Are you one of the few people in the world who genuinely love what they do as it allows them to work to live? Or, do you fall into the survival mode category? As in, you live to work? Do you struggle with balancing work and life?
Regardless of where you’re at in your journey, when it comes to your job – things can get complicated – to say the least. There’s a middle ground out there that we all need to find, but we must avoid burnout, or a missed opportunity throughout the process.
We need to know when “work” just becomes way too weighty to handle. Or, the complete opposite – we need to recognize when we’re not exploring our potential adequately.
The concept of work varies from person to person, so it can be pretty challenging to understand if our job requires us to live to work, or work to live. However, there is one thing that unites all of us – the value of life.
In this article, I’m going to dive into what exactly both live to work, and work to live phrases mean when defined. And, provide you with some tips to help you paint the perfect picture, one that fits the lifestyle you believe you have been called to live.
Life is there for the living, and as always, I want to make sure that you take full advantage of it, all while creating an abundant living.
Let’s get started!
Struggling to Find Your Purpose?
Download this FREE eBook for a guide to finding your purpose.
Start living the life you’ve always dreamed.
What Does “Work to Live” Mean?
Simply put, the term “work to live” means that you work in order to allow yourself to enjoy the simple pleasures in life, those that don’t involve your career.
It means that as soon as you get home, you no longer need to think about work, and you have the opportunity to focus on things that matter – like your family, friends, hobbies, and most importantly, yourself.
What About “Live to Work”?
To live to work, means that you must obtain resources that will allow you to become a functional member of society, and permit yourself the lifestyle you hope for.
It can be understood as a life based around work and nothing else, which can work out to be bad for you in the long run. However, it can also define a person who loves their job so much that there is no fine line between their professional and personal life.
So, is one of the approaches above better than the other? Let’s find out.
Which Should You Aim for?
I personally believe that moderation is essential in life. That neither one of the phrases you see above is better than the other.
When you need to give your life in your job to become financially stable, you have no time to focus on things that excite you or allow you to grow. And, when you focus on just living life? Well, you could lose valuable time in building your empire.
Nobody wants to wake up and regret all of the time wasted just on work, or in not doing anything at all. In this beautiful thing we call life, balance is everything.
Balancing Work and Life
Finding balance isn’t the easiest thing to do in the world, especially when it comes to balancing work life and a pleasurable life, but it’s not impossible.
Balancing work life can be the solution you need to get rid of any underlying negative feelings. It’s not going to be easy, and may even take you time to get right, but I can assure you, it’s definitely going to be worth it.
With this in mind, why not take the first steps?:
- Have set work hours – and stick to them
- Make your workspace work for you
- Ensure exercise is a must-do, not a should-do
- Know and nurture your network
- Do what you love
- Be realistic
- Manage your mind
- Take a break
- Have that holiday
- Know your peaks and troughs
- Prioritize your time
- Play to your strengths
- Reach out to a career coach to help you find balance
While both live to work, or work to live lifestyles can pose a threat to your overall well-being, the good news is that there is a middle ground, one that is much healthier.
It’s characterized by balancing work life, engagement, and energy.
Trust me, implementing just some of the tips above will help you to achieve everything you’re looking for, and so much more.
Are you ready to find your balance? Click here to find out how I can help!
Looking to Grow Your Career?
Check out Harness Your Butterflies: The Young Professional’s Metamorphosis to an Exciting Career available now.
Related:
Pingback: Work-Life Balance Strategies to Reclaim Your Time » Benjamin Preston
Pingback: The Psychological Effects of Hating Your Job » Benjamin Preston
Pingback: Top 10 do you live to work or work to live That Will Change Your Life - Nhôm kính Nam Phát