Work-Life Balance ― Myth or Reality?

A few years ago I attended a development programme in Poland, with various global executives and business leaders participating. I always remember one of the sessions, when we were discussing the challenges we all faced in the business world. One of the topics of discussion centred around increasing stress in the workplace, the proliferation of social media interrupting personal lives, and the expectation that we are all available 24/7 - this led to a sharing on how to achieve a healthy work-life balance in the context of a rapidly transforming world.

Work-life balance has become a much cliched phrase. But what does it actually mean? One of the senior executives attending the meeting in Poland provided a strong personal view:

"There's no such thing as work-life balance, there's only life".

This hit a chord with me and has shaped my own perspective ever since. The message being that in today's corporate world, and certainly in the professional services sector where distinctive, superior client service is the top priority, gone are the days of a black and white approach to one's work time, versus personal, "free", time. More and more, and certainly the greater the responsibility that one assumes, strong time management skills ― and prioritisation of different life responsibilities ― are essential to being able to survive and flourish. 

The TedTalk by Nigel Marsh is well worth watching in this regard:

Whilst Marsh takes a somewhat cynical view of the corporate world's perspective on life balance, he does make some valid points such as small shifts can reap significant benefits; don't be restricted in looking at balance on a day to day basis but take a longer view over the course of a week or month; and take responsibility for setting your own boundaries. If nothing else, it’s quite a humorous presentation and should get you chuckling in one or two places at least!

Ultimately, life balance is a personal choice. A strong work ethic is something that most ― if not all - employers will value and recognise. At the same time, personal space, taking time to relax and refresh oneself from the inevitable pressures of work, is equally important. This requires self-discipline, to plan ahead and schedule such activities whether it be with family, friends, or time alone. In my experience, it’s all too easy to allow oneself to become inundated with the day to day, and to not prioritise or take responsibility for managing one's own time.

The philosophy behind the quote above, to live a balanced but integrated life, works for me. Yes, I'm guilty of "working" most days, including weekends, public holidays and personal holidays. Not in the sense of "24/7" per se. But, rather, my mind switches between work and non-work matters seamlessly, without a neat or predetermined on/off switch. Working in an international business with different time zones, and client or other time critical demands - that are increasingly transmitted via social media - this is the world we live in today.

This is not a badge of honour. I manage my time to ensure that I make time throughout the week for important family matters, for personal relaxation, and to ensure I achieve a healthy balance in my own way. Others do it differently, and I respect that. For some, working more intensely Monday through Friday, and then switching off completely at weekends and/or on holidays, is their approach. That is a personal choice - not automatically how it "should" be for all.  

Former GE CEO Jack Welch once famously said:

"There's no such thing as work-life balance. There are work-life choices, and you make them, and they have consequences"

So in Welch's book, there is no such thing as balance at all. It’s all a myth!

The role we play at work, our responsibilities and job nature, are clearly a significant factor, as is the culture of the organisation we work for. I'm fortunate in my own role and organisation to have that flexibility, where prioritisation of individual health and well-being are important (despite what Marsh thinks!). The key point here is that people are, to a larger extent than is often recognised, empowered to make their own choices on how they balance their time - or don't as the case may be. In taking personal responsibility for our own actions and choices, it’s important to recognise that the world is changing, the way business is conducted is changing, customer expectations are changing. All of this requires a different mindset than the traditional 8am-6pm, 5 days a week model, where we can switch on and off at will. Have you recently reflected on your own life balance, and taken positive action to shape your own priorities accordingly? 

What do you think? How do you achieve balance in your life? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

In thinking about this blog, and given we are at the end of the summer vacation season in China/Hong Kong, I asked a few people in my team to share a brief personal story about the impact of a recent holiday. These stories serve to highlight the importance of taking a break, and injecting some fun and laughter in amongst the seriousness that all too often hangs over the typical working day.

