Work and Life Balance

COSTIKian: Many workplace/work-life practitioners detest the term “work-life balance.” In fact, some prefer to call it the “happiest” time of their lives, and one in which they feel their greatest accomplishment, while others see it as the period where they are most stressed, miserable and bored. Work/work-life academics lack a clear definition, and many people seem not to realize that they’ve achieved anything close to it at all. The term appears static to me, while the idea seems rigid to many, in terms of defining what constitutes work or the work-life experience. For me, as for most of my colleagues, it means that all activity done within the workplace-from commuting to talking on the telephone-is carried out with the best intentions, with a genuine desire to help and enrich people’s lives. It is an important part of the employee-employer relationship that, at its most fundamental level, involves both employers and employees.

Self-awareness can contribute to workplace/work-life balance. According to Dr. John Taylor, PhD, founder and director of the Institute for the Study of Human Development and Self-Relationship, the best way to learn about one’s own self-image is to spend as much time with oneself as possible. This approach makes use of mindfulness, which refers to the ability to focus attention on the moment, and to notice and remember things that are happening at a moment’s notice. Self-awareness also helps in avoiding “self-protective mechanisms” such as denial of personal responsibility and the need to escape from discomfort and stress by turning to other people, objects, places or events for comfort, solace or escape. Thus, workplace/work-life balance requires not only self-awareness but also respect for others’ perceptions and feelings. Recognizing that you are part of the team and having a shared vision for your future are also important, as are efforts to ensure that conflicts are resolved as quickly as possible and that both parties are happy with the results.

Mindfulness should also include an awareness of other people’s needs and desires as well as one’s own. For example, people in different groups have different strengths and weaknesses, so it’s helpful to remember that you have both strengths and weaknesses, and a commitment to working as a team. Self-awareness also includes being aware of your own actions and reactions, attitudes. and feelings, since these will inevitably affect other people’s perceptions and behaviors.