The Dangers of Not Having a Work-Life Balance for Brit-Asians

Achieving and sustaining a work-life balance for British Asians can be extremely difficult. Challenges emerge and are influenced by family and cultural expectations and systemic pressures.

Twenty-four-year-old British Bengali Ahmed said:

“It isn’t easy, not with the price of things. Living a good basic life ain’t easy. And we come from families where working is built in.

“I’ve been worked like f***ing mad, and thanks to how our world is, it ain’t making a dent in getting the house and security.

“It wasn’t just long hours. It was pressure to work harder. My bosses can replace me; they’re nice, but at the end of the day, I’m a worker, that’s it.

“And not worth mentally taking on too much. We got to feel less guilty for chilling.”

Ahmed’s frustration and struggles underscore the significant pressure faced by Brit-Asians and the cultural guilt that must be addressed.

Not having a work-life balance, for example, can severely harm physical and mental health.

Work demands, personal responsibilities, and family roles can overburden British Asians. This can have significant consequences for those from Pakistani, Indian and Bengali backgrounds.

DESIblitz explores the dangers of not having a work-life balance for Brit-Asians.

Career Burnout and Productivity Decline

While overworking or dedicating oneself entirely to work might initially seem productive, it usually leads to reduced effectiveness.

Burnout, characterised by exhaustion, reduced job satisfaction, and declining efficiency, poses a significant risk for Brit-Asians who lack a proper work-life balance.

For British Asians, cultural emphasis on hard work amplifies the risks of burnout.

Employees experiencing burnout often take longer to recover, leading to higher absenteeism and lower overall productivity.

In 2019, the World Health Organisation (WHO) added burnout as an occupational phenomenon to its diagnostic manual of diseases.

The WHO positioned burnout as a syndrome resulting from chronic, unmanageable workplace stress.

Burnout and overworking are not just about working long hours.

Burnout isn’t about hours worked.

In fact, there are usually much deeper causes.

Leaders should start to recognize when it’s occurring,

And take steps to help.

Use this graphic to find causes of burnout in your organization. pic.twitter.com/3ujwr4XmIt

— George Stern (@georgestern) December 2, 2024

Stress and lack of rest diminish cognitive abilities and, thus, the quality of work output.

Over time, decision-making, creativity, and problem-solving skills decline, impacting productivity.

Harm to Physical Health

Work-life imbalance frequently results in neglecting physical health, with particularly concerning implications for British Asians.

Studies show South Asians in the UK have higher risks of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. This is partly due to genetic predisposition and lifestyle factors.

Stress caused by long working hours compounds these risks, leading to high blood pressure and cardiovascular issues.

The British Heart Foundation highlights how overwork impacts lifestyle choices like unhealthy eating and lack of exercise. Both are critical contributors to chronic conditions.

A lack of work-life balance often leads to sedentary habits, such as sitting for long periods and skipping exercise.

Prolonged work-life imbalance is linked to reduced life expectancy due to its cumulative effects on physical health.

Indeed, the WHO has highlighted that overworking contributes to premature mortality.

Mental Health Consequences

Prolonged work-life imbalance severely affects mental health. It can lead to anxiety, depression, and burnout.

Research highlights that Brit-Asians often describe emotional distress in non-medical terms. This can delay the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions.

Furthermore, research has shown that South Asians with mental health issues often interpret their symptoms as physical illnesses.

Consequently, they frequently do not seek the necessary psychological help.

British Pakistani Shabnam stated:

“For ages, I tried to suck it up and just carry on. I started struggling to sleep at night.”

“I started dry heaving, not eating much, some vomiting. Started getting headaches all the time, and before never did.

“The physical symptoms me and my family didn’t realise for ages were due to stress and anxiety. Then, when I went to the doctor, I discovered it was all linked.

“I was embarrassed for so long due to the stress linked to work and the pressure I put on myself to succeed.

“Got so bad. I used to see rest as my treat once I did what I needed to, but the work to-do list never ended.”

