I've worked it out

"Looking back at the times where I allowed my work to create stress and frustration in my life I now realize what I thought was important really was not. I am not saying you should not take your work seriously, what I am saying is that we need to realize that life is all about balance." Catherine Pulsifer, Briefcase with an Engine 
Today I found myself explaining my strict work/life balance policy to a much younger colleague.

With ten years between us, and completely different lifestyles, the colleague seemed quite shocked that I wouldn't be willing to work a handful of Saturdays in order to be rewarded with complimentary product.

I explained to him the following:

I'm 32, not particularly interested in updating my current model, and to give up one of my 2 days off just seemed ludicrous! My weekends, or any time off work for that matter, are incredibly important to me as they are my days of sanity, my days to be 'Sheree', the fiance, the housewife, the Aunty, the friend, the daughter - anything but the 'career woman'.

2 days off is such a small amount of time when compared to how many hours we spend at work and I'm not ashamed to say that my job doesn't even get a look in during my 'Sheree' time!


After stating that I have come to the realisation that 'work won't keep your heart happy, but special moments with your family, friends and loved ones will' it dawned on me that other more senior people in the room may have been passing silent judgement on me. Perhaps they feel that I don't work as hard, my priorities are not right, or that I have no concern for my job. The majority of people within the company I work for are very much status hungry and don't seem to understand why some of us aren't. They spend the majority of their day either working, thinking about work or travelling for work.

If those judgemental thoughts came into their minds, let me tell them this -

I have been at the top. I know what it's like to be in a position of 'authority', to be completely responsible for large scale projects and have a fancy title. I know what it's like to be given deadlines, to have the heat turned up and to have complete glory when outcomes are not just met, but over delivered on.

I also know that as quickly as these things are achieved, they are forgotten about and new projects with even shorter deadlines are placed before you. Appreciation is minimal and frustrations are high...and for what?

SO.....

If I choose to go home when my daily hours have been worked, it's because I have been efficient. I work to the standard my boss requires, and in most cases, deliver results beyond their expectation of me.

When I decline to work weekends, it's because I have more important people to be there for, milestones to celebrate, or personal projects to work on. There are children to laugh with, birthday cakes that need eating, lawns to be mowed, BBQ's to be cooked, music to be danced to and LIFE to be lived!

You may want to live to work, but I most certainly work to live.....why? Because life is just too short.