Balancing the scales of work, life in procurement duties

By Charles Nyika | Mar. 14, 2025

Procurement professionals are subjected to too much pressure due to the global different time zones. In this global village, there is always another supplier or someone, somewhere, who is awake and waiting for buyers to log on to their computers.

IF there are any lessons that have been learnt over the years, it is that everything we do in life will remain unknown and uncertain.

In this volatility, finding calm and clarity becomes even harder. In the intricate and high-stakes business arena of supply chain management, it would appear the hours in the normal working day are not long enough to accommodate the procurement’s ever uncertain workload, resulting in a workday that never truly comes to an end.

The procurement workload has always stretched the boundaries of a typical normal working day, interfering with personal commitments and rest periods for those in the profession.

More often than not, procurement professionals are always facing a tug-of-war between pressing deadlines, which are dead and personal family goals.

They are constantly swept up in a perfect storm of global volatility facing extra pressure and complexities in the course of their duties. Handling this kind of pressure is procurement’s daily grind.

There is always an obligation to send one more email before going home. Working in a procurement department, every day almost feels like there is always another curveball coming your way.

The human body was not designed to work on problems for hours on end. Working more hours will inevitably result in diminishing returns. It is not good for anyone’s mental well-being.

Keep Reading

Most procurement professionals continue to associate success with long hours at work although it has been proven beyond reasonable doubt that long hours are not necessarily productive.

Working harder does not always imply working any smarter — people’s brains were unfortunately not designed for nonstop output. The modern workplace seems to always glorify hustle, but productivity is not about just doing more, it is about doing what matters most.

It is sometimes important to demonstrate that outcomes matter most than the time spent at a procurement desk.

As we navigate through the ripples of an era that supply chain disruption continues to give a mark, it would appear dedicating a disproportionate amount of energy to professional obligations is understandable and the right thing to do.

But there must be caveat. It is necessary to put adequate measures in place to prevent the spectre of work from invading the sanctuary of private life.

The procurement field is an always-on field, balance is critical; staff members must decide the work style that suits them best to avoid burnout.

Procurement professionals are often subjected to high-pressure situations and tight deadlines, leaving them more vulnerable to burnout than any other profession.

The current “always on” work culture will not go away anytime soon. In the relentless business environment, hard work is often glorified. That explains why the conversation on work-life balance needs to evolve into daily corporate conversations.

Procurement professionals seem to celebrate this day-to-day hustle and bustle, with burnout being considered as a badge of honour. The current procurement world seems to always give respect and honour to long hours, leading to a stress-pregnant environment that can spill over into personal life, resulting in a mental load that can be carried home.

Procurement is one of the most difficult stations of service and employees are always left feeling stretched too thin. Procurement professionals will continue to operate in high stakes and high-pressure situations as we move into the future.

They are nowhere near out of the woods. The sheer number of supply chain disruptions, coupled with the significance and frequency of challenges in the field, procurement personnel will always be required to work their tails off to deliver under very difficult circumstances.

The supply chain field is associated with black swan events, which unfortunately affect the business environment with exhausting frequency, testing human resilience in unprecedented ways.

Procurement professionals often find themselves ensnared by the tendrils of procurement requisitions from the ever-demanding user departments, giving them very little respite. Self-care often takes a backseat under such circumstances.

Work-life balance has been in the news a lot recently and rightly so. The work hard, play hard mantra has become the need of the hour. There is need to maintain some semblance of work-life balance to avoid burnout. The quest to achieve a reasonable balance between professional hours and the hours dedicated to personal life must be regarded as a necessity.

Just like everybody else, procurement professionals have got one life to live. Their health is a hundred times more valuable than any other company.

Work-life balance must involve all the other things outside of work that makes your life worthwhile, including your family, your hobbies, your health and your personal relationships.

It also involves adequate sleep, periodic exercise, healthy eating and prolonged relaxation from time to time. Understanding the evolving dynamics of work life balance can mean the difference between thriving and merely surviving.

It is important to ensure that your professional responsibilities are in harmony with your personal life.

The desire for better work-life balance has therefore trumped the allure of better salaries and lucrative career development goals. Supply chain professionals are slowly beginning to realise that in certain instances, it may be important to look beyond the allure of grand salaries and give immediate priority to personal welfare.

