ways.
With the rise of remote work, constant access to emails and the expectation of being “always on,” it has become difficult for individuals to disconnect from their work responsibilities. This overlap often leads to work encroaching on personal time, causing stress, burnout and a lack of work-life balance.
Young professionals around the globe have been reporting the lack of balance between personal and professional life as one of the leading causes of depression, increasing irritation among youngsters and loneliness in the biggest of the economic centers.
According to recent findings from Randstad, 83% of those surveyed perceive work-life balance as more important than pay. My team conducted its own survey and solicited feedback about the burnout that the team was feeling. Our intent was not to brush concerns under the carpet but to identify solutions. A few of the reported issues include:
Mental Health Pressure
Today’s fast-paced work environment has led to severe consequences on mental health. The constant pressure to perform, long working hours and blurred boundaries between work and personal life have been taking a toll on employees’ well-being.
With the increase in the cost of living, there has been a rising trend of items being purchased over equated monthly installments (EMIs) and loans. The financial independence that it provides is necessary, but this trend has also pushed various youngsters into a vortex of EMIs and away from savings and future plans.
Certain boundaries have enabled the professionals to be the best in the industry they represent. However, there has been an increase in unrest and poor mental health that I believe are the result of changing business practices and technological innovations.
Demands Of The Global Working Village
In companies often operating across multiple countries, each with its unique economic landscape, there are often nationalities mingling with each other. For example, The Times of India reported that, “Bengaluru’s migrants have crossed 50% of the city’s population.”
With the world becoming a global village in terms of opportunities, younger employees are dealing with the pressure of always being available. As most times the employees who are being forced to work overtime or beyond working hours are mostly unmarried and those with limited family responsibilities.
These differences can become blurred by lifestyle and perceived societal status. Various youngsters, especially from third-world countries, might struggle to disconnect themselves from work to focus on their personal lives. They may feel pressured to work more to achieve lifestyles they’re seeing “over the fence.”
Financial Instability
While youngsters face the effects of limited responsibilities by blurring the boundaries, a family man nowadays in a third-world country is used to living on the line due to the rising prices of basic commodities and the pressure of living up to certain standards of society and to possess various material things that coincide with that of the expectations of the peers.
For example, let’s look at the iPhone Index 2024 for iPhone 16 Pro. This index compares the cost of the iPhone compared to a region’s average earnings. It takes an average worker in Switzerland four days to earn enough to purchase an iPhone, or 5.1 days in the United States, while in India a person would need to work 36.4 days to earn the same amount. Turkish workers must save 72.9 days to make this same purchase, and that’s assuming they don’t have to spend their earnings over this period on other living expenses.
Blurring boundaries between personal and professional life due to the declining economic conditions and the rise in the cost of living has forced professionals, especially those of the entry-level to work beyond the hours and many times forgo family commitments due to deadlines.
On the flip side, you get to see some heartwarming stories of success. I have a 23-year-old working with me, whose hard work enabled him to purchase a dreamhouse for his single mother. Another story is for the new parents that we have on the team who have been able to plan good futures for their children.
Creating A Culture Of Balance
We need to have an honest and outspoken discussion about the declining boundaries between personal and professional lives.
● Are we burning from both ends due to a deadline that could have been better managed with a bit more communication?
● What is the right time to disconnect?
● Which sphere of life needs the front seat at any given time?
While individuals must navigate their personal and professional priorities, business leaders play a crucial role in fostering an environment where employees don’t feel forced to choose between career success and well-being. A thriving organization recognizes that long-term productivity comes from sustainable work habits.
One of the most impactful steps leaders can take is establishing clear boundaries around work expectations. Encouraging employees to disconnect after work hours, limiting after-hours emails and respecting personal time can create a healthier work culture. Companies can also introduce flexible work policies that accommodate different life stages—whether it’s young professionals striving for financial independence, new parents balancing family responsibilities or seasoned employees managing career longevity.
Additionally, mental health support should not be an afterthought. Provide access to counseling services and incorporate mental health days. Normalize conversations around stress and burnout to create a more supportive environment. Financial literacy programs can also empower employees to manage rising living costs and avoid the debt traps that often lead to overworking.
Ultimately, a workplace that prioritizes balance will see stronger employee engagement, higher retention and a culture where people bring their best selves to work.
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