Work can be overwhelming sometimes or perhaps all the time for some of
us who never seem to have enough time during the day that work can just
continue until the late hours of the night.
The 24 hours in a day is just a number when it comes to work, and it is
a pretty insufficient amount of time even for those who are often encumbered by
the never ending deadlines looming near and the continuous piling of work by
the hour. It can be just daunting and snapping the life out of those who are
faced with such situation.
I can speak for myself as well, having been through (and still am in)
work situations where the daily routine is almost similar to those of firemen
put on the spot to put out fires which just started from nowhere. Fire fighting
mode can just kick one into emergency response mode; not to mention the after
effects/toll on one’s well-being, having gone through a highly stressful
condition.
Work just seems to be the center of it all; day in and out, and it is
as though it is the only reason we wake up every morning.
Well, technically true…or partially.
Then there’s life.
What do you mean by Life?
For some, it seems unheard of, for work has assimilated so perfectly
into their lives that it is life itself in their minds. Working through the
week is nothing unusual or out of the ordinary, for it is what their bodies and
minds have been trained to be attuned to.
In case you (or they) have forgotten, there is truly something called
Life, and it is that part where work is not any part of it and is the routine
one gets into when one is not at work.
That is, supposed to be the center of it all, and not to be pushed
aside as though it does not exist, at all.
We can all say that it is easy to just draw that clear line between
work and life.
Everyone knows how to differentiate work and life, just like it is a
task to sort the red and the green apples in different baskets.
It is elementary in theory, and it is highly unlikely anyone posted
this question could even mess it up.
It is definitely not rocket science.
Work is what we do within that 9 hours of the day which we are
designated to; or rather, paid to attend to by the companies who practically
supported our financial status. Anything after or out of that allocated 9 hours
is all about life.
Right?
Easy as ABC.
It should be, but often many also forgot, work is also part of life.
Life is not just that part outside of work, it is, keyword, the center
of it all.
The nucleus of our very existence and the very reason we are breathing
and living today.
The very testimony to us being here is defined as life.
It is never hard to separate work and life, of course, though there are
times when the lines get blurred as well.
I applaud those who stick to their working hours, on a strictly basis;
perhaps with an exception once in a while when there are requirements to work
beyond the clock out hours.
For those who do not, and on a regular basis; work around the clock, it
is time to look at the values of life and the purpose of work being the dominant
part in their lives.
I am not judging; after all, I did (or do) belong to the latter
category of people.
Working around the clock did not seem daunting, and was even accepted
as part of my daily life.
It was inevitable at times, or even most of the time, simply because I
wanted to complete everything on time or even ahead of time.
It was like a need to just do everything at a go, and to just be ahead
of myself (not others).
It was like that since school days, so why should it be any different?
It sounds like a normal part of life, but it should not and must not
be.
Work should never be dominating or take over our lives. Period.
It is as easy as it was earlier defined; just draw that line clearly.
Now, I am not telling you to drop everything off at 5 o’ clock sharp
just because you have a life despite having that urgent deadline tomorrow at 8
o’ clock in the morning.
Nor am I telling you to watch the clock tick every single second and
let off the confetti when it is time to leave the office.
No, the key is all about the balance.
Balance is the word.
Work and life can simply be balanced with the right amount of attention
and effort, to create that term we are often told “Work Life Balance”
It is a notion often preached by multinational corporations and working
organizations everywhere and even emphasized through mass media.
Everyone should adopt Work Life Balance.
The keyword is just balance.
There is no need to leave office on the dot like it is a requirement
but it is always recommended.
Balancing your work and life means you set apart time to enjoy life
while getting your job done.
It sounds easy yet complicated, but really, it just needs that right
amount of practice to get the formula right.
Again, I can speak for myself.
Balance is not going to throw your work into chaos and make you seem
like a social animal with no sense of responsibility.
In fact, done the right way, being one who can strike that perfect
balance would even increase your productivity and efficiency both ways; at work
and in life.
Working long hours do not mean you are more efficient or getting more
things done; rather, it just means you are inefficient and your working methods
are ineffective.
When you slug through late hours and work long hours every single day,
you feel exhausted and burnt out quickly.
Fatigue seeps in and soon you will be miserable and unmotivated when it
comes to work matters.
Work suddenly becomes a chore and you start dreading the time you have
to get out of bed and go to work. You start wishing for holidays, and you are
depleted of energy.
How could that, in any way, guarantee better productivity in the long
run?
Weekends become the time to sleep in; to make up for all that hours you
have wasted at work throughout the week with the average 3-4 hours of sleep
each night.
There is simply no life, and you are constantly drained of energy.
Health will be affected and your relationships or even social life, may
be jeopardized and reduced to non-existence.
On the other hand, leaving work on time and making sure you dedicate
time to party and just enjoy life is also not going to be a hundred percent hit
in the bull’s eye.
If you are always looking forward to your social activities and even
use your working hours to coordinate your after work gatherings, it will impact
your work performance and trust me, your boss and peers can tell that you are
out of focus. You are just not going to get anywhere up the ladder or pursue
further career advancement when you do not even pay that attention to the few
hours you are paid to work.
Remember, the company paid you to do your work.
You owe the company just that.
It is an agreement between you and the company. You cannot deny that
company of that.
Balance is making sure that there is that right amount of attention to
both work and life and never letting either out of sight.
It takes time and practice to get this right.
Dedicate your time at work rightfully, and enjoy yourself when it is
time to leave work behind you.
Work late when you have to, but do not make this into a long run
routine.
Learn to say No to yourself, and sometimes even to your management when
you have to.
It is all about self-management and time management to reach that
balance.
Do not complain if you have too much work, just manage or tell your
boss when you think you cannot handle it. Discuss tactfully and learn to
delegate or work in a team.
It is not as easy as it sounds, I know, especially when you may be the
only one in the organization running the show.
Then it is all about your own self management and how you manage your
time effectively.
We can never get all our work done.
I am sure you have learnt that by now.
Things come, and we can never foresee all of their coming; it is just
like natural disasters.
We can never tell when an earthquake is about to strike or when that
long sleeping volcano suddenly erupts.
We can plan and predict, but when it comes, it could still take us
completely by shock.
That is just an analogy.
Balancing life and work can make that difference in your life, and your
well-being on a whole.
It will even make you a happier person.
Take that break when you need to.
Say No when you do not want to do that assignment and negotiate the
deadlines with your clients.
It is never others who force you to abandon life.
Sometimes you just have to make a choice.
The balancing act starts with that pole in your hand.
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