Working long hours and spending little time outside of the office might be good for the company in the short term, but in the long term can have disastrous effects on stress levels, general health, relationships and ultimately productivity.

That’s why managers and employees alike should consider it an essential part of their personal development to seek a good work / life balance. Here are some thoughts that may help those seeking to put some time aside to get things into perspective:

Identify your values:
Consider what’s important in your life that you are not getting enough of. Think about the things you value but don’t experience enough of. This might be spending time with friends, family or your spouse. It could also mean putting some time back into the community and helping others in a way that will bring you non financial fulfilment.

Consider your health:
Stop and think about your level of fitness. Are you as fit now as you were a few years ago? This is not just a physical question, some investment in your psychological health is just as important as your cardio-vascular workout.

In general terms most people argue that they need to work long hours to earn more money. Yet anecdotal evidence suggests that uplifts in material wealth do not have a long term beneficial effect on one’s quality of life.