Do I Believe in Work Life Balance?

So, done with Defining the Concept of Career in 2016-17. 2017 was actually the year The Annual Project took off really well with its second project on Minimalism. I dedicated great amount of time to AP17. In 2018, I was determined to establish work-life balance. I believe in the concept and I want a healthy work life balance.

I thought I would share how my balance was like for 2016-2019:

2016-17: First year of work, there was a long and tough project. I remembered some crunch time as my department was gaining traction but overall, it was manageable.

2018: I joined a pretty intense project and it was pretty demanding. The crunch level was amplified more on the second half of the year when there was a change of management resulting in new ways of work. It was a big year but it was also still okay.

2019: In the beginning of the year, I realised my mood rating is positively correlated with my productivity rating. As I was chasing a progression for the year, I was willing to work more. I woke up an hour earlier for gym, and worked until dinner time on average. There were more record breaking hours. While the ratings were still correlated for awhile, it wasn't sustainable. I did lose the balance I was once so proud of.

If it isn't obvious enough, I am FOR work-life balance.

Firstly, the life aspect is just so important for me. Health, fitness, personal development, personal finance, family and friends. I don't believe in sacrificing the balance for the career push while I am young. On the contrary, I believe in building the foundation for the balance while one is young, and practice it as long as one can. I see the other parts of life as equally important and it is important to work on each of those.

Secondly, I don't want to be identified as a workaholic. From young, I am quite an old rounder and I have a lot of interests. I am one who wants it all. I do dedicate a fair amount of time and energy for work, but also prioritise the other life aspects. I felt at some point, I will eventually take on job(s) that demands my time and attention, perhaps for an experience. But when I go for that, I would like to be in the position of knowing what can be and what shouldn't be sacrificed.

However I know work-life balance is not a luxury for all.

Sometimes, you just encounter a demanding job, signing up without knowing it. Sometimes, you signed up knowing it, choosing to sacrifice work life balance. Those two including my choice, I think as long as one is aware of its consequences and know their goals, that's fine.

Also, some people has mentioned that there is no such thing as work-life balance, but work-life integration. Here's an article differentiating both and I have seen work-life integrator. I find myself nodding with this article from Forbes, quoting "the world does not need another term to discuss the same concept of creating a meaningful existence where enjoyment exists amongst all areas of an individual’s life."

So, what work-life balance principles have I established (for myself)?

0. Know your priorities.

1. Travel, and preferably with nicely planned out gap. I set a goal to travel overseas at least once a year and to cover some small local trips.

2. Social life planned out in advance. I am commit to leaving Sundays for family and paced out my social gatherings.

3. Self care routine. Massage and facials are my self care treatments. I now do body scrubs on Sundays.

4. Find that one thing you would never sacrifice on a work day. For me it's gym, it can be reading, journaling, or watching an episode of drama.

5. Be adaptable. Sometimes when there is a work deadline, I adjust my priorities and time.

Work life balance does not mean 50-50, and it will never be, and it does not have to be.

Sheryl Sandberg's book Lean In has this quote which I agreed "Long term success at work often depends on not trying to melt every demand placed on us. The best way to make room for both life and career is to make choices deliberately - to set limits and stick to them". I think the balance or integration if you prefer, is even more important at this age. There are more important life priorities, there is so much to enjoy in life, there are increasing mental illnesses or fitness issues if we neglect life. But again, it's all your choice, your priority.