Avoid work/life balance?

I’m joking – but only half joking!!

I wanted to call this blog work/life integration, because I much prefer the term integration to balance.

I don't like the word balance because it implies a separation, with work at one end of the see-saw and life at the other. And I’m not sure we can or should separate work from life in that way. In contrast, for me, integration implies that the two things work together in a more complex and supportive way.

For example, it’s obvious that while we’re at work we think about the other parts of our lives – our family and friends etc. - and while we’re not working we think about work - well, most of us do, and that’s not a bad thing! Many of us work with our friends, or have made our friends through the work we do.

Contrasting work with life implies that life, and all its component parts, is a better and more valuable way of spending time. However, for many people, work is a vital part of their lives, it’s where they get a major part of their sense of identity and purpose in life. Work can be fulfilling, we can be passionate about it, and in that way it nourishes us.

Work is a very important part of our lives, work is not what we do when we’re not living.

Try this exercise. Think about all the good things you get from work. Here’s a list to start you off:

Money

Friends

Satisfaction

Esteem

Purpose

Achievement

Skills

Now try to separate your work from your life!