Do you feel that your life has gotten too busy, too noisy, too distracting? Are you sensing a gap between how you spend your time, and what you value as important?
If you answered yes to any of the above, perhaps you would consider joining a growing trend of working people who are concerned about their work / life balance.
Fifteen years ago, work life balance was third on the priority list for working women, and not even on the radar screen for men. In a recent poll, balance is a top priority for women, and third on the list for men. It’s not just a parenting issue either. People want to free up time for other things in their lives. The working class is realizing that their heavy emphasis on career has caused a sacrifice of their personal time, and after a frantic day of working harder, faster and smarter, they are still unsatisfied and unhappy.
The things that matter most to them, simply aren’t getting the time and attention that they need. The important roles in their lives are not being fulfilled. It’s time that they Work Less: and Live More. For many, this means making financial adjustments, spending less, moving to a less expensive neighbourhood, giving up one of the family vehicles or making a career shift that gives them more time and freedom to invest in their own personal happiness.
In Matthew Kelly’s book The Rhythm of Life he teaches us that there are 4 aspects to the human person: physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual. When we invest time and energy tending to each of these aspects, we gain a sense of happiness, or feeling good. We want to be happy, we know what will make us happy, but we don’t make time to do the things that make us happy. Why? Because we are too busy trying to be happy. We have allowed too many other things get in the way.
For example exercise, enough sleep and proper eating take time, and they make us feel fantastic. When we invest quality time in relationships our ability to love increases and we experience a deeper sense of fulfillment. We feel happier. When we take time to read and expand our knowledge each day, we become more alert, we experience more clarity and feel good. When we take a few minutes each day to appreciate what we have, connect with our higher power, we develop a deeper sense of peace, purpose and direction.
This is a great modern paradox: We know the things that make us happy, but we don’t make time to do them.
Who on their death bed is going to wish they had spent more time at the office? Have you ever seen a hearse pulling a Uhaul? You may feel comfortable in your career(s) with your salary as your cushion, but are you happy?
Stop and ask yourself “Is this what I want at this point in my life, or do I need to Work Less: and Live More?”
Put first things first in your life, and best wishes for happiness and good balance,
Penny
*This article is dedicated to the staff of NBDACL, who thrive at making our community a better place.