Having a healthy work-life balance means having a healthy equilibrium between your work and your personal life. It’s common practice to try to create a workplace where workers may thrive and develop into more idealized versions of themselves, characterized by increased productivity, greater thoughtfulness, and reduced stress.
However, many Singaporeans still struggle to find that coveted “work-life balance.” Employees in Singapore are taught that the country’s people are its only resource, and that enterprises should make the most of these “resources” or risk losing their competitive edge.
Maybe that’s why people here put in some of the longest hours in the business. A recent survey found that Singapore is the fourth most overworked city in the world behind Dubai, Hong Kong, and Kuala Lumpur.
However, there is still hope, as it is only the mid-year, and by setting these six resolutions, you may be one step closer to achieving the work-life balance you so desperately desire.
#1 Your child engages in free play out of boredom
Your youngster could become bored and restless if she has time to kill and nothing planned. Try letting her be alone to deal with boredom rather than keeping her busy or entertaining her.
After some time, she’ll figure out how to amuse herself. She might read a book, make an imaginary drawing, or use her toys to play pretend.
Your child is not only “just playing” when this occurs; instead, they are taking the initiative. They are choosing things like what to do, what they like, how long to play with a certain item, etc. on their own.
Free play or “unstructured play” is when kids play in an unrestricted way without any particular learning goals1. Additionally, a study suggests that this kind of play is “not frivolous” but “brain-building”.
Children learn to better manage their emotions (such as worries, sadness, tension, and anxiety) when they are allowed the freedom and opportunity to play on their own. As teenagers and subsequently as adults, they are better able to handle stress thanks to this sense of self-mastery.
#2 Boredom Helps Your Child Get Ready for Adulthood
When our child shows signs of boredom or says he is bored, we can interpret this as a problem and make an effort to address it. We dress up as clowns to entertain him, we enlist the help of an older sister to play with him, or we bombard him with toys until one of them piques his interest.
When he is older, he might count on others to keep him amused whenever he becomes bored. He might even lose his cool and lash out at people who don’t try to cheer him up.
He will grow up less ready for the real world, which will have lots of boring moments and won’t always keep him entertained when he gets bored. The sooner he develops the ability to anticipate and manage boredom, the more prepared he will be to deal with the routine aspects of life at home, school, and job.
#3 Boredom Encourages Creative Imagination
Our imaginations roam and form fresh, original connections when we are bored. According to studies, those who performed dull, routine jobs shortly before a creative assignment were more imaginative.
In other words, boredom may inspire us to be more imaginative. We enter a peaceful, slightly detached state while performing routine duties, which permits our brains to roam. Those who are bored work more creatively.
What’s the point of these studies? Your child may benefit from spending some time being bored or doing something uninteresting because these activities, such as writing, painting, and playing pretend with other kids, all call for creativity and imagination.
Do nothing the next time your youngster shows signs of boredom or begins to whine about it, no matter how difficult it may be. Allow him or her to experience boredom while sitting. Let him choose how he wants to pass the time.
The most important thing to remember is to avoid the impulse to offer him your phone, tablet, or other screen gadgets to watch or play with, even if he is crying and needs them to pass the time. The World Health Organization (WHO) advises against any screen time for children under the age of two. One hour a day of exposure is recommended for kids under five.
It might seem reasonable at first to provide your child the time and space to be bored or do nothing. When you feel motivated to “solve the problem,” remember that boredom and doing nothing aid in brain development, prepare him for the real world, and stimulate creative thought.
You could free your schedule so you could both enjoy the benefits of doing nothing, rather than obsessing over his boredom.