Personnel Resources / Temp Resources

The Balancing Act

29th November 2005

Beyond the rose-tinted hope that "it won't happen to me" lies the very possibility that if we don't attend to our health - mind, soul and body - we may find ourselves deserted by it.

While the surge of adrenalin that kicks in during a period of busyness and looming deadlines can have the requisite motivating effect, prolonged exposure to stressful situations can have a very negative impact on a person's overall health and well-being, over-activating the body's organs and leading to physical and mental exhaustion. Initial symptoms such as reduced concentration, memory loss and errors in judgement can frequently develop into more serious conditions such as heart disease, gastrointestinal problems, hypertension and depression.
Not only does this impact your work life, there's also all the interpersonal stuff - family, partner, community - and something always gives.

A phenomenon that has been recognised by one of Auckland's top specialist surgeons is the number of males in their late 50s and early 60s - often newly retired from professions demanding high levels of skill and responsibility - requiring major surgery for cancer, frequently of the stomach and bowel, organs that have borne the brunt of spasmodic eating habits, heavy schedules and constantly busy minds.
Random routines and extended periods of operating at peak levels inevitably prove that everyone is dispensable.
Our health is our own responsibility, but many organisations are increasingly doing their bit to facilitate a better grasp on that elusive ‘work-life balance'.

The Work Life Balance project recently undertaken by the Department of Labour is a comprehensive report on what New Zealanders are saying about achieving balanced lives and employment.
For instance, the appeal of ‘flexitime' is widespread and is increasingly offered by companies keen to encourage balanced lifestyle choices for their staff. Importantly, the emphasis is placed not just on ‘family friendly' policies that enable attendance at children's soccer games and school prize-givings, but on arrangements that cater to those with a variety of commitments and interests outside their work.

And for those who are family focused, the provisions of the Parental Leave and Employment Act and the additional bonus of paid parental leave mean that both parents have the option of sharing time off work on the arrival of a child.
Remote working is a feasible option for many people now, made possible with home offices (be they custom built areas or the end of the kitchen table), speedy Internet connections, and pocket pc technology that means you can work wherever you are - as long as you've got a pocket.

With the move to a more project-based ‘portfolio' career pattern as predicted decades ago by the management educator and author Charles Handy, the possibility of structuring our work thanks to innovation in products and technology allows ‘downtime' between contracts to recharge the batteries. It puts the control stick back in the hands of those who choose to work this way, enabling flexibility, variety and the choice to ‘take a breather'. Most importantly, it means that physical health and emotional wellbeing are kept in better check.

As long as an adequate income can be achieved that enables more than a breadline existence and the fulfilment of financial goals, this way of working and living will become accessible to more than just the ‘chosen few', with a range of people finding ways to enjoy equally, all the important things in their lives.