Everyone has heard these lines from the movie 3 Idiots, “Life is a race, if you don't run fast, you will be like a broken egg.” For so many of us, these words are the gospel truth, the story of our lives so to say. In today’s times it feels like, life is truly a race and everyone is in it to win it, but in our hurry to win, we overlook the little things in life and neglect our family and the things we love to do.
“I was racing through life, utterly confused and angry. I don't know if I was out of control; it was more like I felt frustrated with myself and everything I saw happening around me” – Jimmy Nail
For so many of us, this seems to apply to our lives as well. It is absolutely true when we say that the world today has become extremely competitive. We work round the clock, 5-6 days a week and by the end of it, there is hardly any time left for our family and friends and most of all for our own selves.
We slog it out at work, so that we can earn money for our families, but what is the point when in the process we end up not giving them time. Somewhere down the line, when we are nearing towards the finish line, all we can see is the moments that we have missed, the things and people we have given up for the race of our work life.
Anger, regret, irritation, frustration and sadness are only some of the things we will feel if we don't pause and see where our life is going, where are we headed. It is sometimes very essential to step back if you want to go forward, sometimes pausing for a while and introspecting is the right move.
Learning to Pause, Introspect and Start again:
1. Realization is the first step:
It is very important for one to realize that it's time for them to pause. If you notice that your work is overpowering your personal and social life, you need to bring it to your awareness. The realization itself is the first step towards striking a balance between work and personal life, but only if you make efforts after this, you will be able to get the best of both worlds.
2. Press the pause button:
Sometimes, the right choice is to pause and stop and wait for the right time to make your move. In the same way, when you feel that your work life is dominating over the other aspects of your life, it is time for you to pause or stop and think about where you are headed. Taking a few days off is one of the best things that you can do, or even going on a short vacation.
3. Put on your thinking cap:
While you take your break, you need to introspect on what you are doing and what can you do to create a balance between work and home.
4. Seeking help:
Sometimes, it may become very difficult to introspect and come up with solutions to strike a balance. It is at this juncture that you can seek help. Visiting a Psychologist or a Psychiatrist can help you calm down, and learn strategies of coping with both work and personal life and giving ample time to both without hampering either lives. It is also important to note that in certain situations it can be extremely important to seek help, if professional help is not acquired, it can lead to fatigue and burnout.
5. Work-Life balance:
Work is important, it is our source of livelihood, but our family, friends and social life are also a priority, neglecting them can have negative ramifications. Learning to give equal priority to both is the way forward, and in this aspect time management can be a huge help.
“When you run so fast to get somewhere, you miss the fun of getting there. Life is not a race, so take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.”