Shabnam’s words emphasise the interconnected nature of physical and mental health and the detrimental effects of a work-life imbalance.

Rest and leisure activities are critical for maintaining and strengthening mental health and well-being.

Strain on Relationships and Home Life

Work-life imbalance often strains family and social relationships. In many Brit-Asian households, individuals are expected to fulfil professional and familial obligations.

Excessive work commitments reduce time spent with family, which can put pressure on or weaken emotional bonds.

According to ONS data, a higher proportion of households were multi-generational in 2021 (2.1%) than in 2011 (1.8%).

Research highlights that insufficient family time often results in misunderstandings, especially in multi-generational households.

Accordingly, a work-life balance is essential to helping maintain relationships and a good home life.

Additionally, excessive work commitments may strain marital relationships when one or both partners are too busy.

Adil, a British Bengali, revealed: “Saving for a house and to have kids meant all I was doing was working.

“Came home, ate, and would sleep. I was spending no time with my wife and parents.

“My wife was doing everything at home, including looking after my parents and working. Me and her saw each other, but that’s it.

“It all finally burst and led to arguments. Then I got injured at work and realised my intentions, and hers were good, but how we were going about it needed to change.

“After months of arguing and then silent treatment, me and the wife finally talked.

“Realised we needed to re-evaluate what we wanted and what was possible with the cost of living struggles. It was all a wake-up call.”

The high cost of living makes it hard for Brit-Asians like Adil to find a work-life balance.

Work-life balance is essential for maintaining healthy, supportive relationships at home. Addressing this imbalance can prevent long-term damage to familial and marital bonds.

Burnout, Self-Care & Cultural Stigma

The cultural stigma surrounding mental health and self-care exacerbates the dangers of work-life imbalance.

British Asians may hesitate to address these issues openly, fearing judgment from the community, peers and family.

Burnout is a significant concern for South Asian professionals, shaped by socio-cultural and economic factors.

Psychologist Rashi Bilash stated: “The concept of burnout in the South Asian context is complex.

“It’s not just the weight of a demanding job but the weight of cultural expectations, the relentless pursuit of success, and the constant balancing act between honouring tradition and embracing modernity.

“For many, the very idea of burnout is synonymous with weakness.

“We’ve been raised with the belief that hard work is a virtue, and seeking help for mental health is a stigma.”

To combat and manage burnout and promote work-life balance, Brit-Asians must view rest as a necessity rather than a luxury.

Moreover, as many professionals like Bilash stress, there is a need to “normalise conversations around mental health”.

Work-life balance is critical for overall well-being and productivity.

There are steps people can take to facilitate work-life balance. However, the onus should not just be on employees.

In 2023, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence estimated that work-related anxiety and depression resulted in the loss of 13 million working days annually in the UK.

British Indian Saba* stressed: “Asians have this mentality of ‘you have to carry on, no matter what’, and that needs to change.

“My dad says, ‘When we came here, we didn’t have the time to indulge in rest’.

“He’s been working non-stop and hard for decades, no type of balance or anything close to it.

“And all the backbreaking and never-ending work he did without any rest, he is paying for now. His health isn’t great.”

“I’ve changed jobs where the employer had these ridiculous quotas they wanted us to fill.

“It meant unpaid overtime and stressing all the time. No personal time.

“I worked from home but was trapped in my room, only coming out for lunch and peeing.

“Some employers need to stop exploiting; some are crafty in how they exploit, but they do.

“Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to leave work or find another, and they have to suffer.”

Saba’s words illustrate that Brit-Asians face challenges in achieving balance due to cultural expectations, familial obligations, and professional demands.

Neglecting work-life balance often leads to physical health issues, mental health difficulties, and strained relationships.

These challenges also affect professional life, increasing burnout and lowering productivity. Isn’t it time to reflect on what truly matters?

Achieving balance is essential for health, emotional stability and fulfilling relationships.

Steps like prioritising health, saying no to additional work, and structuring routines can improve work-life balance. What changes can you start making today to achieve balance?