Finding Work-Life Balance

http://www.homebizchicks.com

Jim Bird

Despite the worldwide quest for Work-Life Balance, very few have found an acceptable definition of the concept. Here's a proven definition that will positively impact your everyday value and balance starting today.

Let's first define what work-life balance is not.

Work-Life Balance does not mean an equal balance

Trying to schedule an equal number of hours for each of your various work and personal activities is usually unrewarding and unrealistic. Life is and should be more fluid than that.

Your best individual work-life balance will vary over time

The right balance for you today will probably be different for you tomorrow. The right balance for you when you are single will be different when you marry, or if you have children; when you start a new career versus when you are nearing retirement.

There is no perfect, one-size fits all, balance you should be striving for

The best work-life balance is different for each of us because we all have different priorities and different lives. However, at the core of an effective work-life balance definition are two key everyday concepts that are relevant to each of us. They are daily Achievement and Enjoyment, ideas almost deceptive in their simplicity.

Achievement and Enjoyment

Engraining a fuller meaning of these two concepts takes us most of the way to defining a positive Work-Life Balance. Achievement and enjoyment answer the big question "Why?" Why do you want a better income, new house, put the kids through college, to do a good job today, to come to work at all?

Most of us already have a good grasp on the meaning of achievement.

But let's explore the concept of enjoyment a little more. As part of a relevant Work-Life Balance definition, enjoyment does not just mean "Ha-Ha" happiness. It means pride, satisfaction, happiness, celebration, love, a sense of well being and the joys of living.

Achievement and enjoyment are the front and back of the coin of value in life. You can't have one without the other, no more than you can have a coin with only one side. Trying to live a one sided life is why so many "successful" people are not happy, or not nearly as happy as they should be. You cannot get the full value from life without BOTH achievement and enjoyment.

Focusing on achievement and enjoyment every day in life helps you avoid the "As Soon As Trap", the life dulling habit of planning on getting around to the joys of life and accomplishment "as soon as…."

Achievement and Enjoyment every day

Let's say I'm wandering into a café at six in the morning, in my pre-caffeinated state and the implausible happens. Some philosophical guy bumps into me, and says "Heh mister, what's your purpose in life?" Well even in that half-awake condition, I'd have an answer for him. I'd say, "You know, I just want to achieve something today and I want to enjoy something today. And if I do both of those things today, I'm going to have a pretty good day. And if I do both of those things every day, for the rest of my life, I'm going to have a pretty good life."

I think that's true for all of us. Life will deliver the value and balance we desire, when we are achieving and enjoying something every single day, all the important areas that make up our lives. As a result, a good working definition of Work-Life Balance is:

Meaningful daily Achievement and Enjoyment in each of my four life quadrants: Work, Family, Friends and Self

Ask yourself now, when was the last time you achieved AND enjoyed something at work? What about achieved and enjoyed with your family; your friends? And how recently have you achieved and enjoyed something just for you?

Why not take 20 minutes on the way home from work and do something just for yourself? And when you get home, before you walk in the door, think about whether you want to focus on achieving or enjoying at home tonight. Then act accordingly when you do walk in the door.

At work you can create your own best Work-Life Balance by making sure you not only achieve, but also reflect the joy of the job, and the joy of life, every day. If nobody pats you on the back today, pat yourself on the back. And help others to do the same.

When you do, when you are a person that not only gets things done, but also enjoys the doing, it attracts people to you. They want you on their team and they want to be on your team.

Once you focus on these simply concepts them as key components of your day, they are not that hard to implement. So, make it happen, for yourself, your family and all the important individuals you care about, every day for the rest of your life - achieve and enjoy.

WANT TO USE THIS REPORT IN YOUR E-NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE?You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Jim Bird is the founder and CEO of WorkLifeBalance.com, a leading provider of work-life-balance and related leadership, time and stress-management training and trainer certification. Jim can be reached at jim@WorkLifeBalance.com. For immediate information call toll free 877-644-0064 or visit WorkLifeBalance.com. This article was published on www.homebizchicks.com by Sue Papadoulis who also produces the popular e-newsletter Smart Biz Chicks. If you're ready to jump-start your home business to make more money and have more fun and free time, get your FREE tips now at www.homebizchicks.com

WANT TO SEE MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE? Become a Home Biz Chick member and you'll access specialised and expert information on everything you need to know about home business including how to generate a home business idea, how to put it into practice, and how to make it outstandingly successful. You can also connect with other like-minded women who are happy to share their experiences and wisdom. Home Biz Chicks offers articles, special reports, audio teleseminars and other resources to help women who work from home. Sign up at www.homebizchicks.com

Chief Chick Sue Papadoulis is committed to empowering women who work from home with the means and know-how to live a life of abundance. Sue educates and advises work-from-home women, and those who dream of working from home. A wife, mother and the owner of two successful home-based businesses, Sue is uniquely positioned to help others.