The second problem with the concept of work-life balance is the underlying assumption that less work will automatically lead to more life. In actuality, what I’ve seen time and again with my coaching clients is that having a life takes work. So many people focus on the “stop working at 6 p.m.” part of the equation, and not enough people focus on the “meet friends at 6:30 p.m.” part.
If you’re feeling in need of work-life balance, chances are, what you’re really saying is that you want more of something, not less of something. More fun, more relaxation, more connection, more joy, more meaning. What would you choose to have more of in your life? The trick is to name it — for example, “I want more energy.” Then figure out a specific action you can take to go get it.
The good news is, work tends to be elastic. It will stretch or retract around other things in your life. And while it may seem like a leap of faith initially, go ahead and sign up for that 6:30 p.m. Zumba class. You will be amazed at how your work will find a way to flow around that appointment, once you put it on your calendar.
By the same token, if you’re looking to dedicate more of your working time to a particular area of focus, remove some things from your calendar and watch how your chosen activity expands to take advantage of the extra space.
So stop thinking about balance and throw away the scale. We weren’t meant to approach our work or our personal lives as bookkeepers. Picture instead two beautiful gift baskets, both overflowing with good things, including learning, serving others, positive relationships and good health. Picture instead “work-life abundance.”
Jennie Wong is an executive coach, author of the e-book “Ask the Mompreneur” and the founder of the social shopping website CartCentric.com.
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