It's not possible for there to be a "one-size fits all" when it comes to finding the right work-life relationship.... 

We are all different but work-life relationships can broadly divided into 3 different levels.

I found understanding these different levels really helps me to know what to aim for when it came to finding the right work-life relationship for myself. 

I hope this will also help you to understand why I prefer the term "work-life harmony" instead of the more commonly used term, work-life balance!

This is where work has essentially consumed your life. You don’t feel like you do anything aside from work and the way you spend your time reflects this.... The irony of this level is even if you truly enjoy the work you are doing you will likely come to resent it as you miss out on the rest of life. This resentment can easily become misinterpreted for hating your work when actually, all you need to do is dedicate some more of your attention to the rest of your life. You don’t need to quit your job. You need to try to prioritise other things you want to do.... Doctors, I’m talking to you!

This is where you feel like you’re dedicating equal amounts of time to your work & life. You don’t feel like one is limiting the other... they balance each other out. The problem with this? There isn’t any problem provided you don’t feel like your work is a negative which needs to be balanced by your life (i.e. a positive). It is important to realise that whilst work-life might feel balanced overall, there will be specific times when it can’t be...the point at which work/life meet will need to move at certain times. Just don’t let it move too much towards work without you realising, otherwise you’ll find yourself going back to the previous level... 

You’re probably wondering, what has happened to work? The whole point of work-life harmony is aligning your passion with your profession. As a result, you don’t need to “work” as you’re just “living” and putting your energy (& time) into things which align with your goals, provide you with fulfilment & give you a true sense of purpose. This path could involve working in an employed role for someone else but it could also involve working for yourself by finding a way to monetise your passions. It will mean you need to know how much time you have & how much energy you need to dedicate to certain things, so that you can approach everything you do in a way that does not leave you feeling depleted in any way. 

It really is possible. 

You can work your way up each of these levels by carefully considering how you integrate “work” into your life. I found to do this I needed to do 3 things: 

1. Be Present: Don’t let time just slip away from you, actively engage & immerse yourself in everything you do!

2. Set Priorities: Focus on doing things which give you happiness, satisfaction &/or a sense of accomplishment. You won’t always feel like you have the time or energy for these tasks but these things will fuel you with energy!

3. Do What You Enjoy: Find a form of work you’re passionate about...it needs to fill you with purpose, harness your skills & align with your values. If you don’t feel this way about what you do, you might need to make changes to how you work or consider alternative careers. 

You might find like I did that if you want something different you have to be prepared to do something different. The reality really is that nothing changes if nothing changes. 

I will continue to share what I can to empower & motivate others to make changes when it comes to their careers, starting a business or trying to live a better life. Did you know I offer 1:1 coaching to help others make changes in their lives? This can be related to careers, starting a business or forming healthier habits. Please just send me an email directly to elle@gabrielletodd.com if this is something you feel you would benefit from & would like to learn more about.