How do you decide how to set priorities between work, family, and leisure in order to establish a healthy life balance?
“I see people who spend a number of hours at their work each day and are very able to balance their time with their family because their work is enjoyable, so when they get home, they’re completely present with their family” (Hanna O'Hara). Family can be the most important priority in your but for others it is all about balancing work, family, and time off. Grace Lawrence said, “I always put my family first." Creating a balance between work, family, and life can be difficult when, it “depends on the situation” (Nicholas Huxley). Things are different once you have a family, and that priorities change (Issac Ellison).
Balance:
You need to have a clear balance in their life between their priorities of work, family, and leisure. “Not sure if there’s such a thing as life balance. There are different priorities at different points in your life, dedicate your time to those things” (Rhonda Wright). To set priorities between work, family, and leisure, you need to establish a healthy balance in life. Anna Nozick said, “Figure out what works best for you. These priorities shift over time and where you are in your life. You should identify highest priority." You must first self reflect, and see what is most important to you, and then begin prioritizing different aspects in life. Rhonda Wright said, “There are different priorities at different points in your life, dedicate your time to those things. Being open to priorities changing and adapting to it is very important. Early on, not much need for balance, know what makes you happy and doing them."
Life Fulfillment:
Life fulfillment fits into your values, mental health, religion, needs, passions, and making time for friends. Karla Graves said, “You need to focus a lot more on what makes you as a person happy, we tend to focus on others in our lives and neglect ourselves." Your core values impact how you make decisions on how to prioritize different aspects of their work, family, and leisure time. Olivia Jones said, “I think the most important thing is to embrace who you are – what your values are, what and who are really important to you and make you happy - and to build a life that is in alignment with these values and try to ignore what everyone else is doing. If you have clarity about all of this, setting priorities to achieving a healthy life balance becomes a bit easier”. By meeting these needs, balancing your life will lead you to more fulfillments. Hanna O’Hara said, “What I would say is that it’s really important to have a hobby, something you love, and that you take time for that at least once a week”. Incorporating time for your interests is important in maintaining a healthy balance in life.
“In today’s world, people don’t realize how hard one must work; one has to work for the level of success they want to achieve” (Rick Roman). A career will give you the funds you need to survive and thrive in society. You should find your needs or passions in your profession as well. Hanna O’Hara said, “I think that it’s important that you choose a profession that you enjoy doing, that you’re passionate about, because the majority of your time, for the majority of professions, will be work-related. It’s really important when you’re choosing a profession that your work is also your passion, your life mission; what you get meaning in your life from because then it will fall under several categories, not just 'work.' I think that you also set priorities by choosing a job that aligns with your core values – not just related to your profession, but your core values in life. So you would choose a job that develops those values, like family. Then you’re better able to balance work and family because the job’s core values, the organization’s core values, include family”. Hanna O’Hara also said, “I see people who spend a number of hours at their work each day and are very able to balance their time with their family because their work is enjoyable, so when they get home, they’re completely present with their family. I also see people with 9-5 jobs, which will leave them with time for their family, but because their core values are not a part of that job, they’re very stressed and not able to be present with their family. They’re thinking about work”.
Leisure time:
Leisure time is a category that some people find easiest and other struggle to fit in to their busy lives. Leisure can be described as a hobby, relaxing, and time off work. Some people have issues with prioritizing taking a break from their work life. “I definitely have to work in this because at first leisure was the priority and then when I found work, my leisure disappeared” (Cindy London). Balance is the key to a complete and healthy life. Having a balance in life is crucial for a stable life. Be sure to make time for yourself. William Ferrell said, “it will help you be a better person and husband/wife in general”.
This page was developed from interviews with:
Anna Nozick, Rhonda Wright, Grace Lawrence, Hanna O'Hara, Nicholas Huxley, Isaac Ellison, Olivia Jones, Karla Graves, Hannah O’Hara, Rick Roman, William Ferrell, Cindy London