IELTS Writing Task 2

Work Life Balance Strategies

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Problem and Solution

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10 unique answers with expert feedback

Instructions

WRITING TASK 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Nowadays many people complain that they have difficulties in maintaining work-life balance.

Why is this the case?

What strategies do you recommend to maintain work-life balance?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Top rated answers

Here are the 5 highest scoring answers by real-users for this IELTS Writing Task 2 Problem and Solution topic.

Band 6-7

IELTS Learner

2 months 18 days ago

In today's internet world we have the luxury of working from anywhere in the world due to advanced internet and laptops. On the outer surface, working from home or anywhere seems like a gift but due to the advanced communication setup like zoom or google meet, now team members of our organization can call us after office hours and extend the work timings leading to work-life balance issues. Lets look on why these scenarios occur and what are its impacts and steps to improve the work-life balance in detail below. Firstly, work-life balance issue occurs when there is no fixed shift timings. In my organization, we tend to collaborate with people from other timezones and because of these collaborations, there is no dedicated personal time to spend quality time with our families. Secondly, since we take our laptops back home with us, we are not separating ourselves from work. Before covid, every organization used to do most of their works in desktop and once we finish our work, there is no way we can able to access the work we did. Therefore, it is impossible for our leaders to ask for support during non-office hours but with the advent and rapid innovation of laptops and other communication apps like zoom now we are in a position to support onshore teams due to dependency. Owing to these work-life imbalances, we are now seeing a surge in diseases like cardiac arrest, blood pressure and dry eye due to long hours of looking into system without doing any physical work. Not only physical health but also we are having people admitted for psychological evaluation too. Recently, Companies are taking steps in improving both mental and physical health of their employees by providing gym membership and access to meditation apps like Calma. More awareness is being created by the government as well . One simple method I follow to overcome work-life imbalances is to set status about my work time so that when people text me or call me they know that I am out of office in these hours. I also maintain a document which I share with all my colleagues where I add my work details so that they are also updated accordingly. To conclude, Health is wealth is not only a proverb but also holds and adds massive value to those who are following the proverb. To be a successful and respectful human being, we need to concentrate more on physical and mental heath which will indirectly increase your value in your job.

Band 6-7

IELTS Learner

2 months 20 days ago

In recent times maintaining work-life balance great challenge; as it is very hard to cope with changing society and stress. Many complain that life has become difficult on top of that their personal lives are on a verge of extinction. Another thing is many marital problems and mental disorders are affecting minds. People have been working more than required in order to achieve more success and benefits, hence to provide a better life for themselves and their future generations. Moreover this has created no quality time spending with family and friends; lack of communication indirectly surplus barriers in relationship and increases stress. However the greed of achievement, technology, financial gains, fame and luxury are contributing factors which indirectly creates workaholic individuals. For instance many are working day and night shifts which in turn also affects their sleep and health. Apparently one has to make a stategy in order to solve these problems; I recommend planning the day prior and setting small goals instead of bigger ones. Furthermore it is vital that one dedicates ample time for loved ones to keep the chemistry and feelings alive. I advice to take breaks from work and plan a holiday minimum twice a year and weekends to spend leisure time. In addition destressing activities like meditation and yoga helps us to reduce negativity and upgrades our positivity and mental, physical stength thus welcoming peace within us. In conclusion it is essential to work on ourself in order to keep the balance intact and prioritizing what is important to us as human beings.

Band 6-7

IELTS Learner

2 months 25 days ago

Many individuals are facing difficulties in maintaining their jobs and personal lives these days. This is because people are more career-oriented nowadays, leading to a cut-throat competition in the job market. Secondly, the companies have long working hours, this hardly leaves time for oneself. I believe that these issues can be eliminated by following the western work culture and creating strong boundaries which will be further discussed in the essay. To commence with, jobs have become an inseperable part of a person's life. More and more people are getting educated, they want to be successful and financially independant. The number of jobs in the market are same compared to the number of applicants. Companies are taking the benefit of this situation to exploit their workers demanding to work longer hours. Furthermore, the employer's global presence also contributes to the mismanaged work life as meetings with international clients gets extended due to time differences. For example, in a recent survey conducted by The Times, employees working at MNC'S reported that they are sleep deprived and hardly get some time for personal care due to unusual working hours. Sometimes they work 12 to 16 hours straight when required. To address this issue, several solutions can be considered. This can be started by creating strong boundaries at workplace and not working more than the required number of hours and take personal timeoff whenever necessary. Additionally, this problem can be sorted if the companies start following western work culture. For instance, in Canada, the employers are not supposed to contact any employee

