In the recent past work-life balance has been the most spoken topic. A simple Google search throws about 2,86,00,00,000 results.[1]
1. Why is this now spoken most?
2. What is the exact meaning of work-life balance?
3. What are the elements that influence this concept?
These questions created curiosity to understand and share my perspective in this article.
Today, in the fast-changing world, necessities have made humans travel/relocate long away from their native to earn money and uplift their lifestyle. This has displaced the joint family system and created a compulsion for double income at home as both husband and wife are required to work to raise the kids.
Modern, competitive-driven business demands more from employees to meet the demands of customers and the market. In a fast-changing world, a business needs agility to grow. Businesses are trying to accommodate change while trying to provide a good work environment and balance for employees. However, still, it is not sufficient to balance one’s life.
The Western world is now talking about four days of work and three days of break, which means three days a week one does not talk or think about the office. Does this bring more happiness to the family[2] or does this reduce the increasing divorce rate[3]?
Now, the question arises, “Is this feasible?” “How long can businesses afford to run for four days a week?” “Will this not impact the earnings of a company and of an individual as well, as the individual’s working days per year reduce drastically?” “Will this not create new problems altogether?”
What is work? (simple definition)
- “To do something which needs physical or mental effort, in order to earn money or to achieve something”.[4]
- Work, in physics, measure of energy transfer that occurs when an object is moved over a distance by an external force at least part of which is applied in the direction of the displacement.
What is life? (Simple definition)
- The quality that people, animals, or plants have when they are not dead.[5]
As per this definition if we translate work and life balance, are we Working without living our lives, or Does work mean only working for money or
Does it also include working for passion and working for society etc?
Is this like how photocopying became Xerox in normal day-to-day usage?
Has work also become where one works only for the money and not for passion?
When doing any activity is defined as work, then everything we do in life is work. Now the question is how we are balancing between multiple activities, which include,
- Office
- Society
- Family
- Self
Today, we’re discussing a world filled with uncertainties, but if we rewind 1000 years back, it becomes evident that the past was even more unpredictable. Those times were marked by wars, invasions, religious turmoil, and countless challenges, which often forced people to migrate, placing them in a constant state of distress. It’s worth considering whether the stress of those times was any less burdensome than the stress we face today.
Interestingly, the concept of balancing work and life, something we often discuss today, didn’t really emerge until around 1970s.
A farmer does not talk about working 4 days a week and 3 days holidays because doing so could lead to reduced or even no yield during the crucial harvest time. But, isn’t he also finding a balance in life?
A recent survey highlights that people’s minds are often cluttered, and their attention spans have dwindled to just 8 seconds. In this fast-paced world, it’s become essential to convey information concisely to capture someone’s attention. Does this suggest that we’re continually adapting to think quickly, absorb information rapidly, and perhaps even lose our focus more easily?
Is there any solution to this complex issue in our ancient wisdom?
Yes, there is.
“Yogas Chitta Vritti Nirodha”
The Sanskrit phrase “yogas chitta vritti nirodha” is commonly translated as “yoga is the stilling or controlling of the modifications or fluctuations of the mind.”[6]
The starting point is to un-clutter our minds and be aware of ourselves. And then clearly define what we want to do in our life.
It is important that we understand our roles and responsibilities with the different roles we are playing in our lives.
Deep understanding in setting up goals and segregating time between multiple roles is most important.
This should lead to the so-called “Work-Life Balance”.