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Sadina Wu, Beijing

I went to Hokkaido, Northern Japan, recently and one of the wonderful experiences was taking the helicopter to have the full view of Lake Toyako, where you have an amazing view of the lake and ground from the very low altitude of the helicopter. We rounded off the experience nicely with a bottle of the local yogurt: Bocca. 

During the whole holiday, I was pleasantly surprised by the meticulous level of detail shown by Japanese people. Always, I can find the instruction of “how to use” with both words and illustration everywhere, door key, toilet, TV remote control and other normal things. 

Holiday for me means having time to enjoy myself and relax with my family. It is easier to really enjoy my holiday if I know I have left everything behind in the office in good order. That way I am less likely to be disturbed while on holiday or to come back to work and find things in a mess. (Photo: Loius Lin, Flickr)

Vivian Huo, Beijing

To make the most out of work-life balance requires good, creative planning – just like with any work we do. After spending five years in China it was time for me to pay a visit to my second hometown in the US. I took the opportunity to plan a month-long, multi-purpose family vacation with my sister's family to the US west coast during our boys' school summer break. The trip met everyone's objectives and created beautiful family memories that will last for years to come.

Looking back it seems that we did it all in 5 weeks: we had our first family adventure to the beautiful Morro Bay and Malibu beach in Northern California; we enjoyed Universal Studios and SeaWorld with the boys in Southern CA; and we signed up the boys for 3 weeks of beach camp. This enabled them to make new friends from around the globe, and gave us adults a break to catch up. Invigorated and inspired by the Pacific Ocean and all the amazing things that nature can offer, we came back recharged and empowered to face new challenges in life and work...absolutely time well spent. (Photo: Jasperdo, Flickr)

Aimee Yu, Shanghai

Recently, I went to Tian Mu Lake in Jiangsu – a province just north of Shanghai – with some colleagues to relax. As we all work together in busy, cosmopolitan Shanghai, we wanted to explore the natural scenery, relax and watch the world go by. 

After checking in to our hotel, we went for a bike ride around Tian Mu Lake at sunset. Watching the sun set by the lake and listening to the waves beating on the shore was the perfect way to get away from the concerns of everyday work. The next day, to get more exercise, we went hiking around Tian Mu Lake Natural Scenery Park. The hot weather did not affect our enthusiasm. This trip showed me the importance of relaxing more to balance work and life: ultimately it makes you more motivated generally. (Photo: slackware, Flickr)

David Kim, Hong Kong

I chose Coron, Palawan in the Philippines for my summer vacation primarily for a mental, spiritual, and physical detox. Being away from the metropolis and everyday people allows me to meditate and think about my life in retrospect and future prospects. 

I had several flight cancellations and delays, meaning I used more brain power getting to/from Palawan than in three months of work combined. While the weather was not ideal for excursions into the must-see spots of Palawan or for photography, I made the most of it and was still able to capture images that others had not in the past, since most typically visit during peak seasons, when fog / clouds / rain are absent.

Every three months I need to remind myself that life is precious and invest my time in things that bring me true happiness, rather than being too consumed by the material things in life. Taking a trip somewhere remote from modern society is a good way to do that.

My trips are last-minute, since I typically take holiday once things at work are settled to the point that they can be managed remotely by email, should the need arise. I like to leave the office with peace of mind - knowing that there is only a small chance that I will be needed.

Franchesca Chung, Hong Kong

Family matters the most to me, so when I get a chance to step away from work, I always like to travel with my parents so that we can enjoy ourselves together. So, during my last break, I flew with my parents to Yantai, Shandong province (between Shanghai and Beijing), to visit my 94 year old grandma and other relatives. Although we don't see each other frequently, we still get on as well as ever. We shared stories with each other, enjoyed mouth-watering fish dumplings washed down with Qingdao beer, and had fun on the beach. It was really quality time spent together – after all, it’s quality that matters.

Besides staying with my grandma, I also went on to a few cities in Shandong province, such as Qingdao. I was amazed by the furious growth and development. Grandma believes there are great opportunities ahead! (Photo: OliBac, Flickr)