We all hear this a lot. “Work-life balance”...

And how it is important to maintain this balance.

However, when it comes to implementing it, very few can offer you “Solutions” of how to maintain this balance.

Well, the fact is that this balance is dynamic. It is different for different people. So for someone who’s work is global, the timings are 24 hours. In that case how do they manage their time??

Well, the mind reads the “work-life” balance as everything to do with your “work” life and hence you get the objections about your global client timings and your commitments and your profile of job.

It doesn’t look at “life” as being anything separate from your work.

If we try to understand how the mind works, we will understand that ambiguous words leaves the space for the mind to associate it’s own meanings to the words.

So, if you are someone who doesn’t have a “personal” life because the “work life” mode is always on, then read on.

Let’s begin by understanding what is work to you. For some people it’s their “life”, for some “passion”, for some “purpose for existence” and for some it’s the “means to an end”.

Say if work for you is passion, then now answer this, if you were to do the same thing again and again, for years, without anything else in your life, would it still be a passion after 5 yrs? 10 years?

Makes you think, doesn’t it.

Take a pen and paper (stay away from that electronic device you are so used to writing on) and write down the answer to these questions

When was the last time you had a hearty laugh? The one that comes from within and takes sometime to control?

When was the last time you did something because it gives you nothing back but pure fun and pleasure? (No income from the act)

When was the last time you felt tickled to the bones and couldn’t stop thinking about it and smiling for days?

What is the last thing you remember from that get together you had with your friends?

When did you do nothing and still felt you had accomplished something?

When did you last read a book that was not related to your work or self development?

You can add any more questions that you feel you would like to find an answer to.

Answer these questions and check what have you been doing in the last couple of months.

There is no “work-life” balance if you don’t have a personal life.

Put that phone down for 2 hours in your day and spend some time with your loved ones.

Set your own boundaries and stay committed to them.

You can always give a call back. You can always send that email a little later. ( not applicable to situations of life and death).

Your memories are of “moments”. Always of “moments”.

Moments of happiness

Moments of accomplishments

Moments of belongingness

Moments of appreciation

Moments of joy.

Acknowledge those moments and see the gap between your last memory and your current time.

If you have been struggling with work, then it’s time to give sometime to life.

You know when you can do that. What time suits you best?

Give yourself that time.

Stay in the moment with an intention of creating memories.

Remember this, only you can create a balanced life and when the scales are tipped to any extreme is when you need to become aware to act and change that.

You know how to create that balance.

Don’t just take my suggestions, ask yourself what works best for you and then move forward to accept it, adopt it and apply it.

Too much of anything is not good.

Happy Learning!!