Europe, it turns out, is a pretty great place for those wishing to tame their work obsession. Although it’s impossible to say just how many off-work hours are needed for a fulfilling life, some countries appear to have come pretty close to finding a healthy equilibrium. Work-life balance is about reconciling work, family commitments and personal life in a way that feels gratifying. Anyone interested in sparing their employees-or themselves-from a full-on meltdown should take note. Rest is as much of a necessity as hard work is a virtue. So beyond causing nuisance on the long-awaited family vacation, that one guy who’s always on the phone “for work” is actually ruining his health. The danger is real: earlier this year, burnout was officially recognised as a “medical diagnosis” by the World Health Organisation. While we may feel invincible in our coffee-induced euphoria, work-related sleep deprivation and stress have been extensively linked to various physical and mental disorders. While professional accomplishments can certainly help our sense of self-fulfilment, the limits of how hard we can (physically) work do not always match up to our corporate ambition. But for most of us, the pressure of a job combined with the natural urge to outperform colleagues in the workplace, leaves us no choice but to put in long hours. Those who are passionate about what they do willingly erase the barrier between the two (and write books about it). In a culture obsessed with startups and self-made overachievers, it may be hard to see why letting work “become your life” is a bad thing. So which countries are hitting the right balance between productivity, satisfaction, and work-life balance, and what can other countries learn from the happiest ones? Why care about work-life balance? Instead, many workers find themselves increasingly caught up in and connected to their work when they leave the office and go home, or even on vacation. Technology was supposed to usher in a leisure-filled utopia for workers.
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