Work - Life Balance

[mediamanoz]

How are the members balancing between business and life, at this time of the year, and for the past 17 months or so. What techniques are they using to stay motivated, find enjoyment and fulfilment in their work and business, and maintain good health, well-being and so on? I think this topic should be received well by the forum at this time. Cheers. Best Regards, Greg Tingle

[GPWA Maria]

Dear Greg,

Welcome to the forum!

What I do, is to try to walk anytime ( helps to manage depression and it's good for your blood circulation) I get the chance, when I can not walk I do some exercise. I think is important that first thing in the morning you do something good for myself, it helps you set a positive day ahead.

I know it can get difficult to get motivated. I would suggest to take regular breaks, try to drink plenty of water and plan your meals ahead, so you make sure you eat healthy food and do not rush to eat whatever is available. I enjoy listening to podcast or other programs on YouTube while I work.

I hope this helps and I wish you a fantastic 2022!

[mediamanoz]

Great advise. I swim and do beach yoga most mornings of the week also, as blessed to live very close to the ocean. Breaks from the computer screen ever hour or also. I'll stick with the program : ) All the best for the festive season.

[newcustomeroffer]

Have to agree with Maria, exercise is key for me to keep on an even keel.

I run outside 3 times a week and do another 2/3 HIIT sessions each week in between the runs; the running outside is important to get some daylight (and occasional sunshine here in England!!) otherwise at this time of year you can easily start work when it's dark, finish when it's dark and never get much in the way of natural vitamin D.

[Sherlock]

I like what the Japanese (anecdotally) said about work-life balance: "We do not do it here".

Asking how you want to do work-life balance is like asking how to win money at casino. Simply such thing does not exist.

There is either hard work, sacrifice, destroyed life and health and maybe... success.

Or there is a life of loser, reading motivational nonsense mind-porn.

Maybe the rat race does not make sense. Few people observed that. They started to work hard and without sleep, with destroyed health and realtionships, they started to write books about work-life balance. They (anecdotally) had success.

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Yoga is fantastic. After 2 decades of every day hard work, I work only maybe 50% of days. I mean real work, pushing things forward. During those days I sleep bad, I eat bad and I never do yoga. Because as today I wake up at some random time like 4 AM, I work and then I suddenly fell asleep maybe without eating all day.

But during the other 50% of days, when I can return to my house, my wife and my cats in other country, I do yoga 90 mins a day every morning. And I enjoy every fkin second. Because after the hard work I can finally afford that.

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Decide for yourself, if you want to live in useless dreams dreamed on social networks with the others or if you want to really work and then rest.

[BCGame Affiliates]

I think that setting hard time outs is important. Turning my notifications off in the evenings, taking time out to do thing I enjoy, doing exercise etc. all contribute to a good work life balance.

[casio]

It is important to switch between work and play.
I concentrate on work and finish it in all but five hours.
At night, I make time to not look at my computer or phone and enjoy a book or movie.

[AliceJo]

Don't spend money on weekdays in order to enjoy holidays at their best. Spend 10 times more money on holidays than on weekdays.

[BCGame Affiliates]

Don't spend money on weekdays in order to enjoy holidays at their best. Spend 10 times more money on holidays than on weekdays.

This is a great idea! I may implement this in 2022

[MMM]

I think there is such thing, or there is aspiration to reach it and personally it something that guides me in my decision making.

However, it very much differs based on what is important to you in life, or what actually life is for you.

For example, for many people finding some great idea, starting a start up, working for next decade and becoming a millionaire is a dream come true. If you offer me that (including the promise that i will be a millionaire in 10 years), i would pass on it the same way i have on working 9-5.

so i would say the important thing about balance is to ask yourself what is important to you. what you want to reach. only then you can speak about balance.

I hate this "life each day as it's your last" phrase. it's unreal and also takes away any idea of investing long term effort. however if you look longer period of time, 2 years, 3, 5, pick your number. then it's easier to see how you want these years to be.

I like what the Japanese (anecdotally) said about work-life balance: "We do not do it here".

Asking how you want to do work-life balance is like asking how to win money at casino. Simply such thing does not exist.