It should never be about financial rewards only; supply chain professionals need to identify and promote job activities and personal relationships that are life-enhancing while avoiding those that are soul-sucking.

Rather than spreading yourself so thin that nothing feels satisfying, it may be important to identify what is truly important to you as an individual.

Given the pressures associated with procurement work, it is very important to create space for what lights you up outside the hustle and bustle of work.

It is advisable to get intentional about who you spend your valuable time with and stop feeling isolated in a happy world. It must always be remembered that at some point you were an individual before taking a procurement position, there is, therefore, a need to prioritise hobbies that create utmost happiness.

The mentality must always be: This job is lucky to have me, not to say I am lucky to have this job.

The pressure associated with supply chain disruptions will always demand immediate attention of procurement professionals, often encroaching on personal free time and disrupting work-life balance.

The overarching desire to succeed professionally can push procurement personnel to set aside their own personal welfare.

This will make it very difficult for overworked procurement professionals to establish a consistent and healthy posture during the call of duty.

There is, therefore, a tendency for work pressures to quickly escalate, affecting work morale and productivity. Because of that, the work life balance principles emphasise that employee welfare is no longer a peripheral issue; it is a strategic imperative that requires immediate answers.

Organisations must be seen to be creating tailored experiences that address the employee’s unique welfare and better work environment.

By making small intentional choices every day, organisations can easily create a life filled with love, peace, quiet, balance and true happiness.

The general ethos is that supply chain professionals will want to invest their time and expertise in what they stand for as professionals.

Given the pressure associated with procurement, benefit packages are no longer viewed as the be-all and end-all.

Although work is an expected societal norm, your career should not be miserable. Being tethered to an office is not advisable. When your career demands a significant portion of your energy, the scale can tip, causing stress and potential strain on family dynamics.

This could mean long hours, weekend work and unnecessary overtime, all factors that encroach on your personal time. The inability to separate work from personal life will massively increase the chances of burnout.

General signs and symptoms of burnout can be physical, such as headaches, high blood pressure and frequent illness. They could be mental issues to include sleeping problems, depressed moods, fatigue and apathy.

Where stress levels are high and have become a constant companion, the health of the individual will be at stake. Employee health is intrinsically linked to the overall success of the business — in real terms and in real figures.

Work life balance conflict is not just a problem; it is a productive and health killer.

Whenever there is a strong feeling that work is draining and depleting your home life, a break from work will provide you with the chance to switch off and enjoy yourself, creating a proper work life balance.

This will assist supply chain professionals to find a sustainable and rewarding rhythm that aligns work with personal goals. Achieving a healthy work-life balance involves allocating time and energy appropriately between work, family, friends, personal interests and self-care.

Sharing challenges and having collective goals with colleagues can be a source of comfort. Strong relationships are essential for overall well-being and can provide a valuable safety net during times of stress.

The investment in personal relationships fosters deeper connections and increased emotional support. Work life balance can be as important to our personal and professional life as a nutritious diet is to physical health.

It is, therefore, argued in procurement cycles that this journey we call life should be full of self-help moments. Rather than waiting for others to pitch up or hoping that circumstances may change, procurement professionals must be intentional in an effort to take control of their destiny.

This will guarantee that career objectives are in tandem and aligned to personal responsibilities at home. Work-life balance has numerous positive effects, including stress reduction, a lower risk of burnout and a greater sense of well-being.

Where the stress levels are low, there is a tendency to experience fewer cases of absenteeism. Organisations will enjoy a more loyal and productive workforce. With a proper work life balance, procurement personnel will miss less work, and whenever they are at their workstations, they will be happier and more productive.

This will allow them to handle the ebb and flow of high-pressure work environments, bringing a stronger and more productive version of themselves.

In conclusion, it may be necessary to point out that the challenges of reconciling work-life balance have been around for centuries. The professors often write that striking a healthy work-life balance is a difficult challenge even in the best of times.

It involves managing professional responsibilities and personal commitments in a way that minimises stress, promotes self-care and fosters overall well-being.

You can enhance your quality of life, increase productivity and experience greater satisfaction in both your professional and personal lives by finding the right balance.

Work-life balance transcends its status as a buzzword. It is bedrock of organisational success and societal advancement. Over-indexing in one sphere of life is a no-no.

As the old saying goes, find a job you love, and you will never work a day in your life. It may be a cliché, but that does not make it any less true.