The art of work-life balance

Work-life balance – it’s the buzzword of the decade. And for good reason!

But the question is: have the foundations actually been laid down to help employees achieve it? At White Rose Park, we absolutely understand the importance of keeping your work and personal life in check – because we want to ensure our community thrives both in and out of the office.

So, what measures are we implementing to take work-life balance from a buzzword to a business practice? Let’s take a look…

What does work-life balance actually mean?

First up, it’s important to understand what work-life balance is. But here’s the thing – it’s different for everyone. So it’s important to understand what that balance is for you. It’s not necessarily a 50-50 split between work and leisure. It’s more about making sure you feel content in both areas of your life, whatever that split is. And ultimately, it’s important to recognise when it’s not healthy.

Work-life balance is all about being able to juggle work commitments as well as your personal and family responsibilities. But you need to separate the two and ensure work isn’t lingering in the back of your mind while you’re trying to go to sleep, cook your dinner or relax with family and friends.

What are the benefits of a healthy work-life balance?

The benefits of the right balance are too long to list. Just to name a few, it can improve your physical and mental health, increase job satisfaction, improve your sleep, and help you maintain stronger relationships with family and friends. A win-win!

Achieving work-life balance at White Rose Park

We’re always keen to promote a healthy balance at White Rose Park, and we have all kinds of initiatives in place to help achieve it. However, before we get into that, we firstly want to encourage and emphasise how important it is to think about setting realistic goals. Everyone has a life outside of work, and you need to consider it when thinking about the right balance for you. We’re all different and that’s important to recognise.

Here’s just a few of the ways we’re helping our community blend their personal and professional lives:

On-site amenities

White Rose Park is a campus environment where people can work well, be productive and enjoy various aspects of life with ease – which is where our on-site amenities and those close by come in.

For those wanting to stay active and healthy, our Outdoor Training Park is equipped with state-of-the-art kit, to ensure everyone on-site can get into a regular fitness regime – without the worry, stress or time commitment of going to a separate gym. You don’t even need to wait until after work to get your workout in – the facility is open 24/7 to ensure you can slot it in around your day-to-day life – whether that be before work, during your lunch break or later in the evening.

And if you’re a little unsure where to start, we offer free personal training sessions to ensure everyone has the knowledge and skills to continue their fitness journey in the long-run. Not forgetting our weekly yoga sessions that anyone can join in with!

But that’s not all. We’re located adjacent to the White Rose Shopping Centre, which is perfect for those who might need to take a break from work and indulge in some retail therapy. With over 100 stores, restaurants, and leisure facilities – including a cinema and escape room – there is something for everyone.

Maximising your commute

Though we understand that traffic will always be unpredictable, we feel lucky to be centrally located in the midst of the key surrounding communities – such as Cottingley, Morley and Churwell.

For those who prefer to ditch the car and travel actively, we’re already situated in a prime location for walking and cycling to work. We’re always trying to improve sustainable transportation to the Park, implementing a bike loan initiative, and ensuring our undercover bicycle parking is safe and secure. That way, our community can commute to work and get their exercise in, all at the same time – no need to worry about doing your after-work workout.

And if that wasn’t enough, the White Rose Railway Station will be welcoming passengers on-board in early 2024, which will provide a 4-minute link between Leeds City Centre and White Rose Park; as well as improved walking and cycling routes to and from the local area.

Flexible working arrangements

Our high-spec office spaces are complemented by vibrant green spaces and courtyards that provide employees with some place to go away from the desk. These spaces are perfect for informal meetings, brainstorming sessions, or just catching up with colleagues – you don’t need to limit yourself to the office.

In addition to the breakout spaces, the Park is also open 24/7, meaning that our tenants have the flexibility to offer their team something beyond the standard 9-5. Our community can work at a time that suits them best, whether that’s early in the morning or late at night. With multi-level, intelligent security systems, anyone on-site can work with peace-of-mind that their safety is our top priority – whatever time of day it is.

We understand flexible working arrangements are essential to achieving work-life balance. Everyone has different needs, and we strive to provide a work environment that accommodates all. Whether you need a quiet space to focus or the freedom to work outside of traditional business hours, we’ve got you covered.

Free health and wellness support

Our community also has access to our leading wellness provision, HealthNav. Powered by zeno, it offers a range of tools to support physical and mental well-being – completely free of charge.

The app includes a variety of features, including guided meditations, nutrition advice, and fitness challenges, alongside free wellness resources and tips on everything from stress management to sleeping tips. It’s our way of supporting our community in all aspects of their life – personally and professionally.

The app is easy to use and can be accessed from anywhere, making it perfect for the people who are always on the go. We understand that supporting wellbeing – physical and mental – is integral for overall health, happiness and productivity.

Work well, live happy!