A common buzzword in the corporate world today is ‘work-life balance.’ It’s a term that suggests an equal distribution of time between our professional and personal lives. But, is it really the right way to look at how we divide our time? Is it even possible to neatly partition our lives into separate compartments of ‘work’ and ‘life’?
Tenelle O. Jones eloquently argues against the concept of work-life balance. She believes that this notion implies a separation between work and life that doesn’t truly exist. After all, wherever you go, there you are – both your professional obligations and your personal life follow you. Instead of striving for an impossible balance, the speaker advocates for something far more achievable and harmonious: work-life harmony.
So, what exactly is work-life harmony? It’s about creating a symphony with all the different aspects of your life. It’s about identifying what matters most to you – be it your family, your career, or anything else that holds significance.
To achieve this harmony, you need to consider all the priorities in your life. These can be physical, emotional, personal, intellectual, or spiritual. The key is to decide how much time you want to spend in each of these areas and how to integrate them into your daily routine.
For instance, many people claim they don’t have time to exercise because they’re at work all day. However, could you find ten minutes for a quick set of jumping jacks? Could you take a brisk walk during your lunch break or do some light stretching between meetings? It’s about integrating these different areas into your life, no matter where you are.
Work-life harmony is not about rigidly dividing your time but fluidly integrating all aspects of your life. It’s about making music out of your life, striking the right notes at the right time to create a harmonious melody.
So, let’s rethink the concept of ‘work-life balance’ and strive instead for ‘work-life harmony.’ It’s a more realistic, satisfying, and achievable goal, leading us to a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life. After all, we’re not trying to separate our work from our lives; we’re aiming to create a beautiful symphony with all the various aspects of our existence.