Hmm. I more or less agree, I think that you want to get to a position where what you do all day is more or less what you enjoy. Seriously, there's almost no chance that I'm going to be able to stop selling my time for another 20, 30 or 40 years. It just isn't going to happen. I may as well stop trying to balance work and life, and start treating work as part of my life and do something that I enjoy, with interesting people.
Curmudgeon
· 1 year ago
". . . move towards integrating work and life together in the future."
You tried that this past spring with little success. Unless you can come up with a new model, working at home and moving easily between selling your time and doing personal things doesn't sound like it comes easily to you. In the past, your answer has been to develop income-producing revenue streams that don't require a lot of attention on your part. Does this post mean that you're rethinking that model, or reaffirming it?
I confess that working at home and moving easily between business and personal activities does come more easily to me, although I likely still suffer from working too many hours in total. It's always been the technologist's penultimate high to be the hero by solving difficult problems, but I was doing it so much that I finally had to cut that cord recently and make a job change. More money, too :) .
deepali
· 1 year ago
I'm not selling my time for money. I'm doing things that are interesting to me, and getting paid to do so. True I don't love every minute of work, but I can't imagine there is anything that I would love 100%.
But I think I can find something interesting in everything. :)
asithi
· 1 year ago
I think a long commute does not help because you are "wasting" that time traveling to and from work that you can be with your family. Even though I am using audio books on my commute to learn new things, that is only trying to make the best of the situation.
That is why I am really excited that in two weeks I am starting my new job that is ten minutes away from my house. Now it feels like I am still within the sphere of my family even though I am gone most of the day. Seriously, if my job ever offer to let me work only 6 hours a day, pro-rated pay, I would jump all over it.
Tom Volkar / Delightful Work
· 1 year ago
You've hit the nail on the head with this post. There's no such thing as balancing life and work because a balance would have some equality to it and that's just not the case. Blending is a better concept as you've shared. My employee friends sometimes take digs at me because I often work on weekend mornings. What they don't get is this. When your work is a delight it doesn't matter when you do it. Eagerness to work joyfully is something that we all ought to experience.
Rick
· 1 year ago
I like the word "blended" over "balance." Everyone needs to find the right "blend" that suits his or her life. Maybe you don't mind a 3-hour round-trip commute if you like the job and what it promises you in the long run, and maybe if you commute by train, you can get some work done on the commute as well. Maybe being gone 12-14 hours a day from home is not a big deal if things at home can take care of themselves.
But if most of your life revolves around your home area, as mine does, you probably need to be physically closer to home. That's what I experienced last year when I traded a 3-hour round-trip commute for a job 5 miles from home. For me, being away from home only 9 hours a day is a heckuva lot better than 12-13.
MG
· 1 year ago
Great post. This struggle is very real to me as well, and part of the reason I started my blog. It is so easy to get caught up in the should-be's, could-be's of life that you spend more time day dreaming about the future or regretting the past instead of living today. Whatever your life looks like, whatever the balance between work and family and pleasure, that is life. Life isn't one extreme or the other, but the blend of them all and our job is to blend them the best we can. The key becomes enjoying what you do, working hard, and starting to carve out margin for the things you've always dreamed about.
shadox
· 1 year ago
You make some good points. However, personally I feel a drive to develop my career. Yes, I work long hours, but I don't suffer from it. I used to own my own business and work independently as a consultant. I hated it. Many folks in the PF blogging sphere treat being an employee as some sort of disease that needs to be cured - some days, I share the same feeling. Most days, I like my work.
BTW - the long commute thing is something that can be addressed.
jc
· 1 year ago
I agree with the general sentiment that, if you have the choice, choose something you enjoy over something that is "just a job" that might allow you to retire earlier. But I also think that this is "nice work if you can get it," and mostly a realistic option only for those who are already middle to upper class. For large segements of the population selling your time for money is really the only option available.
The Success Professor
· 1 year ago
It is important to remember that balance does not need to mean equal. Rather, balance is finding a way to be successful in both work and the rest of your life. This can change as your career changes.
Certainly most people spend too much time doing career related activities and neglect the parts of life that mean the most in the long-term.
