The Level Up Letter - Vol. 49 - Balance??

Is Work-Life Balance A Myth?

Author

Better Board Meeting
November 22, 2024

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THE LEVEL UP LETTER

Hi All!
Here is your weekly Level Up Letter. Coming off the heels of the Jump Global Summit this week, we wanted to chat a bit about Balance. It seemed to be quite the topic of conversation so we thought we’d dive in a bit deeper here. This week we’ve got the AI Rundown sponsoring again so please give them a click AND we have something new for referrals down below. We hope you enjoy!

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK

WHAT BALL CAN’T YOU DROP?

The best way I’ve found to describe this idea of balance is a juggling act. Imagine your life as 5 balls. (To stick with BBM terms we’ll call them Friends, Family, Faith, Fitness and Finances) You’re constantly juggling these areas. At different times in our lives, there are certain balls we just can’t drop. Think of those balls as being made of glass. If you drop it, there’s a high likelihood it’s going to shatter and be very difficult to put back together.

Then think of the other balls as being made of rubber. If you drop one, it’ll probably bounce and you can catch in on the rebound or you can throw it in the air a bit higher so you can manage the others before it drops back down.

Maybe you’re an amazing juggler and can keep all five balls moving consistently. Chances are you’re going to get bored or feel stuck in a pattern that isn’t going anywhere. When you’re trying to make progress in any one area, you’re going to have to prioritize what you’re juggling.

SEPARATION NOT BALANCE

I’ve gone back to this idea from Tim Ferriss quite a bit as a way to reframe this idea.
“I like work/life separation, not work/life balance. What I mean by that is, if I'm on, I want to be on and maximally productive. If I'm off, I don't want to think about work. When people strive for work/life balance, they end up blending them. That's how you end up checking email all day Saturday.”

I know that’s easier said than done but I challenge you to start to implement it into your routine. Here are a few things to consider.

  • What Stage Am I In And For How Long? - If you’re building a start-up or decided to take on a major project, understand that you’re in a sprint. Just make sure and give yourself a finish line to take a break.

  • Set A New Boundary - Try dropping that OOO message for post-work hours. Maybe a screenless Saturday. Whatever it is, decide to be unavailable and see what happens.

  • Check Your Presence - Try and stay present with people outside of work. If you notice yourself drifting, checking emails etc. keep a tally. Or better yet, do something small that makes you uncomfortable when you recognize it. (ie: Move your watch to your other wrist)

A TIPPING OF THE SCALES

While I think finding balance across all areas of life at all times is mostly a myth, I do believe it’s easier, or at least more of a conscious decision, once you reach a level of financial independence. When your financial ball goes from glass to rubber you decide how fast you want to juggle, what balls you’re willing to throw higher and can breath a bit easier while doing it.

If you’re not there yet, I highly suggest making your Financial ball a priority.

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