Finally, last week the first long-awaited relaxations of the lockdown were announced. For many, the prospect of soon being able to drop the kids off in the morning again, go back to the office themselves, and slowly get a bite to eat outside again is a blessing.
Still, in my immediate environment I increasingly hear people who have experienced the lockdown as positive. They praise fewer obligations, less travel time and a completely empty agenda. We finally have some me-time back.
This gives food for thought on the long-standing hot topic of the work/life balance. Is that even the real problem? After all, work is something that for many is just the order of the day. We work to live. That more and more is expected of us at that work may not be something we have complete control over. Indeed, is more actually expected of us?
Various surveys show that we in the Netherlands don't really have anything to complain about at all. On average, we work between 26 and 36 hours per week and weekends as little as possible.
So that leaves us with our private time. This has become a lot busier in recent years. On average we spend 2 to 3 hours per day on our phones. There goes the first part of your balance. Much of that phone activity is between other activities which is disastrous for your focus and makes you feel rushed.
Moreover, social media further increases that hunted feeling. Our digital circle of friends is growing. We are constantly confronted with the supposedly perfect lives of those around us who are with everything, experience everything, know everyone.
In a desire for the same spectacular social life, we only further rush ourselves. We fly from appointment to appointment, while our society paradoxically increasingly individualistic becomes. We build more relationships, but with less depth. The question arises, do we get happier from such an exuberant social life? Who have you done a favor with your own free time?
From Scandinavia, we are already learning more about the value of deeper contact. The Danes have the verb Hygge introduced (translation: sociability) and the Swedes Lagom (not too much, but not too little either) which would both contribute to a less agitated and positive mindset.
One of the reasons why in the certain areas (the renowned Bluezones) longer, happier and healthier lives is their social interaction. People in the Bluezone regions connect in Moais: small groups of about 5 people who commit to each other for life. They are there for each other and also address each other on negative behavior. This form of manners could be a proven positively affect their overall health.
Also at Harvard Business Review the question arose whether we should not be more selective with our relationships and thus also with (the quality of) our time. So a little Marie Kondo'ing in your circle of friends might not hurt.
We can blame our growing restlessness on our work/life balance attribute, but that lies largely outside ourselves. You can also look at how qualitatively you handle your live/life balance. Are you really living your own life or are you being lived by the expectations of others. Those live/life balance at least you have yourself in control.
