Work-Life Balance: A Complete Myth or an Elusive Deal

The basic question often asked is, ‘Can we have it all in life? Or, Is work-life balance a complete myth?'

I have learned on my journey so far that life never guarantees complete control over it, rather it tests you at all times. I always have so much to do that sometimes I don't know where to begin. At times, I do come across situations when I feel overburdened by others' expectations of me. But, over the years, I have learned to navigate my life without succumbing to the pressures of life.?

I have learnt through hard experiences that to live a fulfilling life is a matter of carefully combining work, home and personal life. After a lot of contemplation, learning and unlearning, I learned to manage life without losing touch with my goals, my inner-self, and my loved ones.?

I have always believed that, ‘Out of many paths to success, none can be walked alone.’ Thankfully I am blessed soul. Wherever I have reached today, I could not have done it alone without the support of my family, friends, mentors and my team. Having a support system is a valuable asset on my journey to success and a great way to balance your work and life.?

Sometimes my kids give me a hard time about my being on my iPhone at the dinner table, but I tell them that my iPhone is what enables me to be home with them. Instances like these taught me how to defy time crises and enjoy life’s momentum by staying connected to my family.

Bringing work-life integration requires constant effort. I always look at managing three critical aspects of my life: defining success for myself, managing technology, and collaborating with my family and teammates.?

Let me dig deeper to talk more about each of these:

1. The bad news is time flies. The good news is you are the pilot.
2. When I hear somebody say Life is Hard, I wish to ask compared to what?

Defining Success

We spend all our lives chasing success, determining what success should look like. Over the years, my definition of success has evolved to include the following broadly:

The meaning of success is different for everyone. For me, true success is not just about reaching the goal but also about enjoying the journey. It's about doing something that positively impacts the world around us. In other words, it is about being able to overcome obstacles and challenges and use them as opportunities to learn and grow.

And, when I reflect back on life, I feel blessed to have come so far, using a combination of self-awareness, resilience, and being aligned with my values and purpose.

Managing Technology

I am a firm believer of the fact that if we optimize the use of technology, it? only makes our life easier. The challenges arise only when we end up misusing it.

Managing technology for quality living requires a combination of conscious choices, practices, and a balanced approach to technology's role in our lives.?

Here is how I manage technology for quality living:?

• I avoid double screening as multitasking often reduces productivity and stresses me more than it seemingly helps to save time. I strictly avoid using my laptop and mobile phone at the same time, rather give my 100% to the task in hand.?
• I prioritize face-to-face communication whenever possible, while connecting with my teammates or my family. Having a conversation over coffee or going for a walk with a friend makes all the difference.?
• I practice mindfulness by staying in the moment always. It helps me stay more grounded and less stressed.?
• While using technology, I prefer watching high-quality content that adds value to my life and educates or inspires me.?
• I avoid mindless scrolling and browsing.??
• I prefer a tech free meal and eat with complete mindfulness and a grateful heart.

By practicing these measures, I use technology to enhance my life without it becoming a source of stress or distraction.?

Collaborating and Networking

Building a strong network helps me to create a support system. Collaborating and networking are powerful tools in helping to balance work and life. It allows me to gain insights, learn from others and develop stronger relationships. I network with like-minded people at important data events and conferences and learn about new trends and best practices.?

Finding the right balance between work and life is an ongoing process that needs constant planning, patience, and wisdom. Over the years, I have learned to be patient and persistent and have wisely used the support of my network to help me stay on track.

Life is precious. We shouldn’t let our lives overrun or overtaken by anything. While it's not easy to have everything going your way in this complex world, if we just learn to strike a balance in everything you do, it surely can make us healthy and happy.