The whole idea of work/life balance has been a big issue for quite a few years now. As we become more embroiled in work and businesses demand more and more from us, it increasingly encroaches on our personal time. It’s no wonder the popularity of personal productivity and time management has soared. But how do you actually create this work/life balance?
On the surface, it seems pretty simple. Create limits, learn to say no, manage your time better, etc. But, if you listen to people like David Allen and Tim Ferriss, they have vastly opposing ideas on the issue. Tim talks about work/life separation, where there is a clear boundary between business and pleasure. Meanwhile, David says that it shouldn’t even be an issue. When you’re in the zone and you’ve got a mind like water, the boundary between work and play seizes to exist.
It’s this difference of opinion that gave me the idea to ask this question. I’m sure there are many other takes on work/life balance out there but what are yours? How do you create that balance in your life? Look forward to reading your comments, don’t forget you can join in the discussion on Twitter!
June 10, 2009 at 01:26PM
I think that the concept of work/life balance is not sustainable in its traditional understanding. The reason is advances in technology with the internet available anytime and anywhere as well as globalization is forcing people to work in different time zones.
The second problem in the concept is that work is part of life, so a separation of both seems a little bit difficult.
The key to happiness and fulfillment in work to me is that both are aligned with my goals. When both are aligned there is no need for a separation of work and life.
What you need instead is to make sure that you have time to relax and refresh regularly and to keep some free time to maintain good relationships with friends and family.
June 10, 2009 at 02:39PM
I see it as something holistic. If one is suffering then the other is likely to be as well. People who are organized in one aspect of their lives can use the same system to get control the other side of their lives. I use a system called S.O.S. (Simplify, Organize, Streamline) for both business and family. It can be applied to any area of my life and and as a result keeps everything running smoothly (with the occasional bumps of course).
June 10, 2009 at 05:45PM
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I think a lot of Tim’s idea that you can seperate work and life is based on the fact he is self-employed. It’s much easier to create those boundaries when you’re in control. I must admit, when I finish work everyday I want to be able to go home and leave it all behind till the next day. I think being able to create a work environment where you can simply do that will make a big difference.