Deep Thoughts: Work-Life Balance – My Perspective
Someone asked me recently if I was getting married soon. At first thought, the question seemed rhetoric as I had never expressed such views to this person. But then I realised the question was pregnant with nuances pointing to the kind of life I am presumably presently living: The busy life все микрозаймы онлайн на карту.
For some strange reason, everyone around me thinks I am busy except me.
How I see my average day: wake up, go to work, work some, surf Quora, sleep, fantasize about future plans, sing, gist, argue with my brother, try to study, then sleep again.
What others think I do: Wake up, work, work, work, work some more, work, work, work, sleep. Rihanna would want me on her music video
Is it only me that can see the puzzling disparity? I for one, think I am not doing enough, not managing my time properly and most times I often get a pressing weighty feeling that time is running out while I entertain languid days. For example, I spent the whole of last Saturday catching up on One Piece anime (Eps. 723 – 738) and accomplished nothing substantial yet someone was of the view that I was very busy on that same day. Really what is going on? I may have to employ a PR person.
I found answers from the question someone asked me above, I realised what was wrong…Wait for it… I have no social life. Pause! Let’s rephrase; I seem not to have a social life beyond my workplace, home, and the Powerful Young Project, thus I had to acknowledge that I (the light of the world) may not be living a completely balanced life.
A balanced life or what is majorly called the work-life balance according to Wikipedia is “a concept including proper prioritizing between “work” (career and ambition) and “lifestyle” (health, pleasure, leisure, family and spiritual development/meditation)” but this definition did not satisfy me so I went on a deeper search and found that there is a world quest for the work-life balance with very few acceptable definitions. At the end of the day, I got to question my assumption above of how not having a social life equated to not having a work-life balance
According to Jim Bird whose article I found very enlightening,
The best work-life balance is different for each of us because we all have different priorities and different lives.
However, at the core of an effective work-life balance definition are two key everyday concepts that are relevant to each of us. They are daily Achievement and Enjoyment, ideas almost deceptive in their simplicity.
Engraining a fuller meaning of these two concepts takes us most of the way to defining a positive Work-Life Balance. Achievement and Enjoyment answer the big question “Why?” Why do you want a better income…a new house…the kids through college…to do a good job today…to come to work at all?
Most of us already have a good grasp on the meaning of Achievement. But let’s explore the concept of Enjoyment a little more. As part of a relevant Work-Life Balance definition, enjoyment does not just mean “Ha-Ha” happiness. It means Pride, Satisfaction, Happiness, Celebration, Love, A Sense of Well Being …all the Joys of Living.
Reiterating what Jim has said, the balance involves achievement and enjoyment. Besides, I believe enjoyment is subjective, for me, a day spent with a good book or watching anime which I could discuss later with someone is of a higher degree of enjoyment compared to going out to watch a movie with someone and for others, it may just be quite the opposite. So it really boils down to this: Am I enjoying life while pursuing achievements, regardless of my seeming poor social life? Yes. That is also the question you should ask yourself when it seems you have no social life and the people around you are not shy of pointing it out repeatedly. Your answer would tell you whether to listen or let it pass by with the wind.
Therefore, I am happy to say, our initial question which alluded to my lack of social life has been dismissed, already sailing along with the wind…
Let’s do this again next week
Jaa Mata!
P.S.
To read the full article by Jim Bird click here