I have just released my latest training tips 56 video at all the usual locations. I guess this is a slightly controversial topic but one that I felt compelled to discuss as the constant references to WorkLife/Balance in all types of media was driving me insane.
Who said there should be a balance? What is this balance? The aspect that really irritates me is that this term seems to indicate that work is bad and you must have something else that is good to balance it out. I noticed that during the Christmas holiday break I was having a lot of fun playing around on my web page, shooting parts of training videos, doing some research on a topic for a blog article and reading a book on Internet marketing and that all of this was work (bad stuff) but I was enjoying it, I was having fun, and it definitely wasn’t a chore. During the holidays there were a number of tasks that I really didn’t enjoy (meant to be good stuff). Some of these activities were watching TV more (more spare time I guess), cooking more (I normally don’t as I am not at home), shopping (seemed to just get dragged along) and doing odd jobs around the house (boring, dull things that drag on forever ie painting).
It occurred to me that work can be good and fun. Many so called balance activities can become tedious and boring. The Christmas period is a well known time when spending time with the family can cause great stress and emotional turmoil. So the term Worklife/Balance is rubbish. Yes, you need to have balance in your life but what that balance is should be determined by you. Balance is when more of your life is fun than not fun. If work is fun then it is good. Of course there are going to be many activities that are not fun (washing up, washing clothes, washing the car, washing anything) but that is life. The trick is to have on the balance sheet more items that you enjoy and have fun doing than the tedious, not fun stuff. As trainers we can have a part to play in this as we can help people to experience fun in their job and fun in other activities. If work is fun and most of your other activities are fun, then your quality of life must be better and I would say that is a balance that I could live with. There are two more parts to this mini series. Please watch them over the next two weeks. Please comment on this topic as I am interested in what you have to say. What is fun and not fun for you? Is work fun and if not, what could you do about it?
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