Work Life Balance

It’s 8:00 p.m., or later, and you’re still at your desk working. 

Is this you on a daily basis? More often than not, do you find yourself putting in way more time at work? 

The time I used at  the start this post doesn’t really matter, it could be 11:00 p.m. What matters is whether or not you are spending more time thinking about work or actually working, and not giving yourself some balance in your life. 

Do you have a Work Life Balance? 

It doesn't matter who you are, you need balance. 

Perhaps I am writing this because it’s summer. School is out and I am watching working parents still going strong at their work. I see the candles burning at both ends and I know what that can do.

In one of the commands I served at in the navy, there were these guys that actually prided themselves on being in first (to beat the boss to work), and not leaving until well after everyone else. 

It was almost like a competition among themselves to see who could work the longest. 

I am not just talking about being there way early or late when they had a mission to fly. I’m talking about doing this every single day, and weekend’s too. 

Don’t get me wrong, there are days where the midnight oil needs to get burned at work. That’s part of the job. 

But what isn’t (or shouldn’t be) part of the job is to allow work to consume your life to the extent that your private life suffers (and I am really talking about family but this applies to those without families too).

I have seen this in the corporate world just as much as I did in the military. 

In truth, for part of both my military and corporate careers I fell into this trap as well. 

When the first company that I worked for after I left the navy moved us all to home offices, I was at that desk until bedtime most nights…and weekends too. 

My family suffered for it. I thought I was doing the right thing by trying to be the best at new job. There was always plenty to do.

Eventually, I saw the negative side of this approach to work in my colleagues and myself. 

Even though many of these guys were successful at their jobs, a lot more of them than I care to mention ended up with health problems and/or family problems. 

These were good people and they were some of the best in their fields. 

But I watched too many friends put themselves in this situation and it cost them personally. It wasn’t so much the health side of it, but the family side. 

More friends than I care to count have broken homes and marriages. 

They didn’t get married and start a family with the intent to neglect them. I’m sure that none of them ever thought they were doing that. 

But by not putting some balance in their lives, they were exacting a toll. And the toll was felt by their families and themselves.

Once I realized the negative impact that my work approach was having, I started to make changes. I also talked with many of my friends about what I was doing.

Those that have been candid with me have often told me that they wish they had listened when they were told about balancing their lives.

So, I am not going to try to tell you how to do it, but I will tell you that you NEED to do it.

You need to balance your work life and your personal life. Your family needs it and you need it. 

There are numerous benefits to doing this that I am sure you can figure out or research. 

And if you’re in a leadership role, this applies to you even more. 

For one thing, if you’re doing your job as a leader correctly, you should be able to take a week off and the ship should not run aground. 

Secondly, as a leader, you should want the best for and from your people so get them to understand the importance of balancing their lives too. They’ll be better for it, as people and as employees.

Remember, you won’t always have that job and nice office. And if you’re not careful, you may not have your family either. 

Find a way to balance them both so that both benefit.

So, tell me. How do you balance your work and personal life? 

For more information about how The Cobalt Group can help you with Work Life Balance, or any business or leadership challenges you are facing, Contact us.

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