Over what’s been a very busy holiday period, I’ve been beavering away in the margins editing the next episode of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’, which features the indomitable Ruth Todd CBE as my guest.
There are three work-life balance hacks that I’ve so far picked up from listening back to Ruth talk about how she balances work with everything else in her life.
Disclaimer These are hacks that work for her. That’s not to say they’d suit other people’s style of work or home life. But you never know… others might find them helpful too.
- Own your work-life balance choices: however you choose to prioritise your work-life balance choices, do so deliberately and with conviction. This avoids feeling guilty for the choices you’ve made. Ruth says… “I don’t expect people to make the same choices I’ve made. They’re my choices. I own them. And I live with consequences of them, and I live with the joy of them”.
- Compartmentalising your “work” and “life” in clear distinctions encourages concentration on the present. Ruth says in any given “work” or “life” compartment activity, she is 98% focussed on what she’s doing in the moment, with the remaining 2% watching out for the broader list of priorities. Living mindfully in the present affords her a healthy sense of balance overall.
- Immerse yourself in a working and home environment that aligns with your values and surround yourself with good people that complement your own strengths and weaknesses. In so doing, Ruth feels able to “have it all” without doing it all.
Whether or not you identify with Ruth’s work-life balance choices, this podcast episode is an inspiring listen, which centres on living life to the full and being present in the moment.
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