You’re a man and you work hard. You break your back, you bust your ass. You’re a serious dude with a serious job.
And yeah, all that man’s man stuff is great, and if you’re lucky, it can put you on the path to a successful career. But what good is all of that if you never see your family or get to reap the rewards of your hard work?
Understanding the importance of work life balance can be tough for a lot of guys, but it really is a valuable lesson to learn? Use this guide to learn more about why you need to think about your work life balance and how you can help shift that balance in a better direction.
What is Work Life Balance?
Work life balance is a simple concept. It’s literally about finding a balance between the time you spend at WORK and what you do in your non-working downtime during the rest of your LIFE. You know, that stuff that isn’t work.
What does that mean in practice? It means making time for friends, family and even a bit of totally manly self-care. Want to take up woodworking? Hell yes, you do! What about a bowling league or weekly card game with your friends? It all counts!
Oh, and if you have a family, it means spending some quality time with your kids and having that amazing 1 on 1 time you used to have with your spouse before the kids came along. Go to dinner, play a board game, hit the park, get the kids looked after and have a date night. Do what makes you and your family happy – just make time for things that matter outside of work.
Still not quite sure about what a viable work life balance really looks like? Here’s a TED talk that might help you out.
Your Body and Mind Can’t Handle All That Work!
A 40-hour work week can be a grind. 60-hour work weeks can put you in the grave early. If you’re pulling a dreaded 80-hour week though, there’s a good chance you’re headed for a serious breakdown if you keep it up.
That breakdown could be physical if you’re not sleeping, exercising or eating right. Even worse, you might be indulging in junk food, smoking or drinking a bit too regularly.
Of course, it could be your mind that suffers too. Burnout is a real thing, and if you spend too much time at work, your job performance might suffer in the process. Depression and increased anxiety are also a distinct possibility.
Make room for a better work life balance and you’ll be a lot happier, healthier and maybe even better at your job. You deserve it.
All Work and No Play Makes You a Boring Bro
By the time you reach a point in your career where work can be all-consuming, there’s a good chance, you’ve got friends, family and maybe even a spouse and kids. Despite your lack of personality and looks (just kidding), you seem to have it all! But if you keep working like Gordon Gecko you’re going to be sitting all alone in your fancy office sipping scotch in the early morning hours before you know it.
Why? Because all work and no play doesn’t just make you a dull boy, it can make you a seriously boring dude that nobody wants to hang out with for long.
I mean, really, who wants to get a beer with a guy that’s always talking about stocks, bonds, and mergers? Get a grip and find some balance in your life. If you don’t, your personal relationships are bound to suffer.
Balanced Men Are Better Men
All us guys know that working hard is the hallmark of a successful man. That doesn’t mean you need to go so hard that you don’t have time for anything else.
If you don’t want to be that guy that’s all work and no play, finding the right work life balance is essential. And even if you’ve got one of the top 10 jobs that take balls to do, is it really so hard to grab a beer with the boys or play ball with the kids once in a while? No!
That inbox of e-mail will still be waiting for you when you’re done.