There is either hard work, sacrifice, destroyed life and health and maybe... success.

Or there is a life of loser, reading motivational nonsense mind-porn.

Maybe the rat race does not make sense. Few people observed that. They started to work hard and without sleep, with destroyed health and realtionships, they started to write books about work-life balance. They (anecdotally) had success.

--------------------------


Decide for yourself, if you want to live in useless dreams dreamed on social networks with the others or if you want to really work and then rest.

Funny, i think we share many philosophical views on life, but the conclusion is almost complete opposite

[PROFRBcom]

Balance he says.

LOL.

That's disinformation propaganda for suckers.

[MMM]

To each their own

[chaumi]

As we saw from the 2 posts that have gone over and above the other superficial (but valid) responses to the questions (or at least I believe this is what was intended)....if you really think about the question(s) it brings up so many philosophical and other associated viewpoints or beliefs that trying to fully put them into words in any fully coherent fashion, and in a way that does the subject full justice, and covers all of the views that might differ across different people with different histories, circumstances, and aspirations... is difficult to achieve (that's not to say there is anything 'wrong' or lacking in any posts so far, more that I personally have struggled to get the ideas into words).

So I will try another approach.............and start at the superficial level that (I think) was the original OP intent......and maybe that'll help get some deeper thoughts out in the process (alas, still not good enough really and can't cover it all adequately, but at least the attempt was made even though it may not be fully lucid - or perhaps even be flawed - in places)..........


"What techniques are they using to stay motivated"----Personally I don't believe there are techniques to stay motivated. You either are or aren't, or somewhere in the middle. The greatest form of motivation is self-motivation? I guess in itself you could argue that's a technique, but it's not really something you can adequately manufacture or create. It's in you. It can be driven by external factors...money, desire, etc...but in the end those are transitory. They won't sustain it indefinitely.

My theory is that pride is at the core of self-motivation. Not the arrogant sort of pride, but the pride in doing your best and knowing you have whatever the outcome, and in being honorable, understanding, supportive, and helpful when you can be.

"find enjoyment"------ I think simplicity is one of the answers here (out of many, of course). If you can 'find enjoyment' by contemplating the shape of a leaf, by walking along the oceanfront, around a lake, up a mountain, yoga, meditation, feeling the warmth on the first warm day in March, etc etc...then maybe you have it cracked.

"and fulfillment in their work"----I don't really know what it means, very likely a personality flaw, but maybe a benefit. If you're not fulfilled, then the only options are to take it and get on with it, or do something about it. If you have the control, doing something to change the 'fulfillment' value would seem to be fairly easily achievable in a fair number of cases/situations. If you don't, then you either get out, or tell whoever does control it in a way that helps them understand why, and gives an option to find a way to change it that's mutually agreeable/beneficial.

"and maintain good health, well-being"----and finally to some stuff that is easily controllable in the main and anyone can do. Exercise, of course.....Sleep well (ie sort out circadian rhythms - if not balanced already - and a long list of other stuff which I won't bore anyone with....eat well, or more to the point not at all for some periods - breathe well - and then some more costly options like saunas, etc etc etc which may not be options for everyone.

But a good one here is a kind of attitude I think. I'm not sure if it's something you can force, or teach, or really even learn as such, It just comes (I guess if you're lucky, and dependent on many life experiences - good or bad - up to that point). It's called 'living in the moment'. The past is the past, you can't change it. The future you can only control what you can (try to) control by your actions. So not worrying about either, but just noticing and accepting them while focusing on the moment of time you're in, can save some mental anguish that may lead to physical as well as mental well-being challenges.

As an overall summary, I think the key to 'work-life balance' is a mindset. There are times when - to progress, or get out of an 'undesirable' situation - you have to work. And at those times, finding or even seeking balance is not always an option. You may have to work hard, for certain periods with little respite, and for a long time.

The mindset?

'rough with the smooth' Recognize where you are and why, work hard for however long it takes to overcome it and get through with either your best effort or well laid out plan, and hopefully you come out the other side and can enjoy the smooth, and have increased or widespread options (bearing in mind we're just talking about 'work' here, not intended to suggest it's that 'easy' with other life events)


But............all that said.............