Band 6-7

IELTS Learner

3 months 1 day ago

Work-life balance is essential for every individual irrespective of their field or profession. However, In most of the situations it is difficlut for people to maintain both work and personal life in terms of various factors. This essay elucidates on the challenges and attainable measures to resolve the challenge. To begin with, the major cause of this problem is the time management and work pressure. Particularly, the problem starts with the mode of the job done by the people in many cases it is observed due to the inadequate salary many populance are performing dual jobs to fulfill their needs, which in turn affects the time spending on their personal life. In addition, almost all the companies are persuading their employees to work for extra hours in a week to complete the commitment earlier for customer satisfaction this eventually creates a pressured work environment. For instance, Infosys had recently announced their hires to work for 6 days and no incentives has been introduced for the loss of one day in thier weekend, which actually turned into a serious discussion in the city. The possible solution for this acute problem could be starting with the waging system of the organisation, because if the payroll is increased that resolves the requirement of acquiring multiple jobs, and provides satisfaction. Secondly, managing the planning of assignment, and priortizing the tasks provides a clear vision on the deadlines predominantly supports on decreasing in work pressure hence, the duties are under control. To illustrate this, as stated in BBC, few organisations have established a remote working model with conditional requirements and allowing the hired man to produce their productivity on their own pace within the end time to arrival has been a great success. To summarize, in my opinion the best strategies to settle the issues in work-life balance can be concluded if provided with liberty to work and shine with self paced environments, achievable targets, and decent income.

Band 6-7

IELTS Learner

3 months 4 days ago

To start with , young minds are not able to maintain a well balanced work and personal life due to constant pressure of performing well at work place and at the same time maintaining a good personal relationship with friens and families. This piece of writing will discuss what are the main causes behind this shift and few of the methids to adapt in order to have well balanced work-life. To start with , as we are rapidly shifting towards a digital revolution and constantly there is a learning curve that is required to keep up with the competition and to perform well among our peers. This constant shift adds a immense pressure at our work places to keep innovating and moving ahead. Furthermore, due to digital accessibillity to one another using social media as lead to think that we as human being are primitve social animal and do require a constant interaction with fellow beings to help us maintain a good mental and physical lifestyle. To quote a example : we are so immersed in our work and performance ,eventually that has lead to many of us not having time to take care of our elderly parents and gradually deteriorate their health and in-turn effecting our work-life balance furthermore. In contrast to problems , there are good amount methods and ways to organise yourself to improve your balance betweek work and personal life. The best practice is to draw a border between work and life and know when to switch between them and not inter-connect.Switching off your mails and work messages post work hours can help evantually maintain a good balance. Along with this , In this digital era we tend to isolate ourselves with social media rather than to interact with friends and fellow beings which is highly recommended to help ourself. To conclude , yes there has been challenges in maintaining balance between personal and profession life, However as we evaulate our strategies and well sought out plan we can eventualy over come the issue and have well laid out work-life balance.

All Answers

Here are all the answers by real-users practicing writing for IELTS writing Task 2 Problem and Solution on our IELTS Prep App.

Band 6-7

IELTS Learner

11 months 1 day ago

In current era, more individuals have raised concerns in sustaining proper work-life balance. It can be due to several reasons. In my opinion, primary reason for this can be manpower shortage in companies. To illustrate with this, in my company, the admin department for whole unit is manned by a single individual. He has multiple job responsibilties to do in a limited time-frame which hampers with his work-life balance as he tends to work overtime on a frequent basis. Secondly, individuals are not having proper knowledge on effective time-management techniques & thirdly lack of policies & procedures in an organization on hybrid work culture which can promote wellness of employees and help in providing work-life balance are missing. There are some strategies which can help in maintaining work-life balance. Companies can do a manpower analysis based on job roles and responsibilities. They can also establish a system to track the working hours of employees and strict avoidance in employee working overtime to be avoided. Organisations can also follow 4 days work and 3 days off approach to promote work-life balance among employees. Learning modules on time-management tools like - Pomodoro technique, which helps in effecient use of time without reducing productivity, then Eisenhower matrix, which helps in priortizing tasks as per their level of importance and lastly an effective tool of delegating jobs to ensure effient use of time, can be widely promoted among employees. Post Pandemic era, I have seen a change in many multiple multi-national conglomerates and organisations wherein they have started adapting these hybrid work culture to promote wellness among employees. This have drastically reduced employee's attrition rate & it has not only contributed in maintaining a healthier work-life balance but have also increased productivity of employees.

