I wrote a new post at on the Total Attorneys’ Blog:
There is always alot of chatter how we as business people need to balance our personal and business life. There are constant articles in the media that tell us “The Ten Ways To Live Balanced Lives”
For Example:
Way #1.Work as long as hard as you want during the day. Get to work early, leave late, but when you go home, leave your work at work.
Obviously, the author of Way #1 has never met my iPhone. We live in a 24/7 world. Get used to it.
Way #5. Set aside time on the weekend to get away from your work issues. Spend time with your friends and family. Participate in your favorie hobby or play sports.
Obviously, the author of Way #5 has never met my friends or family. During these tough economic times, you can’t help talk about how your work is affecting your family and friends. When I play sports, in the huddle or on the bench, we are talking about work (or sometimes power tools).
Way #8. Don’t bring your laptop or cell phone on your next vacation so you can get completely away from work.
Not bring my cell phone or my next vacation- are you crazy? The only way I can get peace of mind and job security is to have my phone with me!
Way #10 Disregard Ways #1 through 9
So what do you do with your personal and professional life to achieve balance? The only thing you can do is merge them together and live one life. Forget about separating them out- if you merge your business and personal life together you can be happily successful. I define success as being able to support my family at something I enjoy doing.
If this is the case for you in your practice, there are no needs to build artificial walls around work or personal life. However, I do have a few recommendations go make the merger go well:
1. Be Present. Where ever you are (work or personal) be 100% there. Don’t be at work and constantly be on personal phone calls. Don’t be at a restaurant with your family and constantly be on the cell phone.
2. Make Islands of Tranquility in Your Life. Turn off your cell phone every night at a certain time before you go to bed. Don’t answer your cell phone when working out at the gym or in the restroom (or any other islands you want to create) Somewhere and sometime you need to get away. I once took a vacation to Australia for a month and told no one to call me and for them not to try to find me.
How do you merge your business and professional life?
Right on, Barry! Ideally, our work should be our love, our passion. It becomes an integral part of our lives with no need for strict separations. If one is emotionally & spiritually healthy, there will be an almost effortless, organic, natural balance. I think it’s the workaholics that have problems balancing. They seem to be avoiding personal issues by allowing work to consume them.
Something interesting has been happening. When I bring my laptop home for the weekend, guess where it sits? In my carrying case. I have resisted the urge to do work and give myself R&R time to refresh the brain and the soul. By the time Monday rolls in, I’m ready to tackle the week. True, you will find me working late at the office, but then I call it quits for the day and go home.I like this weekly sabbatical!
We all need to find balance in our lives any way we can….its an individual goal not ruled by formula!
Work life balance is something I’ve had on my mind for awhile. I think when we’re entrepreneurs or running our own business, it can be hard to disconnect from it.
I love the idea of creating islands of tranquility. I give myself breaks to return to my inner place, so it’s always me coming to my work recharged. :)