(I believe) you're fighting a tide if it's all about money.

Of course, some have to approach it in this way (there's an argument that many of us here - maybe not all, but many - are 'privileged' in that respect, where 'have to' doesn't really mean 'have to'....there will be some not that fortunate)


If you can do what you do without money being the driver, and you enjoy or can find a way of enjoying doing it without the $ return at the end being a real consideration, you're probably in the best position to take advantage of 'balance' opportunities (and I realize this is a glib point for anyone reading who might have to work their nuts off just to put food on the table or a real roof over their head, and also apologize to anyone reading who might be in that situation for making such a stupid point of it).

If money is the sole driver, it gives rise to the mindset of effort, effort, effort, and a disregard of any balance (or a downright inability to achieve it).


I suspect that most reading will be treading middle ground in all this. We're 'privileged' enough that (more) money isn't a necessity, can choose when and when not to work hard/for lengthy periods, and can choose when to go to the gym, walk the dogs, go to a restaurant, watch the stars, catch some rays, swim, choose not to spend anything one day so they can spend more another, contemplate a leaf etc etc etc


There's an argument that says if you can do all that if you choose (even though you may choose not to, and choose to just work) - and be comfortable with it - then you already have the balance.

[Cash Bonus]

Of course it's very important to alternate between your work and play. Otherwise, you can really lose it if you don't. I work most of the time and toward the evening, I like to relax by playing games on my iPhone and listening to music on YouTube. They've got a lot of good playlists.

[PaulP]

I personally need physical activities, I think that helps the best. Getting away from the screen is the best. Working out, running, reading books, cooking (I just love to cook), doing whatever maintenance work needs to be done in our house (cutting the grass in the summer, raking the leaves in the fall, doing the snow work in the winter time). Sometimes the small "handyman" jobs around the house are the best, they´re a good balance between the "digital world".

Luckily the skiing season has also started and so I can enjoy some winter sports too! Totally addicted to downhill skiing and I´m probably a bit of a ski bum nowadays. During the summertime, hiking is probably my best. It can be a short day trip or a longer hike they both do the best. I tend to leave my smartphone away then or switch it off completely.

Anyways to sum it up; sports, spending the in nature, cooking, traveling when possible, reading (real books, not digi).

[Pokerface]

Everyone deals with these situations differently and there are some great suggestion above.

I usually start around 6am and try to get through e-mails and some admin then when I have had a few coffees tackle skype. Clearing these early helps with my stress. During the day I will take breaks to walk, bike, grocery shopping, etc. I also have a dog so she needs a few walks and cuddles. Her cuddles really help with any stress.

Evenings still working but tasks that don't require too much concentration.

With everything we are facing these days I really enjoy working. It takes my mind off the things I can't change.

[potentialeight]

I really have to get some physical activity in, or I pretty much can't function. Outside of that, I've found that for me personally, working in chunks of a few hours and then getting out from in front of my work for a bit helps to keep me from getting burned out.

[MANAMI]

素晴らしいアドバイス。私は海のすぐ近くに住んでいることに恵まれているので、ほとんどの朝、泳いだりビーチヨガをしたりしていま す。1時間ごとまたはそれ以降もコンピュータ画面から離れます。私はプログラムに固執しますお祭りシーズンに最適です。

Translated
Great advice. I am blessed to live very close to the sea, so I swim and do beach yoga most mornings. Leave the computer screen every hour or more. I stick to the program Great for the festive season.

[WillFairfax89]

The best way to relax when work exhausts you is through physical activity; in such cases, it's better to just go to the gym and do some exercise. I try to go out for a game of tennis at least a couple of times a week or just run around the park with headphones on.

[chaumi]

The best way to relax when work exhausts you is through physical activity; in such cases, it's better to just go to the gym and do some exercise. I try to go out for a game of tennis at least a couple of times a week or just run around the park with headphones on.

Tennis is a great game. You can play for fun and just enjoy it, or play with intensity and it will test you in many ways. I will bring the racket the next time I head Reading way.