Balancing work and life
Work-life balance. Does it exist, or is it simply an icon to strive for, sufficient in its symbolism? If it’s real, how do you define it? What’s the ratio? Where is the line drawn? Is it different for people who love their work and for those who hate it? For those who own companies and their employees? Isn’t it too much pressure to put on someone, to have to define what the balance is (because of course it’s individual), and then try to reach the ideal?
I bet Tim Ferriss spends working more than his acclaimed four hours per week. With all he’s doing: writing, mailing list, podcast, interviews… But how do you define work? Sometimes, your work is play.
I’m not a fan of balance. I’m a believer in going all in with something that you like. I don’t think that flow happens in the constraints of balance. It happens right there in the imbalance, putting too many hours in, neglecting other stuff to do what you want to do. Another story is when you feel stuck working on something you don’t find fascinating, simply out of responsibility. Try to get unstuck (that’s a separate topic of discussion).
I’m thinking of all the writers who had it bad, whose life was nothing about the balance and all about their writing — also, maybe about the booze or other addictions. There are others, like Haruki Murakami, who writes and goes to bed at 9pm. His life is probably out of balance, too. He chooses writing, sleep, and running over something else. The things that matter (and people who matter) push you out of balance. And that’s where you find your own proportions, your golden ratio, that has nothing to do with universal. Lopsided just the way you like.
