Getting the balance right

If you’re spending too long in the office, you have only yourself to blame, says Iain Smith

The oft-heard phrase ‘work/life balance’ is a curious thing. The words imply that your time at work is separate from your life. Really? Only when the working day ends does your life start! Now, that’s an interesting concept and very sad if true. Chinese philosopher Confucius, wise old goat that he was, had a few words to say about this: ‘Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.’
Excellent stuff, and this is wonderful guiding advice for your career, whatever stage you’re at. Having a passion for your work ensures that you and your employer will enjoy a harmonious existence, one that’s mutually beneficial and long-lasting. If you aren’t enjoying what you’re doing, however, then maybe you should be doing something else. Have a serious think about it, if that’s the case. Life’s not a rehearsal.
But that doesn’t really address what most people mean when they refer to work/life balance. Even though they may love their job, they’re talking about spending too much time at the office and not enough at home.

What are your priorities?

How you prioritise your time comes down to two things: desire and ultimately choice. If you really want to do something, with a burning passion, you’ll create a way for it to happen. So if you’re currently not doing what you feel you should be, that’s because it’s not important enough to you.
Blaming work for getting in the way, however, is finger-pointing in the wrong direction. If you’re staying too long at the office, then you’ve decided the consequences of not doing so are more important than doing the other thing you feel you should be spending time on. You’ve made work a ‘must’ and the other activity simply a ‘should’. Turn the finger back at yourself and recognise your decision for what it is. It’s your choice.

Iain Smith is a personal and business coach, helping individuals and organisations to tap into their potential and achieve their goals.
Contact him at iain@iainsmithcoaching.co.uk,
on 07515 985935,
or via www.iainsmithcoaching.co.uk