So much of today’s self help and personal-improvement writing centers around the idea of work- life balance. I have written about it here on Sunday Night Success, and I work on this with many of my clients.
In the past few weeks while working with one of my clients, and just last week in my own life, an interesting challenge to this idea of work-life balance has presented itself:
Is it worth it to live your life out of balance for a planned period of time, so that your life becomes more in balance later?
Counting commitments
To give you an idea of where this post comes from, my current commitments include my private practice clients, my corporate clients in the US, and the work I do helping a coach in Vancouver. I also teach on call, usually one day a week. Did I mention I am working on a book idea?
Things have been great lately. I enjoy all of the work I am doing, I am spending some great time with my family, and having a lot of fun. However, the family finances are still in a bit of flux. I am all right with this, my wife is feeling a little insecure and would love to build up some savings.
Too much on your plate, but that’s OK
Last week I was presented with the possibility of taking on a half-time job teaching math at the high school down the street in my community.
This was not part of the plan.
Taking on a half-time teaching job while working on all of my other projects will definitely tip my work-life balance in the direction of work, something I am not a big fan of doing.
Here is the thing, the teaching job is for four months, it ends in June. The combined income from my work as a coach and my work as a half-time teacher would put my family in the best financial position it has been in the past three years. We would be able to put some savings in the bank. We would be able to buy a dishwasher (an important environment for both my wife and I with a 2 year old son). We would have some protection so that I could focus more on all my other projects without worrying about finances.
Worth it?
Can too much be a good thing, at least for awhile?
This is a tough one to answer when you are living in the situation. My first response is: yes, totally worth it. As long as you set a time limit for yourself and don’t get caught out of balance for an extended period of time, then living out of balance can be a good thing.
Living out of balance can challenge you. Living out of balance can help evolve you. Living out of balance can help you clarify what you really want out of life. Living out of balance can make the return to balance sustainable.
My second response is: nice rationalization buddy, way to convince yourself.
Living out of balance can stress your relationships. Living out of balance can stress you out. Living out of balance can exhaust you. Living out of balance can trap you so you never return to balance.
Living out of balance. Viable strategy or rationalization? What is your answer to the question:
Is it worth it to live your life out of balance for a planned period of time, so that your life becomes more in balance later?
Interested in joining me to hash out some ideas for a book? Subscribe to my personal geography newsletter and join the creative process.
