The Outer Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland, has been crowned the best place to live in Great Britain for work-life balance, according to money.co.uk's 2021 Work-Life Balance Index.
As more of us continue to work from home due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the personal finance experts at money.co.uk delved through ONS data to uncover where in Britain is best situated to achieve a good work-life balance.
Those living on the glorious islands of the Outer Hebrides were found to have a good balance of working hours every week, a significantly low unemployment rate, solid annual pay increases, and an abundance of nature around them.
While the idyllic Scottish island scooped the top spot thanks to its positive lifestyle-related factors, West Devon took second place, while North East Derbyshire, East Dunbartonshire and Newcastle-under-Lyme round up the top five.
'Maintaining a good work-life balance is important however, it is often easier said than done, especially right now,' says Salman Haqqi, personal finance expert at money.co.uk. 'Juggling the pressures of home and work life during a pandemic is not easy but making time for yourself and reducing the amount of demands you put on yourself is key.'
The study also found that workers living in both the South East of England and Scotland have the best work-life balance, while Londoners are the most overworked.
Planning to make a move? Take a look at the full list below...
- Outer Hebrides, Scotland
- West Devon, South West
- North East Derbyshire, East Midlands
- East Dunbartonshire, Scotland
- Newcastle-under-Lyme, West Midlands
- Sefton, North West
- Arun, South East
- Orkney Islands, Scotland
- High Peak, East Midlands
- Babergh, East of England
- St Albans, East of England
- Tanbridge, South East
- Havant, South East
- Melton, East Midlands
- Highland, Scotland
- Gravesham, South East
- Fylde, North West
- Stratford-on-Avon, West Midlands
Lauren Paton, founder of Be Unleashed Coaching, adds: 'Work-life balance used to be about the separation of professionals from home life but thanks to the pandemic many of us are living, working, teaching and parenting all in the same space so the lines are incredibly blurred.
'It's more important than ever to find ways to create a balance, to avoid burnout, protect our mental health and reduce anxiety. Setting impossible goals for self-care can actually cause us more stress, so sometimes it's about making small changes throughout the day which help to redress the balance.'
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New home gifts: 20 really good housewarming gift ideas
This is a bestseller for a reason. This lovely gift set from The White Company includes the Seychelles signature candle, room spray and diffuser for a home that will smell truly delightful. This scent combines notes of evocative bergamot, bright orange and fresh coconut, with a hint of green jasmine, warming amber and buttery vanilla. Divine!
If you're looking for a practical housewarming gift, you can't go wrong with Smeg. If your recipient has a penchant for sky blue shades (and getting hands-on in the kitchen), then snap up this fabulous blender set for endless uses.
This antique-style candle holder is a brilliant gift for the person who appreciates a good tablescape. They can use it to dress their dinner table or simply style on a sideboard. It's handmade and crafted from high quality chromed steel with a brass finish, which gives it that antique look. Don't forget to buy some taper candles so they can set the scene right away!
This stainless steel map location key holder displays the location of a new home, the address and chosen names. It's a great idea that not only pays homage to a new neighbourhood, but keeps keys safe and in one place!
Is it a vase? Is it a book? This rather beautiful ceramic vase, shaped like a hardback book, is perfect for displaying dried flowers. Decorated like a classic novel with pretty floral details, this would ideally look at home on a bookshelf or mantel.
Championing consciously designed interiors, Nkuku is one of our favourites for quality, crafted pieces that will stand the test of time. A perfect new home gift, this decanter made from recycled glass has a lovely etched detailing on the base. If you've got a generous budget, buy the set of four tumblers to match.
Peonies are fleeting beauties and this lovely coffee table book captures this beloved flower in abundance. Not just for show, inside you'll find photos of blooming peonies alongside fascinating botanical knowledge and an overview of the plant's cultural history by author Anja Klaffenbach. The book series includes succulents, roses, orchids and lilies, so the whole (rather colourful) set would make a lovely housewarming gift for green-fingered types.
This one's a kitchen must-have. Other than chopping up vegetables for dinner, this round acacia wood board is a rustic way to serve up canapés and other tasty treats. Carved by hand in India, it's shaped and chiselled using traditional woodworking techniques.
Buying a housewarming gift for a new plant parent? You can't go wrong with an unkillable bundle. The set includes the cast iron plant, robusta rubber plant and the snake plant.
Make every coffee break a bright one with this cup and saucer set, just like those used across all the Grind cafés. We love the rich red glossy glaze and contrasting white trim on the plate and inner cup. You can choose from espresso (80ml), flat white (180ml) and cappuccino (200ml).
Organisation is key when creating a streamlined home, so we think this Kate Spade letter tray would make the perfect gift. It can be positioned on a console table or desk to collate letters and ensure everything remains in one place.
Even for those who prefer a neutral, pared-back home, the kitchen is an ideal space to introduce colour. We love these vibrant salt and pepper grinders by Alessi (sold separately) that will perfectly transition from a kitchen worktop to a dining table.
Another kitchen essential, budding or keen cooks will no doubt appreciate the viral Always Pan. No meal is off-limits with this colourful duo.
A kitchen staple, you can never have too many tea towels in our opinion. We've added these to the list because any style-conscious lover will appreciate the beauty of William Morris prints!
These glazed pastel stacking heart bowls are simply beautiful. Painted with reactive glazes, each has a distinctive finish which makes it all the more unique.
For the person who loves a scented home, choose from three scents: Black Pomegranate (black), Sea Grass (navy) and Nag Champa (mustard yellow). The set includes a gold foiled presentation box with 15 handcrafted incense sticks.
Give the gift of a lovely new photo frame, perfect for a sideboard or home office. This one's finished with an on-trend scalloped-edge in a glossy mid-blue hue.
Practical gifts will always be appreciated. The perfect home greeting, this rectangular coconut fibre doormat emblazoned with the word 'welcome' is a must-have for a new abode.
This is a brilliant personalised new home gift for cheese lovers. Sure to take pride of place in the kitchen, it can be personalised with a name of your choosing. It's cleverly designed too, with a hidden compartment containing a set of cheese knives.
There are some items that will always have a place in the home, and a versatile bowl is one of them. This one is made from intricately woven black seagrass and finished with a criss cross decorative pattern.
