In the 1980's, you were expected to put your job first in your life. If you were half dead, you showed up and worked. Now, everyone says My family comes first, I don't care about my job. Neither of these attitudes does it for me, each one stresses me at work. Will the pendulum ever strike a good balance?
2007-07-04 06:13:18 · 5 answers · asked by danashelchan 5 in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment ➔ Other - Careers & Employment
The "balance" is a different place for each person. Only you can decide where it works for you, what you're willing to give to a job and what you intend to have for your family.
More and more employers are realizing, or being forced to realize, that many people are no longer willing to make their job the center of their lives.
2007-07-04 07:14:58 · answer #1 · answered by Judy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, it never quite balances out. Only if you can find a way to make a living without punching a time clock. What is it that your good at that you can monopolize on to pay the bills. What is it that you want to do in retirement. Retirement is quickly becoming a thing of the past, as more and more company's take benefits away. Social Security will soon become a thing of the past as well. The question is how will you survive? I can grow produce and fish and hunt. I really think it's going to get back to basics. I plan to officially retire in November, that's it, I quit. I have purchased some acreage on a bay, I plan to turn into an RV park, for an income. Try to find something that you can do, that you enjoy and have time to spend with your family. I was born in the fifty's, as children we were expected to work in the family business. I have earned my retirement. You sound as though you have earned yours as well. All I can say is start preparing now for your ideal retirement. That should keep your mind occupied. Good Luck!!
2007-07-04 13:34:42 · answer #2 · answered by Cheryl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, I think it's a fallacy to believe that we can have it all (at the same time) and do any of it well.
Sure, we can talk about balance, but it's very difficult to achieve, as you've noted. The problem is that there simply aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish everything we seem to set out for ourselves as the absolute minimum (much less what we strive for.) So, we're sacrificing sleep, putting ourselves under a lot of unnecessary stress, and (to a great extent) trashing our diets in an effort to keep up. (Incidentally, that's text-book recipe for diabetes. Is it any wonder it's becoming an epidemic?)
Forget about what everyone else thinks and figure out what works for you. If I allowed it, I could easily work 100+ hours a week (the way I used to) and still not finish my work (because I keep creating more work for myself the more time I invest in it.) But that's just not for me any more.
In my past, if I left a job, it wasn't unusual for them to have to replace me with at least two (and sometimes three) others to get the same work out of them. I used to take great pride in that -- until I realized they were hiring two or three people who had LIVES.
These days, I live to work, not vice versa.
If you want balance, you have to make it happen for yourself.
2007-07-04 13:40:03 · answer #3 · answered by ISOintelligentlife 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think it is important for each person to individually decide where that balance lies within themselves. your choices for you career and personal life should reflect the balance that you establish for yourself, and not the other way around. otherwise, you'll drive yourself nuts.
2007-07-04 13:21:58 · answer #4 · answered by chicananerd 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Retirement is the only time you will get both money and time and the money is only if you save it yourself.
2007-07-04 13:21:55 · answer #5 · answered by shipwreck 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