WHAT TO DO? Here is a Question to think about… ARE YOU TRYING TO CHOOSE ONE? IS IT A EITHER OR CHOICE? This question is important… because As long as we look at it as EITHER OR.. We will look at is as problem to be fixed… and If we are looking for solution… then we are looking for something that does not exist… Because It is not a PROBLEM to FIX … It is a POLARITY to MANAGE!!! It is not EITHER OR… It is … AND … Lets clear up this part first… PROBLEM POLARITY A Cause & Effect challenge A Dilemma between two ends of a spectrum Can have a right or best answer / solution Ongoing, unsolvable, and contains seemingly opposing ideas Solution / Response eliminates the Cause and/or Effect completely or partially Any approach/idea seem to favor one end of the spectrum at the expense of the other Problem or Solution… only one of them exists. A Solution in place implies Problem is gone Both ends will simultaneously exist.. One impacting the other, often adversely Can be SOLVED Can only be MANAGED Lets get back to the Question again… Your challenge.. Work/Life Balance… Is that a PROBLEM or POLARITY ??? Then What should I do? How do I manage? Lets understand few things about POLARITIES We want both ends of the POLARITY because, there is some thing good/positive about them Too much of either end of the POLARITY directly or indirectly takes away some thing we value or feel good/positive about on the opposite end Intent is to get best of both ends of the POLARITY with least experience of loosing anything we value or feel good/positive about on both ends Now, for WORK LIFE dilemma, Can you think of following questions… and see what your responses would be… What are the positive / good aspects of being on this side - WORK? What are the positive / good aspects of being on this side - LIFE? What do you get or value most of being this side of the polarity - WORK? What do you get or value most of being this side of the polarity - LIFE? If you are here more, what are you loosing from being on the other side? If you are here more, what are you loosing from being on the other side? What hurts you or loose most if you are on this side of the polarity for too much? What hurts you or loose most if you are on this side of the polarity for too much? WORK LIFE Let me share my example… just to give an idea.. I am going to mention one on each quadrant based on what is true for me. Here it goes… When I am on this side (WORK), I feel the sense of ACHIEVEMENT. It is very important to me… When I am on this side (LIFE), I feel the sense of LIVING. Makes me smile and be happy. When I spend too much time here, I feel little lost. I feel life is too routine and boring… and exhausting. When I spend too much time here, I get worried about lack of resources… Worried about what will happen in future.. How will I provide best resources for my loved ones? WORK LIFE Now your turn… Thinks of at least 5 things in each quadrant. If you can, may be more. Be as truthful to yourself as possible Just THREE things left to do now… o TRIGGERS - You need early warning signs of experiencing any of the negatives you identified on either side of POLARITY o Once any TRIGGER happens, what is one or two things you can immediately do to experience positives of opposite side of the POLARITY. SIMPLE and EASY things you can do… o DO those one or two things… and don’t wait for time… MAKE time and DO Let me take my example… And share what those recovery actions are for me… My Triggers to recognize this happening - My Triggers to recognize this happening - Loosing focus on what I am doing Silly mistakes in what I am doing - With my family, physically… but absent mentally - Bank account starts appearing in my thoughts My immediate actions - My immediate actions - Step out of work area… Talk to my partner or have a coffee break Watch a home video or pics of our last vacation Take a short walk outside - Check on e-mail / tasks on hand and see if any thing needs to be done on priority Connect with a friend/colleague and talk about work / career Read a blog / watch a short learning video Get the idea of what needs to be done and how to manage / balance? Your turn now… Now you know what POLARITY management is… And how to use it to manage WORK / LIFE balance Not just WORK / LIFE but any thing that fits into the definition of a POLARITY
