How to maintain work-life balance in Luxembourg?

Luxembourg boasts a strong economy and a high standard of living, making it an attractive workplace. Finding a healthy work-life balance is a constant juggle, but it's crucial for overall well-being and avoiding burnout.

With Luxembourg being in the top 10 happiest countries in the world (Luxembourg ranks 9th out of 156 countries; the happiness score includes measures such as GDP, social support, generosity and personal freedom: more info at this link), people usually have a good work-life balance.  A good work-life balance means you can be happy and productive at work and also have time for yourself and your family.

Balancing life and work not only benefits you, but also your employer. Happy workers are generally more productive, take less sick days, and are less likely to leave for another job. Good employers know it and propose their employees:

• flexible schedules
• options to work from home
• several days off and holidays

Work-life balance is about finding a way to manage the demands of your work or study with your personal life and the things that ‘top you up’. ALEBA team recommend you try these few tips to manage it better:

• Prioritisation and time management: Use time management technology to concentrate better (time blocks, to-do lists, "do not disturb" phases, delegating and outsourcing)
• Disconnect: Set aside time to fully disconnect from work emails and messages in the evenings and on weekends. In Luxembourg, you have the right to disconnect and not answer work chats and emails outside of your working hours. 🔗Click here to read more.
• Out-of-office hours: Utilize tools like auto-responders on emails to manage expectations when you're not working.
• Flexible work arrangements: Explore options like remote work, flex hours, or compressed workweeks if your employer offers.
• Vacation time: Don't let vacation days go to waste! Take time off to recharge and come back feeling refreshed and motivated.
• Saying no: It can be okay to decline additional work or commitments if it compromises your work-life balance!
• Seek support: Don't be afraid to ask for help from colleagues, family, or friends to manage your workload and responsibilities.
• Self-care and well-being: Take regular breaks throughout the day to move your body, clear your mind, and avoid burnout. Prioritise sleep, exercise, and healthy eating to maintain your physical and mental well-being.

Advice from our expert Caroline Marchoul :

Social support: Surrounding yourself with caring and positive people whom you can count on and confide in reduces the harmful effects of tensions and acts as a protective factor.

Take time for yourself: To continue to be there for others (family, friends, colleagues, etc.), it is necessary to take care of yourself! Taking the time to do things that motivate us and do us good (reading, eating out, doing sport, etc.) helps maintain psychological balance and keeps stress and burnout away, among other things.

Laughing: Laughter relieves stress by triggering the production of endorphins. It relaxes our muscles and oxygenates our brain and heart.

What about you? What do you do on a daily basis to improve the balance between your personal and professional life?