Work-Life balance continues to be a hot topic. The more technology that becomes available, the more it can connect us with our work – anywhere, anytime. We have to learn to set our own boundaries of how and when we will use it. How many of us are always ‘busy’ when technology is supposed to make things easier for us? I am guilty of that myself most of the time: work full time, have a part time side business, have a family, volunteer on two committees, blog, and I still want to do more but there are only so many hours in a day. In the end I have to be comfortable with the choices that I make.
Work-life balance has nothing to do with work. Really. It also doesn’t matter what words you use to describe it. The fact is, most people share a similar desire to create easy joy and meaningful engagement across the roles, relationships and responsibilities that make up life.
Our current habits and perceptions often get us stuck and prevent us from creating the life we desire. Get unstuck, learn the truths about work-life balance.
The Five Truths About Work-Life Balance
I received a copy of book The Five Truths About Work-Life Balance by Jae Ellard as I love anything to do with the topic. It is a quick and inspirational read, that helps to put you in the right frame of mind to enable you to make better choices for yourself. I think that Work-Life balance is a personal choice of what is best for your circumstances and priorities. My Work-Life balance may not be the ideal choice for the next person. What it is great about Jae Ellard’s book is that it gives you permission to feel that whatever choice you make is the right one for you and your situation. The book may seem sparse at first glance, as there is only one truth, idea, or quote per page…but I think that Jae intentionally did this to allow each concept to really sink in. It makes you think about each idea and how it affects you. Only you can decide how Work-Life balance looks like for yourself and that is OK.
The following is an interview with author, Jae Ellard.
1. What prompted you to write The Five Truths About Work-Life Balance?
Since 2008 I’ve had the amazing opportunity to speak on the topic of work-life balance in over 50 countries. I’m often asked how the conversations is different from country to county, what I’ve learn is there are way more similarities than differences when it comes to the impact of imbalance on our lives. The 5 Truths represents what is universal about this topic that transcends geography, gender, income, and job type.
2. Why do you think there’s so much attention paid to work-life balance?
With so much amazing technology that makes it possible to work wherever, whenever comes huge accountability to be intentional about creating and communicating boundaries around what is comfortable, tolerable and acceptable from both an employers and employees point of view.
3. Who is the intended audience for the book?
This book is for people everywhere who believe is possible to create easy joy and meaningful engagement in their life but may not know how to begin the process.
4.If you were stuck on a deserted island, which 3 books would you want with you?
Any collection of Rumi’s poems
Pema Chodren – When Things Fall Apart
Deepak Chopra – The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire
5. What are a few of your hobbies?
When not writing or teaching I can be found in movement – hiking, walking, in yoga or trying a new sport. I’m a lifelong learner, avid reader and fan of most any lecture series. I love photography and live music and spending time with my friends and family and just hanging out and being.
6. What’s something quirky about you?
To many people my whole life is rather quirky! I “steal” hotel pens when I travel and I’m obsessed with using giant sticky notes in my office – all the walls are covered with ideas, lists and inspirational quotes. It’s a little mad scientist – but it’s me.
7. What’s the most courageous thing you’ve ever done?
In 2008 when I start my company the economy had just collapsed and the last thing anyone wanted to talk about was work-life balance and the impact it was having on people and work systems. I believed then as I do know it’s all connected – the choices we make about how we live our life impact how we spend our time and money which is connected to how companies earn revenue.
More About the Author:
After years in senior communication roles crafting content for executives, Jae collapsed from stress-related adrenal fatigue. This life-altering experience propelled her to research human behavior, neuroscience, mindfulness, and organizational relationship systems.
In 2008, Jae founded Simple Intentions and developed the Mindful Life™ Program, which includes four group coaching workshops to generate reflection, awareness and action at the organizational and individual levels. Jae has taught the skill of awareness to thousands of employees at multinational corporations in more than 50 countries including China, Russia, India, Japan, Brazil, United Arab Emirates, Germany, United Kingdom, Norway, and the United States.
Jae contributes to the Awareness at Work column for Mindful Magazine, the Healthy Living section on Huffington Post as well as the Simple Intentions blog. Jae has a master’s degree in Communication Management from Colorado State University and a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Communication from Metropolitan State College of Denver. She holds certificates in co-active coaching and organizational relationship systems coaching and is the author of seven books.
Connect with the author: Website Twitter Facebook
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Photo Credit: Big Stock
Thank you, Chantal! I so appreciate you reviewing The Five Truths About Work-Life Balance as well as sharing my interview. I completely agree that balance is unique from person to person and therefore the “ideal” is different across the board.
Thank you again! Cheers!
Jae and the Simple Intentions team