W.I.N. Wednesday: Lessons From Life's Most Powerful Question - The myth of Work - Life balance.
I continually hear people talk about the important of Work - Life balance and the need to get more balance in their life.
I find it interesting that we refer to work, which occupies 40 to 60 hours out of most people's week, as separate somehow from our life. If you have a job then work is part of your life. The stage of life you are at, and the type of work you do (work at an office, work from home, work on your education, work on your health, etc) will determine how big a part of your life work actually is.
According to www.dictionary.com the definition of balance is: a state of equilibrium or equipoise; equal distribution of weight, amount, etc.
If you spend 40 to 60 hours a week at work and another 5 to 10 hours a week commuting to and from your place of employment, you cannot spend an equal amount of time in hobbies and with your children and with your spouse and volunteering and coaching youth sports and….. well you get the point.
It is not about balance. It is about focus and priorities. It's about What's Important Now?
What's Important Now? - Determine who and what are the priorities in your life.
What's Important Now? - Become aware of where your focus and energy is when you are at work.
What's Important Now? - Become aware of where your focus and energy is when you are with your family.
What's Important Now? - Become aware of where your focus and energy is when you are reading a great book or out on the golf course with friends?
If your focus and energy are not on the task at hand, or on the people you are with, there is an issue you need to address. It is not about balance, it is about focus and priorities. That feeling of dissonance you experience when you are one place and your focus is elsewhere because you are feeling guilty should tell you that your focus, priorities and energy are misaligned.
Stop seeking balance. Instead use Life's Most Powerful Question - What's Important Now? - to guide your decisions and keep your focus and energy on what is truly important.
Take care.
Brian Willis
Committed to the pursuit of excellence through Life's Most Powerful Question - What's Important Now?
Contact me at winningmind@mac.com to arrange for me to speak to your team, your organization or at your next conference.