Band 6-7

IELTS Learner

11 months 3 days ago

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance has become increasingly challenging in today's fast-paced world. There are several reasons for this issue, including long working hours, technological advancements, and societal pressures. To begin with, many workplaces demand extended hours to meet deadlines or achieve targets. This often leaves with little time for personal life. Moreover, the rise of digital technology has blurred the boundaries between work and home. Emails, messages, and tasks can now follow employees outside office hours, making it difficult to disconnect. Therefore, social expectations to excel professionally while managing family responsibilities add to the pressure, especially for working parents. To address this problem, several strategies can be implemented. Setting clear boundaries is crucial; for instance, workers should avoid responding to work-related emails during personal time. Employers can also promote flexible working hours or remote work to help individuals manage their time better. Furthermore, engaging in regular activity, medication or hobbies can help reduce stress and maintain mental well-being. Another effective strategy is prioritization. By focusing on essential tasks and delegating where possible, individuals can free up time for personal pursuits. Hence, organizations should foster a supportive culture by encouraging employees to take breaks, use their vacation days, and avoid overworking. In conclusion, while achieving work-life balance is challenging, adopting practical strategies and encouraging a healthier workplace culture can significantly alleviate the issue. This not only benefits staff but also improves productivity and job satisfaction. Employers and employees must work together to create an environment where personnel and professional lives can coexist harmoniously. Ultimately, prioritising mental well-being and setting boundaries will lead to a happier and more sustainable lifestyle.

Band 6-7

IELTS Learner

11 months 25 days ago

We all know that work plays a very important role in everyone's life as it helps to shape a person's identity, stucture our time and helps us to come in contact with others. In today's fast-paced society people in the work force are finfing it difficult to accomplish their targets within Friday and hence, donot find a breath of fresh air in the weekend. Unsatisfied by their weekend, they dread for another week of work coming up and the never cycle that continues henceforth. Work-life balance doesnot mean an equal balance, It means the power to remain competetive at work while maintaining a healthy and happy lifestyle at home. It means achieving the goals at work as well as having ample time for leisure. In contemporary societies, employees have started to work over a long period of time which leads to burn out, fatigue and irritability amongst them. Consequently, this is reducing their performance and credibility at work. Due to the inflexibility of work timings, employees are working for multiple shifts which in turn is making them lack interest and interaction with their own families. In today's world, both men and women enjoy high social recognition which is making them take unsolicited stress in their working environment. The strains are creationg irreversible negative impact on their psychological as well as physiological health which in turn is having a negative impact on cardio-vascular, respiratory systems. Their entire immune system is degenerating because mostly people are working on computers and leading a sedentary lifestyle. The most important way to handle this growing issue of job-life balance is to schedule time. Companies specially their Human Resource depatments should proactively fix weekly hours of service. Additionally, giving an extra day-off and having on-site meal availability can help the employees to keep a check on their health as well. Health and medical insurance should be offered to the employees and provision should be there for open spaces or a gym inside the office premises. Moreover, Employee Assistance program can be held from time to time to keep personal issues at bay and have a control over Mental health also. Lastly, paid vacations can help rejuvenate the employees and this should be a part of the package. Thus, work-life balance is about creating and maintaining an inclusive atmosphere so that work and personal life can be managed and employee performance and satisfaction can be improved.

Band 6-7

IELTS Learner

12 months ago

I agree with the idea that maintaining work-life balance has become a major issue for all working professionals. This has become one of the major reasons for people experiencing physical and mental issues like back pain, anxiety, and depression. Individuals don't have enough time to spend some personal hours with their friends and family, whereas vacations are considered a luxury. This leads to boredom among the office workers due to their monotonous life. Now, it's time to discuss the reasons behind the imbalance in the professional and personal lives of people. One of the major causes of this problem is the unfair working hours and inadequate salary. Most of the people work the usual 9-to-5 jobs six days a week, which makes up almost 50 working hours a week. Moreover, a large quantity of employees are asked to work overtime even on the weekends just for a mere amount of overtime pay. Nevertheless, most of the workers agree to do overtime to save more money, and they end up sacrificing their health for it. For example, one of my friends has been working as a data analyst at a renowned firm for a year and a half, and she has been working almost seven days a week so that she can put aside some money for her higher studies. I have always felt that she has not been receiving enough salary for the hard work she has been investing in this company. Hence, this proves my statement that insufficient pay and unhealthy working hours are the two major reasons for imperfect work-life balance. We can take several measures to maintain strong work-life stability. Firstly, companies can organize a field trip every month, which will help the employees freshen up their minds and have better performance at work. Secondly, employers should also consider providing a few paid leaves to their employees, so that they can spend some quality time with their loved ones. Lastly, the offices should also provide some incentives, like holidays, gift cards, or a small bonus to motivate their workers. To sum up, I believe that having a proper work-life balance will always prove to be helpful to the firms in the long run, as the employees are one of the crucial parts of its success. If the employees are not happy or satisfied, their performance will be affected, which will directly impact the company's goals. Therefore, providing adequate stipends and incentives, along with a healthy work schedule is very important for both the corporation and its staff.

