Being in the field of mental health for the last five years, one aspect that has created an awareness is the need to have a work-life balance. Everyone seems to have their own opinion about its definition and significance. Some may argue that work-life balance serves as a deterrent towards excellence, and people should strive to dedicate as many hours as possible to their work; others argue that such a balance is essential for quality output at work and preservation of individual well-being. Here is how we can reframe the discussion on work-life balance.
The Term – I have always felt that the term work-life balance is too simple to convey the significance it carries. It gives a polarised view about the two aspects, where work is the villain and life, the hero. We presume that “life” is the time we are happy and enjoying, while “work” is constantly trying to push us away from it, making it a tug-of-war-like situation.
Life consists of several domains like personal, social and work. Each one of the domains brings its own share of challenges and happiness. More often than not, one aspect supports the other and that brings a sense of stability in life. Therefore, rather than viewing them as opposing forces in our lives, a better way is to treat them as commitments that complement one another.
Dynamicity – It is presumed that a happy and successful life is defined by our ability to make a strict and constant time distribution between our work and other aspects of life. However, it is rarely possible to continue maintaining such a balance. While at some point our career goals and work take the front seat, at other times our personal space and family demand our attention.
Hence, it is not justified to use the time spent in each aspect as the yardstick of being able to maintain a balance. A solution can be to break our lives into small time frames, understand our priorities and goals in that frame and decide accordingly.
Quality over Quantity – Is time the best determinant of performance in any aspect of life? The time taken by a person to complete their professional work can be influenced by several variables, like their speed, efficiency, etc. Similarly, the quality of time dedicated to personal and social life matters more than just the number of hours spent. One good way to achieve that is to draw clear boundaries between the various aspects and give our uninterrupted and complete presence in each aspect.
Differing Personalities – Each one of us is unique in terms of our goals, work habits and expectations. While some strive for fame and financial prowess, others may be content with whatever they have achieved. Therefore, to expect every person to follow one strict time division between these domains of life is not justifiable. Preferably adjusting the balance as per one’s expectations and requirements, which may vary over the course of life, is a better proposition.
Work seems like Life – To paraphrase what my teacher once said, “Choose a branch where you don’t have to look at the clock while working”. When the work is enjoyable and gives a sense of satisfaction, balancing time becomes easier.
In a nutshell, finding the right balance between your work and other life priorities is difficult, but understanding its dynamicity, your own capabilities and expectations at various stages of your life makes the purpose clearer.
Dr. Anirban Dutta
Senior Resident
AIIMS, Kalyani
