Work Life Balance - 5 rules which I follow

It was the month of July again like every year. Mumbai’s outskirts had turned into a green heaven. It’s a paradise on earth for nature lovers like me. My family as usual packed their bags and planned to spend the weekend in Igatpuri, a town on the outskirts Mumbai. (Weekends in between July and September are meant to explore new locations for my family. Almost no phone calls, no other stress and just family, fun and nature.) By Sunday evening, we came back to home.

Monday morning was time to pack my office bag and a travelling bag. First half I had meetings and second half was scheduled for a business trip. This is my routine for most of the weeks. I tend to keep my memories on social media as archive to life stories. I had received multiple accolades from my friends and peers for attempting balance in my life.

I still remember, during one of the conference, an attendee who followed my social accounts asked me a question,” How to maintain a good ‘work-life balance’” this was not the first time anyone asked me this it was asked from many of my friends too.

So, I would like to pen down my experience, on how do I manage or balance my life. I will not express theory, but what I actual do. If it resonates anyone, I would be happy.

I don’t believe in this phrase “Work-Life Balance” as it conveys Life and work as 2 different things. It demarked both elements as separate entities. Secondly, when we try to balance anything, it needs a hell lot effort and that is continued lifelong. I personally feel that work is part of life and it must be inseparable part of it. When we don’t say vacation & life balance or family & life balance, then why do we use phrase Work & Life balance.

1. Change the parameters of success in life

When I asked a group of managers in a programme what does success mean to them, their replies were materialistic with all luxury and power around. When I asked them to portray their dream life on paper, most of them drew couching in home with family. We evaluate success with money stored in our bank accounts, cars we own and positions we have in organisations or business. While these must be accessories of life, as even if you lose all of them, you can get them back. Success in life must be measured with how much time you spare with family, friends, peers and most importantly with yourself. I am not saying that accessories are not important but they must be given importance like mere accessories only, not life as a whole.

2. Don’t carry work at home & vice versa

Don’t confuse career with life. As technology is advancing, employees take their work to home and it encroach their personal time. I have seen managers or peers communicate late evening about their work after reaching home because of which we end up sparing only a little time with loved ones which impact the relationship quotient. Just like that carrying experiences of home to work will equally impact performance. I remember one of my team members used to mail his reports late at night. When it turned into a habit, I had to intervene and strictly communicate not to share reports with me post 9 PM. To my surprise, with in week time, he conveyed multiple stories about his family and told that he could spare time with his wife now. He even told that he was more energetic at work as he sleeps on time. So, where ever you are (home or work), be there fully.

3. Quality of time, not quantity of time

Technology in our life has given us multiple advantages. One side it has given ease to life but on other side it made us accessible every moment. Work doesn’t seem to end any day for any time. HBS survey once dictated that more than 90% of people in corporate work more than 50 hours a week. Technology must ease and help doing things faster, thus everyone must have more time for self, while life currently is the other way instead. Let’s just switch off our mobiles or keep it away for a few hours every week or every day. Let’s not reply any work emails or messages while we are playing with our kids or sparing time with family. It will build adaptability or resilience in any individual. I did it and experienced it.

4. Don’t waste time

I still remember one of my peer who used to keep everything well managed and on time. His calendar, mails, desk and work plan used to be well managed in terms of discipline of time. When I asked him to learn his secret, I picked up a few practices which he was following. I learnt that we must keep a limit on time while chatting with friends or peers and spending time on social media during office hours. When I started practicing the same, I could save a lot of time. Everyone has been offered 24 hours in a day. We must prepare a list of priorities and a must do’s every day. This list helps me in managing the day better with my priorities rather on someone else’s priorities. I could be able to accomplish my tasks in office itself and no baggage to carry home.

5. Exercise and meditate

Our current life style has become mundane and sedentary too. A healthy body & peaceful mind directly impact productivity. Everyone must spare 20 – 30 min of their day for self-fitness. You can walk, jog or gym. It will keep you happy and joyful, thus resulting in better behaviour with people around you. Higher energy quotient will result in higher efficiency.

In the end, I would like to conclude that we must enjoy life, as we are humans who can make choices. Let’s make a choice to have work as a part of life, not a separate entity. Don’t overboard your professional commitments in life. Nothing will stop, even if you are not there. Lastly, if we fail in professional life, it can be revived, but if we fail in managing relationships, they will take forever to revive. Relationship are like a pot made of glass, which once broken, difficult to fix it back. Work is like bouncing ball which can bounce back, even if we lose it. The best solution, you have to step back, take a breath and look. Make a note of the conditions that are making you obsessed with work. Slowly reprioritise them.

Enjoy Life, Work Hard, but spare time for Friends, Family and self. No one cares about your power -point presentation on your last day.

At the end of the article, I would like to extend my gratitude towards you for sparing time to read it. I would be happy to hear any feedback. I would also like to thanks my daughter Nihel in helping in editing the document.

Thank you

Anand Agarwal

agarwalanand.wordpress.com / yogi_foodie_anand (Instagram) / [email protected] / www.dhirubhai.net/in/anandagarwal-leadership

Sales and Marketing professional with experience of more than 20 years. I love Reading, Writing, Travelling and Interacting with People. All views are in my personal capacity, and I don’t endorse any individual or community.