Ashu Khanna writes about finding an equation between life and work
A common debate that universally captures attention, is the concept of work-life balance.
What does it meanIJ A fundamental question that arises is why do we look at work separate from life. Are we not living life while workingIJ
Balance is a state of mind. We are gifted with aptitudes as thinkers, creators or workers. How we live and fulfill our role in the world determines the quality of our life.
We go off balance when we get attached to our role and consequently our thoughts (fears, desires or ego) hinder us. If we are able to control our thoughts and play our designated role, our body-mind-soul will stay in balance.
All human beings are capable of doing something. Obviously, everyone cannot do everything.
We all are gifted with certain intelligences and talents. When people take professions according to their personal inclinations, they perform work effortlessly, efficiently and joyously. They succeed easily and feel satisfied, as they are able to excel at it. If the choice of profession does not match the inherent preferences, there is hypocrisy, tension, boredom within and chaos and confusion outside.
“Where there is love, there is life,” said Mahatma Gandhi Where and how we distribute our love defines our life. The area of life that gets more love, flourishes more. The ethos of Nalanda University was discipline and commitment to excellence. How mindful are we of the state of your body, mind and selfIJ At times, we take our life for granted and not necessarily regard it as a precious commodity, valuing every aspect of it and using it mindfully.
“I’ve learned that you can’t have everything and do everything at the same time,” said Oprah Winfrey
Work is part of life and how much you make it a part of life is a matter of choice.
If we are driven to succeed at our job, we divert our energies accordingly. The quality of other aspects of our life gets impacted in the process as we have limited resource of energy and time. Technology can be used as a powerful tool to improve the quality of life.
The iPad allows you to catch up news through e-newspapers and magazines and emails, the mobile connects you through the day, internet gives you access to data on every possible topic. We can use them effectively to create time and communicate on a real time basis. Many organisations are today open to concepts like flexible working hours, working from home, having baby day care facilities for working mothers.
As a parent, the conflict often arises on time at work versus family and other interests. Often although we are physically present, our mind may be preoccupied. Hence, the effectiveness of time spent gets marginalised.
Making an effort to have a meal together, play a game together, taking short holidays to reconnect and rejuvenate are some examples to stay connected with the family rather than always waiting for that long break. It is challenge to keep our eye on the larger picture or our vision for life at all times. It requires tremendous time consciousness, awareness and commitment to the goal. Our two most expensive resources are internal energy and time. When life is lived impulsively rather than thoughtfully, these get wastefully consumed. For instance, we idle time chatting and gossiping about the office politics, Bollywood, cricket, economy etc at the coffee machine or on the telephone. When I coach executives, I often recommend that they take out at least 10- 15 minutes a day as reflection time to analyse what did they do well or not and incorporate the learning.
life is a bundle of choices based on our motivations at that moment of time. We normally make time for what motivates us. life is dynamic and the time required to be given to activities shifts moment to moment. A sense of balance is achieved when we accept responsibility for the outcome in each area of life.
Author Betsy Jacobson is quoted as once having said, “Balance is not better time management, but better boundary management. Balance means making choices and enjoying those choices.”
(The author is a life coach and leadership trainer).