Band 6-7

IELTS Learner

12 months ago

Maintaining work-life balance seems like a difficult task these days as work is prioritized over physical and mental well-being. This appears to be the case among several working individuals as workplace demands attention round the clock. This essay will present resons why work-life balance is difficult to manage, while stating solutions to how to overcome the same. The workforce experiences burn-out easily as they are unable to catch a break from work, this further grows into neglecting ones needs and only focus on work. As a result of growing in an reward-based education system, by the time children grow up, they suffer the need to take up work as a priority, similar to when studies were given more weightage as compared to extra-curricular activities in childhood. Furthermore, a lack of maintaining boundaries at workplace can also lead to exacting work. For instance, over-time is seen as a badge of honor in certain offices, and if one expresses resistance, it can lead to set-backs afterwards. Aother reason is employees who work from home can also experience stress from work throughout the day, as they cannot simply disconnect from work, this was the case during the COVID pandemic as well, which lead to a great deal of workers feel exhausted as home became their workplace. However, there are several practises that can help in maintaining work-life balance. Firstly, creating healthy work boundaries, this will help by restricting work to certain hours of the day. Secondly, practicing time-management and looking for activities outside of work. This will help build focus and boost productivity during work hours. For example creating hobbies and participating in community activities, will encourage individuals to take time out of work and maintain their mental and plysical health. In conclusion, even though work demands a lot attention and is important, it can be taxing at times. Hence, it is important to balance work and activities out-side of work. This not only improves one's work productivity but also builds a well-rounded lifestyle.

Band 6-7

IELTS Learner

1 year ago

Work life balance is of utmost importance if professionals have to live life to the fullest and be joyful. In today's scenario, stress is a term that has been increasingly used and mental health issues amongst working individuals is alarmingly increasing, almost exponentially. A tactical approach is most definitely required, to estabilish work life balance at different professional spheres. Every employee in every workspace, does face difficulty, at one time or another in maintaining harmony between their job and daily life. Firstly, if one does not enjoy and love the occupation he/she is in, then achieving stability and happiness becomes an arduous task for life in general. Going to work should be something one looks forward to on a daily basis, but this is easier said than done. So it is a personal responsibility, to select an appropriate field of work, tailored to ones own needs and interests. Nevertheless, many professionals are not at liberty to work at places they like. This being said, the work environment is crucial aspect in constructing a healhty mindset. Work incentives, bonuses, allowances with adequate off days from work, all help in an individual in spending quality time with family and pursuing ones own interests outside of work. Understanding and cooperative colleagues further aid this process. At an individual level, discipline is to be practiced in not over working or indulging in laziness. Techniques like meditation, sports and short vacations help in disseminating one responsibilities inside and outside of work more seamlessly as both mind and body are kept optimally functioning. To conclude, work life balance is something that has to be consciously worked at to achieve a more than satisfactory quality of living.

Band 6-7

IELTS Learner

1 year ago

These days various individuals grumble about the hardships they face in continuing work-life schedule.This can be seen as hectic work as well as pressure from the boss and many other things.Both the cases and strategies are discussed below. In my understanding as I have seen the growing number of adults struggling to make job and personal life fulfilment mainly due to tiring work time table.This has been the quintessential among workers as they are not able to give their time to their families,thus making them vulnerable to not only physical health problems as well as mental health problems.These days employees after coming from work have also been given tasks to complete them at their home just to meet their deadlines thus making it difficult for them to concentrate on their personal life.For example,if an employe is putting extra hours and not getting enough credit,however not only is he not being awarded but he is getting extra work to complete in his personal life and making him emotionally as well as mentally drained. There are various strategies to tackle this growing situation.First and foremost is to reduce the number of working hours so that worker can not be put under scanner for finishing the work before the deadline.When we reduce the time it gives them the sense of ease and moreover they can work more hardly as compared to before.Secondly,there should be few breaks during the day so that they can go and have some chat with their colleagues or call their family members,in that way they can feel relaxed,furthermore that will help them to concentrate on their job really well.For instance,if an individual will receive a sense of encouragement from his boss even though the task his employee achieved was really small but eventually that will help him to grow and in near future employee will work more efficiently. To conclude this workers struggling to maintain work-life balance is mainly due to hectic work schedule and pressure from the bosses.However,the strategies would be to reduce the number of working hours and not to give additional tasks while they are at home.

