Will a flexible MBA help me maintain a work-life balance?

The benefits of doing an MBA speak for themselves. After all, 74% of all AIB alumni have had a salary increase since graduating, and 90% claim that they enhanced their professional value. But the path to professional success isn’t always easy – even ambitious go-getters can overextend themselves if they don’t have a game plan.

With years of experience and thousands of successful MBA students under his wing, Course Advisor Trevor Mann understands the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance while studying. Thankfully, AIB offers flexible programs and courses to cater to everyone’s lifestyle. We spoke to Trevor to find out his top tips on how to maintain a work-life balance while pursuing an MBA.

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Why is work-life balance important?

A harmonious work-life balance can mean different things for different people. For some, it can be making a bigger impact at work without sacrificing your personal health or happiness. For others, it can be having strong boundaries that they are confident in enforcing.

For students, work-life balance is essential to maintaining strong relationships at home. “The vast majority of AIB’s MBA students have families,” Trevor states. “My philosophy is that family comes first. Thankfully, our MBA program is geared towards making your professional goals possible around your family life. Our program works around you – everything’s online, and you can make the sacrifices you need to study and succeed.”

Whatever work-life balance means to you, there are several reasons why it’s important to maintain your work-life wellbeing.

It prevents burnout

Feeling stressed occasionally is normal – but completely burning out is not. According to The Help Guide, burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress.  And when it occurs, it can leave you feeling overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands.

By keeping a strong work-life sway, you can achieve a harmonious balance. This ensures that any stress you may have from work doesn’t follow you home, and you have time to decompress in a safe space.

It keeps you mentally and physically healthy

A good work-life blend results in less stress – and when you feel calmer, you’re more capable of dealing with negative emotions and thoughts. It also gives you the space to think clearly and become more self-aware.

Being mentally healthy has a positive impact on your body as well. When you feel centred, you can focus on:

• Eating healthy meals
• Reducing sugar and alcohol intake
• Sleeping well
• Exercising regularly.

It increases your engagement at work

15Five defines disengaged employees as people who are ‘not poised to put in extra effort for success. They don’t like going to work most days. They’re unlikely to recommend the products of, or employment with, their employer.’

A 2019 State of Global Workplace report by Gallup claims that only 14% of employees in Australia and New Zealand were engaged in their job roles, while 71% were disengaged and 15% were actively disengaged.

You’re more likely to be engaged in your work when you are happy and motivated. And engaged people are involved in, enthusiastic and committed to their careers. It also results in better workplace morale, more accountability and stronger communication.

Read: 3 Reasons Why Work-Life Balance Is Important

How to maintain a work-life balance while pursuing an MBA

Choose a flexible MBA program

When it comes to adding study into your already busy lifestyle, flexibility is the key to success. That’s why it’s important to choose a flexible MBA that fits into your schedule.

“It’s a big ask to get someone to commit to two years of study,” mentions Trevor. “At AIB, we take the ‘staged’ approach and offer a nest of qualifications. This means you can study in chunks or subjects – and I find that students think that eight months is far more palatable than two years.”

All 12 subjects are required to complete the MBA. However, if you need to exit the program early, you can still achieve a postgraduate qualification.

To make our Fast-Track MBA even more adaptable, course material is available online at all times. There are even multiple monthly start dates so you can enrol at a time that suits you. And best of all, you can take breaks in-between subjects to accommodate your lifestyle.

AIB’s flexible MBA gives new students the reassurance to complete their studies. “People have to give up so much to achieve their career goals – whether that’s family, work or both. So providing a flexible MBA gives them the confidence to pursue their studies.”

Use your diary effectively

Students often claim that there’s no better way to maintain a work-life balance than effective diary time. “Block out times in your diary to study and stick to them,” explains Trevor. “Be realistic with what you can achieve in that amount of time.”

Calculate how much time you can dedicate to study every week with our Time-To-Study Calculator.

Choose the right time

Before you commence your MBA, a dedicated Course Advisor will call you for an informal chat to determine your motivations, fears, wants and objections. “I call as many students as I can – but I’m not interested in rushing through the conversation,” says Trevor. “This is my chance to understand you. My aim is to give you perspective on what studying an MBA is like and give you confidence.”

“I’m very happy to take conversations to a personal level to build empathy and trust,” Trevor clarifies. “It’s about having a conversation about the right time. And I have told people before that now isn’t the right time – it might be for personal or family reasons. That’s because I want you to succeed and do the program that’s right for you.”

Delivered online with continual updates, innovations and new releases, the Fast-Track MBA offers genuine flexibility, industry insights, practical skills and the support you need to achieve your goals in our fast-changing world. It’s created for people just like you.

Learn more about it.