Building on your ideas and the comments of others, I have found a few key things to keep balanced:
1. Find a job you love! 2. Find a job with flexibility - prove yourself and your ability to work well and then arrange flexible work arrangements such as the ability to work at home (I love this part of Tim Ferris' "Four Hour Work Week"). 3. Work to develop forms of passive or residual income that allow you to work less while still earning an income. For many a home based business is the idea choice.
Peter
· 1 year ago
It used to be, getting a good job, working well at it and providing for a family was enough. Now, you not only "have" to find the job that pushes all your pleasure buttons, but it must be in "harmony" with everything you do in life and if you're not looking for this nirvana, well, there simply must be something wrong with you.
It's almost like the next phase rebellion against the gathering of material goods in the finding of your perfect "balance". Sadly, the problem is, if you feel content at having achieved this balance (or blending since I like that term as well), it's likely you've taken enough time to get there that you can't shake the habit of seeking it and likely not be content for long at all.
The Success Professor
· 1 year ago
@ Peter.
I strongly disagree with you. You can find the balance at any point of your life. You don't have to take a long time. Find joy in the things you do, be thankful for what you have and continue to do your best.
The balance will change as your life changes, but if you have your values right it will be easier to find balance in each stage of life, even if the balance looks very different.
Andy
· 1 year ago
A good way to find the right balanace is to look at what gives you and your family happiness versus what makes you comfortable. There is no black and white answer, only shades of grey. I recently wrote about a work specific post, discussing 21 signs why you are losing interest in your job and one more that I would add is around what you have discussed here.
Mini Mohan
· 1 year ago
Great thoughts.. There is always worries about how to make time at home after all the work. It is mainly about managing time efficiently. The outsourcing has been a key to many especially in US to achieve work-life balance. Hiring a virtual assistant is a key to make your life easy. Have a look at www.outsorcerer.com/blog to get further details about Virtual Assistance.
Shubhranshu
· 1 year ago
For any professional it is must to keep the balance in his working life to perform professional and social duties with equal perfection. It is also true that every one of us is facing tough competition in the trade so we can't cut short to-do list of the day. I think outsourcing is the best way for the professionals to sustain balance in their working life. OutSorcerer.com may also be a good source to know more ways for maintaining and sustaining work life balance.
All Comments
You tried that this past spring with little success. Unless you can come up with a new model, working at home and moving easily between selling your time and doing personal things doesn't sound like it comes easily to you. In the past, your answer has been to develop income-producing revenue streams that don't require a lot of attention on your part. Does this post mean that you're rethinking that model, or reaffirming it?
I confess that working at home and moving easily between business and personal activities does come more easily to me, although I likely still suffer from working too many hours in total. It's always been the technologist's penultimate high to be the hero by solving difficult problems, but I was doing it so much that I finally had to cut that cord recently and make a job change. More money, too :) .
But I think I can find something interesting in everything. :)
That is why I am really excited that in two weeks I am starting my new job that is ten minutes away from my house. Now it feels like I am still within the sphere of my family even though I am gone most of the day. Seriously, if my job ever offer to let me work only 6 hours a day, pro-rated pay, I would jump all over it.
But if most of your life revolves around your home area, as mine does, you probably need to be physically closer to home. That's what I experienced last year when I traded a 3-hour round-trip commute for a job 5 miles from home. For me, being away from home only 9 hours a day is a heckuva lot better than 12-13.
BTW - the long commute thing is something that can be addressed.
Certainly most people spend too much time doing career related activities and neglect the parts of life that mean the most in the long-term.
Building on your ideas and the comments of others, I have found a few key things to keep balanced:
1. Find a job you love!
2. Find a job with flexibility - prove yourself and your ability to work well and then arrange flexible work arrangements such as the ability to work at home (I love this part of Tim Ferris' "Four Hour Work Week").
3. Work to develop forms of passive or residual income that allow you to work less while still earning an income. For many a home based business is the idea choice.
It's almost like the next phase rebellion against the gathering of material goods in the finding of your perfect "balance". Sadly, the problem is, if you feel content at having achieved this balance (or blending since I like that term as well), it's likely you've taken enough time to get there that you can't shake the habit of seeking it and likely not be content for long at all.
I strongly disagree with you. You can find the balance at any point of your life. You don't have to take a long time. Find joy in the things you do, be thankful for what you have and continue to do your best.
The balance will change as your life changes, but if you have your values right it will be easier to find balance in each stage of life, even if the balance looks very different.