{"id":10116,"date":"2015-07-16T17:29:40","date_gmt":"2015-07-16T22:29:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trainingmag.com\/work-life-balance-is-it-possible\/"},"modified":"2015-07-16T17:29:40","modified_gmt":"2015-07-16T22:29:40","slug":"work-life-balance-is-it-possible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trainingmag.com\/work-life-balance-is-it-possible\/","title":{"rendered":"Work\/Life Balance: Is It Possible?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Work\/life balance consistently ranks close to the top in employee surveys. \u201cBalance\u201d continues to be the hot career issue and buzzword for employees of all ages. As a leadership development consultant, I often am asked to address the topic of \u201cbalance.\u201d I believe much of the stress and pressure people perceive in the workplace is a result of the digital invasion with an emphasis on speed. Mark Taylor, author of \u201cSpeed Limits: Where Time Went and Why We Have So Little Left,\u201d explains the current situation this way:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe worship of speed reflected and promoted a profound shift in cultural values that occurred with the advent of modernity and modernization. With the emergence of industrial capitalism, the primary values governing life became work, efficiency, utility, productivity, and competition. When Frederick Winslow Taylor took his stopwatch to the factory floor in the early 20th century to increase workers\u2019 efficiency, he began a high-speed culture of surveillance\u2026 Then, as now, efficiency was measured by the maximization of rapid production through the programming of human behavior\u2026 Contrary to expectation, the technologies that were supposed to liberate us now enslave us, networks that were supposed to unite us now divide us, and technologies that were supposed to save time leave us no time for ourselves.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

MAKING ROOM FOR WHAT MATTERS MOST<\/span><\/strong>
\nThere is no doubt the line between work and life is blurring. It is possible to be \u201cconnected\u201d 24\/7, yet there are still only 24 hours in a day! While there is a movement to \u201cunplug\u201d and \u201cdisconnect\u201d in order to create a more definitive line, it feels as if we are on a cultural treadmill that encourages us to accept as fact the all-stress-all-the- time lifestyle. It is as if seeking and living a balanced life is the impossible dream. Many people are accepting the out-of-balance craziness as the new normal and even are rewarded for it.<\/span><\/p>\n

As noted in his book, \u201cIn Search of Balance: Keys to a Stable Life,\u201d Richard Swenson believes balance is possible if we set intentional boundaries that allow \u201cmargin\u201d in our lives. Swenson is also the author of the book, \u201cMargin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives.\u201d \u201cMargin creates a space in our lives for the things that matter most. Balance preserves that space in our lives for the things that matter most,\u201d and our core priorities are the things that matter most. \u201cMargin helps us keep our balance; balance helps us preserve our margin.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Similar to words on a page, margins add space and establish boundaries. Rather than having words cover the entire page, the space helps us to focus and allows room for adjustments. When we are pushed to the limits and there is no margin, there is no room for what matters most, and balance is not possible. According to Swenson, \u201cwithout margin, energy is replaced by exhaustion. Without margin, instead of fixing problems, we become the problem. Without margin, instead of helping people, we avoid them\u2026 As we carve out margin in emotional energy, physical energy, time, and finances, our resilience is strengthened\u2026 Relationships are energized. Our batteries are recharged.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

STEPS TO TAKE<\/span><\/strong>
\nBalance will not just happen. We have to work on it and be intentional about establishing margin in our lives. Recovering balance to work and life takes awareness, courage, and might involve risk. Swenson suggests the following:<\/span><\/p>\n