Stress and Work Life (Women)

 

Stress and Work Life 

 

Traditionally in India, women were employed mainly in low-profile positions in the workforce. However, the trend has changed now, and women are working in almost all categories of positions in the workplace. This shift is attributed to women's ability to balance their work and personal lives. Work-life balance has become one of the greatest challenges for teaching professionals in today’s world. Expectations of future leaders include not being ready to sacrifice personal lives for the sake of their careers.

The challenge of work-life balance is increasingly becoming a priority for many employees and employers. Employees are prioritizing the quality of their working lives and seeking greater flexibility to manage work commitments alongside their personal lives. One essential factor in managing work-life balance is the ability to control and reduce stress. Stress stands as one of the biggest problems faced by modern employers. While stress can sometimes help us perform under pressure and motivate us to do our best, the ever-changing working environment poses new challenges, problems, wide-ranging responsibilities, and increased productivity and competitiveness for women lecturers. These factors contribute to stress and pressure, leading to an imbalance in the lives of women lecturers.

 

Stress caused by women lecturers in workplace

Women lecturers, burdened with multiple roles and responsibilities, are particularly vulnerable to stress, which stems from various factors:

Mixing up professional and personal problems.

Enduring long working hours.

Facing excessive workload.

Experiencing poor time management.

Dealing with a lack of discipline and non-cooperation of students.

The physical health of lecturers also contributes to increased stress levels.

 

Factors that affect work life and personal life

A perfect balance in life for lecturers requires careful adjustment. Only through this can they effectively balance their work and personal lives. Balancing between work and life stands as a critical factor for job satisfaction and motivation. Lecturers should remain continuously open to new and innovative ways to balance family and work. Here are some factors that affect work-life and personal life:

Good support networks from spouses, parents, relatives, friends, and colleagues facilitate easier balance for women lecturers between their work and family life. Lecturers working longer hours find it challenging to balance their work life and personal life effectively. When women lecturers experience conflict in their work life, it may reduce productivity and performance, leading to an imbalance in their personal lives

Suggestions

Stress cannot be avoided; it should not be avoided. Without stress, there would be no attempt to try the difficult, and one would give up much too easily. Here are suggestions to maintain a healthy work-life balance:

1. Every women lecturer needs to change their mindset by not mixing up work life with personal life.

2. Lecturers should avoid bringing classroom work home to balance their work life.

3. It's essential for every lecturer to maintain their health and sleep to reduce stress levels.

4. Exercise and meditation are important ways to relieve stress and feel comfortable.

5. Lecturers should prioritize tasks according to their schedules.

6. Lecturers should focus on the present moment rather than worrying about the future.

7. Educational institutions should initiate counseling centers, especially for lecturers.

8. Training programs should be conducted for women lecturers to manage stress levels and balance work life.

9. Every women lecturer should demonstrate willingness to accept changes made by their institution.

In the present scenario, work-life balance is an important issue. Both family and work life hold significant importance for lecturers, and if not maintained properly, it leads to stress. Developing work-life balance policies is not sufficient; they need to be practiced and supported, especially by the management. A small compromise can go a long way in achieving perfect harmony between personal life and work life.

 

Thank You