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How to Balance Your Life: Practical Ways to Achieve Work/Life Balance
A step-by-step, very practical guide to getting a bit of work/life balance into your own life
Picture you're sitting in a traffic jam. You left work late, because you had so much on, and now you're late to pick up the kids from school. And when you get home there's still so much to homework, washing, shopping, cooking, cleaning. And the next day you have to get up and do it all over again. How did it get to this? And is it ever going to get any better? They say work/life balance is the barbecue stopper, and maybe it is, but while a lot of us talk about it, how many of us actually do something about improving our work/life balance? And while there are countless books out there spruiking the importance and benefits of work-life balance' there are surprisingly few that go into any detail about exactly how to go about doing this. Particularly if you're working to pay off the mortgage, put your kids through school (and probably university), and support your partner. These are just a few of the obstacles, and excuses, that people use as reasons to continue grinding away at an exhausting and stressful way of life. That's where this book comes in. Chock full of useful advice and practical information, How to Balance Your Life is a step-by-step guide to doing just that. It's a practical guide to help us to get beyond that vague, dreamy desire to change our work circumstances and give us a practical framework to implement real, productive and sustainable change—so that we can take concrete steps to make a life for ourselves that we actually enjoy.
Picture you're sitting in a traffic jam. You left work late, because you had so much on, and now you're late to pick up the kids from school. And when you get home there's still so much to homework, washing, shopping, cooking, cleaning. And the next day you have to get up and do it all over again. How did it get to this? And is it ever going to get any better? They say work/life balance is the barbecue stopper, and maybe it is, but while a lot of us talk about it, how many of us actually do something about improving our work/life balance? And while there are countless books out there spruiking the importance and benefits of work-life balance' there are surprisingly few that go into any detail about exactly how to go about doing this. Particularly if you're working to pay off the mortgage, put your kids through school (and probably university), and support your partner. These are just a few of the obstacles, and excuses, that people use as reasons to continue grinding away at an exhausting and stressful way of life. That's where this book comes in. Chock full of useful advice and practical information, How to Balance Your Life is a step-by-step guide to doing just that. It's a practical guide to help us to get beyond that vague, dreamy desire to change our work circumstances and give us a practical framework to implement real, productive and sustainable change—so that we can take concrete steps to make a life for ourselves that we actually enjoy.
240 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 15, 2018
This book contains some really good ideas on how to balance your work/home life if you work in a not so important role in a not so important office dealing with not so important stuff. However, I found it was particularly geared toward those who want to spend more time with their children.
Although the author admits there are jobs you can't take home and tell the boss you'll do the work there, like bus drivers, police officers, window cleaners, plumbers, nurses, etc. it boils down to the fact that most people in your average job can't split their work and take it home. Whether it's because you are working with sensitive material that is not allowed to leave the work place or because you are the receptionist and need to be there to answer the phone. This book is of little use to those working in those jobs or who are working all hours to make ends meet. I think delaying parenthood till after you turn thirty and may have paid off some of the house loan and have done your travelling would be advisable so you are less stressed financially and can afford to have the parents work two 3/4 jobs so both can enjoy the kids.
The book also doesn't take into account that most people who take work home with the best of intentions to actually do it when the kids go to bed, then find that after they've "had a couple" with dinner and some show is on TV and after all they also want to spend time with their partners they don't actually do any work at all and the boss is going to "have the talk" with them soon, putting an end to "taking work home". Only useful for a small section of the community.
Although the author admits there are jobs you can't take home and tell the boss you'll do the work there, like bus drivers, police officers, window cleaners, plumbers, nurses, etc. it boils down to the fact that most people in your average job can't split their work and take it home. Whether it's because you are working with sensitive material that is not allowed to leave the work place or because you are the receptionist and need to be there to answer the phone. This book is of little use to those working in those jobs or who are working all hours to make ends meet. I think delaying parenthood till after you turn thirty and may have paid off some of the house loan and have done your travelling would be advisable so you are less stressed financially and can afford to have the parents work two 3/4 jobs so both can enjoy the kids.
The book also doesn't take into account that most people who take work home with the best of intentions to actually do it when the kids go to bed, then find that after they've "had a couple" with dinner and some show is on TV and after all they also want to spend time with their partners they don't actually do any work at all and the boss is going to "have the talk" with them soon, putting an end to "taking work home". Only useful for a small section of the community.
November 25, 2018
Simple and straight forward, especially for someone new to the nine-to-five life after working remotely and doing freelance for years. Really helps you think about how to negotiate and manage relationships and boundaries with colleagues in the workplace. The author is also a comedian and the dry humour and sarcasm definitely helps you along. Overall, impactful enough for a short read!
March 3, 2021
As it turns out, not as helpful as I had hoped. More a book to help you manage the creep of work into life, with tips on managing efficiency and leaving on time. Also working out if you can afford to go part-time and negotiating it. There is a section for self employed, but not much help for me.
October 26, 2012
The basic problem with James O’Loghlin’s book is that the premise seems false for anyone who works in retail-style customer service. Its that if I work 10% harder, I can go home 10% earlier, and so spend more time with my kids. Alternatively, I might get promoted, so I don’t work as much overtime. The time-saving tips in it might work really well for some people, but O’Loghlin does say his system won’t work for bus drivers, waiters or people like them.
I’m like them. If I found a way to work 10% harder, I wouldn’t get home a minute earlier, or have a cent more. It’s a pity because he isn’t trying to sell his system, his read of the audiobook is good, and the idea that if you just put your head down and work harder you get to spend more time with your kids is charming. In case you work in an industry like mine, just be aware that’s the central thesis before you commit to the book.
I’m like them. If I found a way to work 10% harder, I wouldn’t get home a minute earlier, or have a cent more. It’s a pity because he isn’t trying to sell his system, his read of the audiobook is good, and the idea that if you just put your head down and work harder you get to spend more time with your kids is charming. In case you work in an industry like mine, just be aware that’s the central thesis before you commit to the book.
September 7, 2016
I did not miss the irony that I *listened* to this book on cd because I had no time to read it. Although I don't have other books on this subject to compare it to, I do think this book addresses this subject well and really helped me clarify my thinking about how to live a life in which my choices more closely reflect my values. He got me thinking outside of status quo, and as a result have been able to make some significant decisions about our lifestyle and how to live a more balanced life.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews