Balancing work with life
Is there anything like balance in work?
Work is part of life, and life itself is a continuum of all sorts of work that have in themselves inherent outcomes for a particular people in a particular place, and at a particular time. So, as long as there is life, there will be work to be done or delegated.
Truth however, is that in life-work balance, is that not all work needs to be done or even delegated. This brings me to what we call the 4Ds’ of time management. It’s a lesson I learnt in Neuro Linguistic Programming:
- Delete it.
Check whether the thing requires your attention or is worth your time. If it does not, then simply delete it. If it is not important to you in any measure at all, then why do it at all?
- Delegate it.
Is it important or necessary for you to do the task? Is it your responsibility to do? If the answer is no, then delegate it.
- Do it.
The one touch rule says ‘If a task can be completed there and then in a few minutes, then just do it’. I mean, if you can do it now, why do it later?
- Defer it.
There are some things that come across your way or day that you may just not be able to deal with straight away, coupled with the fact that these things are not important and urgent. So, if you can do it later and it’s not important to do it now, why do it now?
So, when it comes to work, you can either ‘Do it’ immediately, ‘Delegate it’, ‘Delete’ or ‘Defer it’.
Why is this very important to note when working within a particular time?
When we are able to identify the quality of a task and assign to it the right ‘D’, we will truly be able to find time to play when we should and avoid the saying, ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’.
Knowing the vital Ds of work helps you truly identify when you CAN and CANNOT play, and what to engage in that will refresh you. This can then be a walk, movie, wrestling, catching up with friends. Just be sure that whatever you engage in for fun doesn’t master you, because pleasure for pleasure’s sake will leave you empty.
Let pleasure be what will also build you holistically, and refreshed for your work, instead of depleting your energy levels for work. If you can achieve this, then you are ready to transcend to the next level – wealth creation.
When next we get to talk, I will be sharing with you tips on ‘how to balance your life in the area of money’. Until then, keep being intentional.