Why is there more and more talk about work-life balance? Why wasn't it a big issue when I was training? I see one reason in the increasingly blurred boundaries between work and private life. The classic separation no longer exists. However, I don't see the reasoning behind this: Because if it were just about time management, we could quickly help employees and managers with the relevant specialised literature.
In my coaching sessions, I am increasingly finding that work-life balance is less a question of time management and more a question of: How do I prioritise? What brings me satisfaction? How do I recharge my batteries, where are my resources? It becomes particularly complex when other people's priorities are added to this - for example, those of your partner at home.
I therefore want to campaign for us to rename the phenomenon. For me, it's more a question of life balance: each of us has a role to play in each area. After all the experiences of the recent past, I differentiate between six areas of life balance:
- ValuesWhat really counts in my life?
- Profession: How satisfied am I in what I do?
- Social: What about my social contacts - from friendship to family to partnership?
- Physique: How can I keep my body healthy and fit?
- Emotions: What meanings do certain feelings have?
- Person: What basic qualities characterise me - and what personal resources do I have?
These different areas interact with each other - and can sometimes come into conflict. It is important that people are clear with themselves about what they want to prioritise. Our priorities determine how stressful or relaxed our everyday lives can be.