Work-Life Balance? It's Really About Priorities!
We often hear the term 'work-life balance'. The Internet is flooded with advice on achieving it, experts weigh in, and there's no shortage of studies and theories. It's a fascinating topic that never seems to lose its charm. Yet, it's so elusive. Is there a real solution, or are we just cycling through different angles of the same issue? But from my experience, it isn't about balance but priorities.
The 'work-life balance' concept is flexible, varying for each person. It morphs according to your life situation and your particular phase. But no matter the circumstance, tough decisions will need to be made.
In my career, I found thinking about work-life priorities instead of balance more beneficial. Working diligently was crucial; it enabled me to support my family and maintain the lifestyle we enjoyed.
So, how did I navigate this? I set specific ground rules. In my corporate role, I seldom scheduled calls outside work hours or during weekends. I made it a point to respond to emails within a day and kept meetings succinct and focused.
However, time management isn't the only concern. We must also address stress and burnout and the significance of having a job we relish. Can you recall those times when you were immersed in activities you loved? Chances are that stress was a distant concept. But when you're trapped in a job that doesn't spark joy, you may find yourself craving breaks far more frequently.
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Self-care played a vital part, too. I used to take brief breaks every hour, a strategy that helped me stay alert during the day. I never felt a desperate need for a vacation to escape work stress.
I'm sure everyone has unique strategies for managing work-life priorities. If you're reading this, you could share your tried-and-true methods.
In essence, achieving work-life balance is within everyone's reach. It's about implementing small changes to optimise your time. Your career journey can be a narrative of success and transformation. Let's make that happen!
If this post resonated with you, please like, and share it with others who might find it helpful. Your support and encouragement mean the world to me. Thank you for inspiring me to write every week!
Cloud Strategist | Female Leader | Ecosystem Sales
1 年Hi Mukund, please keep writing your articles. I enjoy them. For this one I do want to comment and say that as a woman who is providing for my family, I do not get a choice of only accepting calls during working hours especially if I am working 'across the timezones'. We just dont have 'Australia only' business hours anymore. Either I have a nanny at home to help with kids so that I can do the full business hour day (whatever that means these days) OR if I need to break between 4-7pm for kids, I catch up between 7-10pm. Now that is doable and more likely to be the future for many. What is important is not to accept the Friday after 5pm calls and ensure you take a break over the weekend. Thats what works for me anyway. The idea of 9-5pm is dead.
A treat to read, Mukund Tumkur Completely agree. Somethings that have worked for me are: A. To leave for work early so that the most is achieved by noon time and not spend longer time in traffic (specially Bangalore) B. Setting expectations clearly with stakeholders and marking out of office hours for the personal time with consideration for the time zones and collaboration needed. I thank EY and the people I worked with who helped me do these with ease. ??