Work-Life Balance
Duncan Lewis MA
Communication Trainer / Author of Speak Out! / Motivational Speaker / MC Host / Mentor
I hear many people talk about this conundrum. In other words, do you live to work or work to live and does this have to be a choice?
I must admit I have always wrestled with this question as there are so many different factors to consider. Depending on the individual, some people work standard hours while others work much longer hours and are only able to allocate a little time for their personal life. This could be through choice or necessity. Then there are those that can now work in a hybrid way, including myself, and this can offer more of a balanced approach.
Personally, I prefer the term work-life integration. I do spend long hours working, but also prioritise those things I like to do outside of work ie walking, sea swimming, yoga etc. Making the choice between living to work or working to live can add unnecessary pressure by trying to make a clear distinction between the two and this can be hard to do.
My modus operandi for living is to try and be ever present. By this I mean that I prioritise and focus on whatever I am doing at a particular time. When I am working this is my priority and I give it 100%. Conversely when I am not working, this becomes my priority. A straightforward example of work-life integration in action is when I go for a walk at any time during my working day; this gives me balance and serves to satisfy both parts of the question.
What is your take on this vexed issue?
Enabling your voice to make an impact. || —> Speak, Connect, Listen, Convert. ?? Coach, Trainer, Facilitator, Speaker, Mentor.
2 年Nice perspectives here Duncan… really like your phrase “work-integration”
Learning Disability Nurse
2 年This is something I haven’t always got right in the past, when you are building a business it’s all work and little play. More recently the balance is levelling out. Great thoughtful article Duncan
Proper Yorkshire Beer Sales & Business Development | Co-Founder of Be Outstanding - Care Quality Software.
2 年You’ve got to build something that can be balanced and that is the tough bit …. But not impossible
Helping independent business owners improve their work life blend & ensure they are making midlife matter | The Making Midlife Matter Collective | Don't Work With Tossers - The Podcast | Mrs North Yorkshire Galaxy 24/25
2 年For me Duncan it’s not about work life balance but work life blend - combining working and living everyday. If I want to work on a Sunday and have Tuesday off that’s my choice, if I choose to work 7 days a week for 4 weeks and then have 4 weeks off then that’s fine as well. Building flexibility into our business lives is important. As technology has made it possible to be connected 24/7 more or less anywhere in the world we need to find our own balance to ensure we have down time when we want it and understand when pressures around us are impacting both our personal and business wellbeing. T??
Chair: NEN Enterprise Support Organisation of the Year - Yorkshire in Business Ltd; Founder, Micro Business Alliance & national business support organisations. Business Owner and NEDs since 1986; Speaker and Author
2 年Our philosophy of Happipreneurship is when you're happy at least 80% of your working hours in your own enterprise. Henry Stewart ?? uses a similar measurement for happiness of employees in the workplace. As Aristotle said "Happiness is an activity". Happipreneurs, even the multi-billionaire ones, never retire because they love what they're doing and are good at what they do. They feel they're being challenged and are useful and that is fulfilling. The skint ones like me feel the same. The ancient Greek philosophers called it virtue. It is prevalent for every hour whatever you are doing. Work and play are integrated into enjoying each moment and dealing as well as we can with the setbacks, tragedies, illness and deaths which beset us all. Be More Happipreneur.