“I’m rushed off my feet! I don’t know where to start. Even when I have time off, I just can’t relax. So when Sunday evening comes around, I feel as if I haven’t got anything done!”
Does this sound familiar? If you have trouble combining your work life and home life, you’re certainly not alone.
At work, we often have structure, constraints, deadlines, follow-up meetings, management systems, etc. that help us to manage our time on a daily basis. It’s usually outside work that we have more trouble. Paradoxically, it’s generally people who are the most busy at work who also manage their time best outside of work, because they structure their activities like they do their professional life.
Having a good work-life balance doesn’t mean splitting time evenly between the two. We each need to find our own balance and activities that are the most rewarding for us. Barbara’s* goal is to beat her personal best in the marathon, while Ben* wants to gaze at the wildlife and boats on the lake. Laure* needs to take regular breaks during the day, while David* can stay focussed all day but needs to read for half an hour before going to sleep. Work out what is important for you and then negotiate some leisure time with your family.
“I have so many things to do that I use every free minute to solve problems and make progress, even when I’m not at work.” That’s why Mark* never manages to relax completely. Instead of focussing on his daughter’s football match or chatting with his friends over a meal, he’s constantly got his ear glued to his phone. His problems almost certainly won’t get worse in the next few minutes and if he can learn to live 100% in the present with his children or his friends, he’ll manage to put things into perspective and understand that the rest can wait.
Last but not least, many people save their skills for work and don’t make use of them outside. Maria* is an excellent organiser at work, but she’s found wanting when having to organise the rowing club’s annual dinner for which she’s responsible. That’s a pity because she could get a lot of satisfaction from this activity with a minimum of effort.
Achieving a decent work-life balance means taking control of both compartments. Use the skills you deploy every day at work to enhance your home life, and make the most of your time off.
*Names have been changed
Pierre Gildemyn
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