This post should have come earlier in the series. We alluded to it in the second part of the series with reference to articles by CBS and Forbes. This post will clarify that balance does not mean equality. You will not equalize time spent in your work, family, personal, and civic life. You cannot, so do not expect it. Balance more closely resembles a pie chart representing time spent areas of life you choose.
You Cannot Achieve Equality
A week consists of seven 24-hour days or 168 hours. Certain activities demand specific amounts of time. You probably need to spend:
- 40-50 hours for work: Most of us require at least that many to keep up with the bills
- 42-55 hours for sleep: Some get by with as little as 5 hours a night, most need 7-9
- 15-20 hours for hygiene and eating: Some take more, others take less
- 63 hours for everything else: cleaning, commuting, entertainment, social, and private
Sleeping and working dominate our week. You cannot expect equality when just working, sleeping, eating, and showering consume more than two thirds of our time.
Work-life balance does not imply equality. Work-life balance means finding time for the priorities in our life.
You Can Achieve Balance
Balance occurs when certain exertions compensate for others physically, mentally, and emotionally. Luckily some activities rejuvenate more than others. One hour playing racquetball, running, or climbing rocks satisfies much more than the same hour at work. You achieve work-life balance when enough other priorities compensate for the priorities you cannot control as easily.
In Conclusion
While equality will elude you, you find balance using the applications taught in our earlier posts:
- Recognize the importance of finding balance
- Accept that you can achieve—and deserve—balance
- Identify your life priorities
- Focus on the most important life priorities
- Prioritize you work
- Act to find your balance
- Follow-through on your plan
- Persist until you excel
- Realize that some aspects always dominate
Join me Monday to examine the aggravation of finding a new job and losing quickly
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