Band 6-7

IELTS Learner

10 months 29 days ago

Nowadays the global issues like unemployment, competitive environment, poor wages have caused several problems to the masses. In recent times, people find it challenging to maintain the balance in work and life ofter lead to issues like stress, avoid social interaction and being isolated. There can be many reasons but a few are discussed below. The definite reason for losing work-life balance is for the survival of the fittest as there is disproportionate between the jobs and population. The rise in population causes job scarcity which pressurise individual to work for long hours in the workplace. They often ignore the life after office. For example, threating the employees for overtime is a bad practice as they are being pressurise to work. Another cause can be achieving a luxurious life by working for more time even on week-offs. It deterioate their physical as well as mental health because they avoid social gatherings and they end up with stress and anxiety. However, there can be few solutions to these problems. Fistly, organisations shound encourage the employee to participating in physical activities to enhance their well- being and productivity. For instance, equiping the office with sports activity or by providing subsidized gym membership can improve their on work life. Secondly, allow them to take week-offs and spend time with family and interact with people outside the office. Prevent them from overtime so that the time can be spend at home or enjoy leisure activities like watching movies or shopping. To conclude, imbalance in work and life can cause disruption in individual's life and overall health in terms of stress, chronic diseases. To mitigate these challenges, organisations and employees have to work together and formulate the comprehensive plan of action to deal with it like providing rewards to finish work within the office hoursor arranging an outing with the peers. It will benefit the individual and society as a whole.

Band 6-7

IELTS Learner

10 months 28 days ago

Keeping a harmonious balance between office and home is the need of the hour. Especially after the pandemic, working from home became the new normal which definitely brought people closer to their families but also overburdened them with the dual responsibility. In this essay I will expand my view on these new ways of working and discuss some strategies on how to manage them. While working from home is a win-win for regular office goers as it saves their travel time and gives them the ease of working at the comfort of their homes but it also makes it difficult for them to define their working hours. Sometimes, people are so engrossed in their work that they even forget to keep a track of day and night. In this new set up, the office management also expects them to work some extra hours to compensate for the time they save in travelling. On top of that, managing the house while working from home is also not a easy task. The expectations of the family also paramounts to see their parents or partners around. They demand more time and sometimes forget that working from home doesn't mean that they can get more time together and the line between these aspects starts to blur. Therefore, it is imperative for professionals to strategize and strike the right balance between these two areas of their life. The most significant point is for employess to be disciplined even when working from homes and spend the stipulated office hours dedicatedly. They should not become lenient with the luxury and ease of home. It is pivotal for them to have a defined space in the house for work purpose only, so that they do not merge the two situations at home. Another important point is to have a quality time with the family. One should not be over indulged in ones work that they forget about the family and their needs. After all that's the silver lining in this entire scenario. I believe if one can just work on these two primitive yet very crucial aspects of this new work life, they will be able to find the solution to this problem. At the end, none of the aspects are complete in themselves. They are work best when in tandem and with harmony.

Band 6-7

IELTS Learner

10 months 24 days ago

In this fast-paced world that we presently reside, we can see advancements in every field, may it be technology, travel or food, the only aspect that has not improved is managing our professional career along with our personal lives. Work-Life balance is still a hot topic. In a recent study done to understand the root cause, researchers found out that during Covid 2020, most companies were forced to ask their employees to work from home, during this phase many of the employees found themselves distracted by the numerious activities happening all around them in their homes, due to which they were not able to focus on their jobs, the result of this was that they needed to extend their working hours to ensure their daily tasks were completed. A strategy that can be implemented in this situation is that the employee must create a schedule where they completely isolate themselves from all distractions at home and only focus on their work to ensure they are not compromising on their personal time. Another reason highlighted was that alot of employees would put in additional hours to meet the unrealistic timelines of their companies, which again caused them to lose out on their personal time. . Here the employees needs to again allign their goals at the very begining of their project lifecycles and create a timeline of every task along with a additional time, this will ensure their are not overworked and can maintain work-life balance. To conclude, work-life balance can be maintained provided a person is diciplined and implement a few strategies, where they remove all distractions and creating a timeline to ensure all tasks are completed on time.

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