Poor Work Life Balance for Expat

If you find you have been putting too much focus on your work-life for an extended period, the repercussions for your health, wellbeing and the success of your expat assignment can be severe. Below, find some of the impacts of poor work life balance that can be seen both physically and mentally.

If you are struggling to switch off from work on a regular basis it is likely to impact your mental health over time. It may begin as increased feelings of anxiety but if you don’t pay attention, it may lead to burnout. Burnout is a state of physical and mental exhaustion experienced after a sustained period of stress. Research by Deloitte in 2021 shows that burnout is becoming increasingly common globally as 77% of employees said they had experienced burnout in their current position. Find 10 of the most common signs of burnout here to ensure you avoid this on your overseas assignment if you find you are experiencing a poor work life balance.

Following on from poor mental health and burnout is the need to take a break from work. If you have poor work-life balance as an expat you are more likely to need to take sick leave from work to rest, recuperate and recover. This may have a detrimental impact on achieving your assignment goals. 

On the flip side, you may try to push through while suffering from stress or burnout. The result of this is presenteeism where you may be at work, but you are not productive. This is a difficult and frustrating situation to be in, particularly if you are used to being a high achiever in your role. 

In the most extreme cases poor work-life balance can lead to expact failure. When you do not achieve the goals of your assignment or have to return home early. The reasons an assignment doesn’t work out, can be complex, but poor work-life balance may well play a part. One of the most often cited reasons for expat failure are ‘family issues’ where a spouse or children struggle to settle into their new home, trailing spouse syndrome could be present within a family. The chance of these family issues occurring is increased if you are not available to support or spend quality time with them. 

Medical studies are increasingly linking poor work-life balance with increased incidences of stroke and heart disease later in life. These are some of the physical impacts of a poor work life balance that can appear. Some studies show those who work more than 55 hours per week have a 1.3 times higher risk of stroke than those working fewer hours. So really the stakes could not be higher when it comes to work life balance as an expat and employee. 

As mentioned earlier, finding what represents work-life balance for you is personal and unique. Initially you may wish to reflect on your values, what makes you feel productive and what energises you both inside and outside of work. From here you can begin to set boundaries to achieve better work-life balance allowing you to reach your work goals while also having a happy home life.