Work and life – the new balancing act.
As a recent grad, I was initially faced in my new role with questions like “am I being professional enough in my job?” or “is this e-mail I am sending appropriate?” or “should I be seen doing this now that I am no longer a student?” At first I found myself wondering how I should manage my digital tattoo now that my family AND co-workers all have Facebook (Hi Mom!). But that’s when it hit me – I can’t be two people at once (keeping track of one me is hard enough) so why try and lead two different lives?
Work and life. Previously very seperate entities.
Unfortunately, in the age of constant connection (cell phones, Facebook, Twitter, and crackberries/iPhones that combine all the above), they are no longer two separate things. You can’t ignore your co-workers after you leave the office cause you now have them on Facebook (and if you don’t, they’ll probably ask you why you aren’t “friends” yet next time you cross paths at the water cooler). Likewise, you can’t screen your personal calls at work and not talk to your friends/family/dentist until you leave the office because they may just not call you after work if you treat them like that. I guess in the dentist case, that may not be such a bad thing.
Solution: be honest with yourself and those around you about who you are and what you do - quirks and all. It makes for richer relationships, both at work and at home. Yes, I graduated from, and now work at, the University of British Columbia. Yes, I still enjoy a good dance party in my room. Yes, I get to interact with President Toope and some notable (and soon to be notable) alumni on a regular basis. And yes, I still don’t know how to tie my shoes without doing two “bunny ears” first.
In the wise words of my sister, “no one wants to work with a professional, they want to work with a person.” So bring your personality to work! Have fun with it. Share your interests with your colleagues. Smile when you answer the phone. Laugh at yourself. Give out high fives instead of handshakes! Don’t talk to your friends like they’re business partners, but try talking to your business partners like they’re your friends. And, above all, get your work done. No one wants to work with a slacker either.
After all, work-life balance is not about separating your contact list, it’s about balancing your to-do list.
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Ah! So wise you are bro! Drop the separate contact list and embrace the to-do lists – what what!
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