Finding Work and Life Balance

Many people see the importance of work life balance, however it is a challenge of implementing a system or getting into habit that let you balance your work and other aspects in life. Is it worth to spend your nights and weekends for your work? What’s the problem? Not enough time, or you are too passionate for your job? Brad Feld had the same problem on having work taking over the life, however he has realized he needed a balance life for his family:

…However, until about five years ago, I had absolutely no balance in my life. I was on the road from Monday to Friday, arriving home exhausted at the end of the day Friday. Amy got “the dregs” over the weekend – I’d sleep a lot, spend time in front of my computer getting caught up on all the crap I didn’t get to during the week, and when we went out, I’d always be tired and withdrawn. The burnout cycle continued; every six months I’d completely crash from the effort (I graphically remember a vacation to Hawaii with friends where I slept 20 hours a day for the first four days – so much that Amy thought something was physically wrong with me.) I drank too much, I struggled with my weight, and I felt physically crappy. I loved my work, but I couldn’t see past it.

At age 34 when – on a long weekend with friends where I was completely absent and struggling to get through a difficult deal (for a company that eventually failed) – Amy turned to me and said “I’m done. I’m not mad – I just can’t do this anymore. You either have to change, or it’s over.”…

He suggested the following rules for himself, including (1) Spend Time Away, (2) Life Dinner, (3) Segment Space, (4) Be Present, and (5) Meditate.

Discovering Work Life Balance – [Feld Thoughts]