Our Top 3 TED Talks That Will Change the Way You Think About Your Work/Life Balance

“If life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” You’ve heard of TED talks and you’ve watched a few, after all, their speakers are exceptional and some speeches are particularly revolutionary.

As we spin towards the dizzy heights of Spring and start to think of Summer holidays (“Hello, warm weather — can I wear flip flops to the office?”) we question the balance of our working and personal lives.

Are we tied up in the office, whilst we’re supposed to be listening to our children? Do we make time for friends or are so fraught that we feel it’s impossible to spend time with loved ones?

These are 3 TED talks that should put those issues into perspective — we can all find a work/life balance, if we simply understand what that means for us as individuals…

“How to Make Work-Life Balance Work” by Nigel Marsh, Sydney, 2010

“Too many people talk too much rubbish about work/life balance.”

That’s Nigel’s main concern about our society moving forward to create a fair work/life balance. He identified his own work/life balance as an issue at 40 and took a year out of work to adjust.

“Work/life balance is easy when there is no work… but then I had no money”, he says.

Ten minutes that you will definitely be rewarded for, for listening to.

Original source: How to make work-life balance work

“The Happy Secret to Better Work” by Shawn Achor, Bloomington, 2011

“I think this makes you a unicorn.”

A funny and warm speech from Shawn, highlighting the importance of positive psychology and how, ultimately, happiness can improve productivity.

Original source: The happy secret to better work

“Can we all “have it all”?” by Anne-Marie Slaughter, Edinburgh, 2013

“I suggest that real equality, full equality…means creating a much wider range of equally respected choices for women and for men. And to get there, we have to change our workplaces, our policies and our culture.”

Anne-Marie made waves when her article, “Why women still can’t have it all” was published. At the TED Global conference, Anne-Marie reveals her opinions on the focus of an equal and overarching approach to work/life balance for both women and men. She expands on how this needs to be rolled out and why we need to look to our governments to prioritise the importance of family time.

Original source: Can we “have it all”?

Originally published at www.thriveability.co.uk.