Class teaching (Paper III -
The Balancing Act; Work-Life Balancing)
Teacher: “We all know some jobs are more demanding than others. Some
have more responsibility and some are associated with more stress.
“Similarly some jobs make work-life balancing more difficult than
others. Accordingly one should take steps to maintain that balance.
“But first, one has to know where one stands. There are three different
zones based on the type of job you have.
“If you are in the Green Zone, all is fine. You do not have to be
concerned about maintaining a work-life balance. You have plenty of time for
it and you can actually indulge yourself in slight and deliberate imbalances.
Example jobs are: teaching, government jobs, family business, marine
engineering / merchant navy, day-shift in BPO etc.
“If you are in the Yellow Zone, you need to be careful. You have probably
still not lost the balance but there is always a risk of slipping. The risk mostly
comes from ambitions, but other factors like pressure of family responsibility,
glamour of the outside world, easy money, partners outside marriage etc. may
also play a role. Example jobs: sales and marketing, politics, pilots, BPO –
night shift, media jobs etc.
“But if you are in the Red Zone, you need to be concerned. I am not
saying that you have to leave the job or stop working, but I am saying that in
this zone one needs to be consciously aware of maitaining even a semblance of
balance. Accept that you are deeply tilted towards work and nearly a stranger
to family. If you want your children to still be able to recognize you and your
partner to remain with you, then force yourself to find quality family time at
least thrice every week. Example jobs: teaching with private tuition, government
job involving long distance commutes, IT, management, a career in international
sports, news editors.
“And then there are doctors. If you are a doctor and you want your family to comprehend and be compassionate about your
schedules then try to find another doctor as your partner.”
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