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Some ways to achieve that elusive work-life balance
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While some might disregard it as a myth, work-life balance can be found. Often, it's just in how you look at it. - photo by Sarah Anderson
Sarah Anderson
Deseret News
Published: Aug 7, 2016, 5:19 PM
Work-life balance is one of those terms that gets thrown around in workplace culture, but what does it really mean? And how can a person achieve it?

Managing work and a personal life is difficult enough that 60 percent of 2,000 working Americans surveyed reported an unhealthy work-life balance, with little to no time to unwind after work, with a third of respondents stating that they work too hard, according to Glamour.

The survey concluded Americans would need four extra hours per day to get everything they need done and also relax, Glamour noted.

But before dismissing work-life balance as an unattainable myth, consider these tips from themuse.com:

  • Follow an established morning and bedtime routine to make sure days start and end on the right note. Nighttime rituals especially serve as a signal to your body that its time to wind down for sleep.
  • Get some physical activity to free up stress by something as small as walking or biking to work.
  • Take some quiet time, such as taking lunch away from your desk, and time for creative expression, which lets you channel negative feelings in a productive way. It can be something as simple as writing a blog post.
  • When assigned an important project at work, talk to your boss about expectations and potential difficulties, to be better prepared and feel more in control.
One problem that leaves some workers floundering for balance is that habits and techniques used at an earlier age dont always translate well into adulthood, jamaica-gleaner.com noted.

Remember when you were 16 years old and could consume copious amounts of sweet, fatty, greasy foods? Francis Wade, author of "Perfect Time-Based Productivity," wrote. Now, that very same behaviour gets you in trouble because your metabolism has slowed to a crawl.

Take that same approach when considering what will work to attain success now, not when you were younger.

Lifehacker.com said the term work-life balance is a misleading one. Instead of viewing the concept as an inflexible balancing act, lifehacker.com suggested looking at the issue in terms of boundaries.

Its fine to value stability, but since life isnt still, putting balance on a pedestal is problematic, Lauren Laitin wrote. Instead, there are three ways a person can set boundaries:

  • Set boundaries daily, according to the days priorities and your previous commitments.
  • Establish your boundaries with others, such as when to talk about work with your significant other or how often you can meet with coworkers after work.
  • If you can't live up to those boundaries, redefine them so you can.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
Deseret News
Published: Aug 13, 2018, 1:39 PM
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.