Getting the balance right

So, next week is my first four day working week.  On Monday I start reading with kids in my local school through Volunteer Reading Help. 

As a serial workaholic, I have to put something in my diary that will actually stop me from working if I'm serious about getting a life. So every Monday morning from now on is school time and Monday afternoons are 'finally write my children's book' time.

Add to that the fact that I'm taking 4 holidays this year (compared with none last year) and am in the middle of a run of 9 weekends staying with friends/having friends to stay (which means NO work!), and I'm in danger of getting a life! Thanks to those who have cajoled me, reasoned with me, tried to scare the hell out of me, bullied me or persistently and patiently nagged me into getting a better balance. You know who you are.

I was interested to hear from Chapple about a global survey of recruitment consultants.  A quarter of consultants surveyed said work/life balance is now more important to job applicants than increased salary, and six out of ten said both are equally important.

If you want to do some thinking about whether you've got a healthy balance between work and not-work, try the wheel of life - used by life coaches the world over.  Here's a PDF version I found on Mary McNeil's Create a Space site.

You just look at each category on the wheel and rate how satisfied you are with each area of your life by giving it a score from 1 to 10. It soon shows up where the problem areas are, and then it's up to you whether you want to do something about them ..

Sue