01 Jan How does a Life Coach Help in Tough Times?

Long hours, heavy workload, job insecurity, and conflicts at the workplace – this is just the tip of the iceberg of a hectic life. Most people fail to maintain a work-life balance and the result is, work becomes ‘life’ instead of a purpose that gives meaning to life.

Resentment and frustration of leading a purposeless life set in early these days. Most millennials feel burnt out in their mid-30s. This has become so common that mental health experts have coined a new term for this: quarter-life crisis. The lack of work-life balance not only causes stress but also starts affecting mental and physical well-being.

Here are some eye-opening statistics for you:

• According to Health and Safety Executives’ 2019 report, tight deadlines, too much responsibility, and a lack of managerial support were cited as main factors behind work-related stress, depression, or anxiety.
• The Labour Force Survey (LFS) found that 602,000 workers were suffering from stress, depression, or anxiety (new or longstanding) related to work during 2018-19. Businesses lost 12.8 million working days in treatment.

But why does work has to be this way? What can we do to find our purpose again?

As an answer, Stephen Hawking’s profound words come to mind, “One, remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Two, never give up work. Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it. Three, if you are lucky enough to find love, remember it is there, and don’t throw it away.”

And this is where a life coach comes in.

A life coach analyses factors that affect the health and mental well-being of an employee. They can help them find purpose and meaning in work again, enabling them to plan and envision for the future they desire.

Per an ICF Global Consumer Awareness Study 2014 report, 42% clients participated in work-life balance coaching relationships to “optimize individual/teamwork performance” while 33% clients took part to expand “career opportunities”.

The report adds that 31% of respondents participated to “increase self-esteem/self-confidence” and more than 93% who worked with a life coach had a positive experience.

Few areas where a life coach helps individuals in strategizing and envisioning their desired future step-by-step and have fulfilling work goals are:

•  Health – Supporting individuals to eat healthy and workout for at least 25-30 minutes every day.
• Home life – At home, encouraging individuals to focus on their family responsibilities.
• Work life – At work, encouraging them to focus on using work hours productively.

• Boundaries – Aiding employees to set boundaries at work and empowering them to yes and no.

• Warning signs – Teaching individuals to recognize factors that trigger stress. Some common signs include distraction and sweating when being still, increased heart rate, and so on.

• Mindfulness – Supporting ways in which individuals learn to separate their sense of self from work activities and performance.
• New experiences – Encouraging individuals to indulge in new experiences, such as trying a new dish, finding a new hobby, or even meeting new people during social events.
• Unplugging – Implementing technology curfew to help employees “unplug” from work and shift their focus towards their personal growth.

A life coach thus improves the quality of work and brings back abundance in the personal life of an individual.