Making sense of this subject area
WHAT IS WORK-LIFE BALANCE?
'Work–Life balance is a concept including proper prioritizing between "work" (career and ambition) and "lifestyle" (health, pleasure, leisure, family and spiritual development/meditation).'
(Wikipedia)
Even though this concept has 'balance' within the title it does not mean that equalling your work and leisure time will create successful Work-Life Balance. By abiding by what what works for you within a particular job role, you will benefit and create your own lifestyle balance.
'What we measure affects what we do; and if our measurements are flawed, decisions may be distorted'
(Stiglitz J)
This quote highlights the importance of not overcomplicating your Work-Life Balance. By overanalysing your lifestyle your daily routines may become regimented and in some cases unrealistic, however if you prioritise certain tasks or activities within your daily routine your day may appear more structured and fluent.
HAS WORK-LIFE BALANCE CHANGE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS?
During the 60's and 70's, employers considered work-life an issue for working mothers who struggled with combatting a job and raising children.
Due to the impact from the U.S Government, within the 1980's new enforcements such as Maternity leave, flexitime, home based work and child-care referral were put in place. By the end of the decade, issues regarding work-life balance had not only affected women, but men, families, cultures and organisations.
Throughout the 1990's the concerns triggered for work-life balance were put into focus proving a major issue for mothers, fathers, non-parents, couples and singles. Multiple studies showed that the generations from baby boomers (a person born in the years following the Second World War, when there was a temporary marked increase in the birth rate) to new college graduates were making job choices based on their own work-life issues and employer's cultures. Rules set within the 80's were not implemented by all managers or employers therefore more people were feeling overworked and completely out of touch with their non-work lives.
Within the beginning of the 21st Century the disappointment led established human resource and work-life professionals to take action. Karol Rose published the book 'Work Life Stratagies'. She noted that the Work-Life Leadership Council of the Conference Board drew these conclusions on looking back over the last decade of efforts. Among their concerns were:
- Work-life business cases have not achieved their intended effect
- Stress, overwork and their negative impact on productivity and health care costs are real and growing
- Competition for talent from all levels will increase
Jim Bird, published 'Work-Life Balance Defined' presented on:
http://www.worklifebalance.com/work-life-balance-defined.html
'There is no perfect, one-size fits all, balance you should be striving for. The best work-life balance is different for each of us because we all have different priorities and different lives.'
(Bird J 2003)
Every person is an individual and therefore has a different lifestyle choice of routine. This means that everyone has a personal Work-life Balance strategy of their own regardless if they are within the same working environment.
There are organisations available to support and assist with Work-Life Balance such as the Ford Foundation:
http://www.worklifebalance.com
who are a 'work-life balance company and the leader in high performance enterprise-wide work-life balance solutions'
They offer training programs online and onsite to develop and strengthen Work-Life Balance enabling managers and individual contributors to integrate work and personal life more fully and positively. By creating the high-performance training program, 'Five Steps to Better Work-Life Balance' the company encourages that this source 'boosts productivity by teaching people how to attain a higher level of Achievement & Enjoyment every day, both on and off the job'.
I believe that organisations such as Work-life Balance are predominantly useful for project managers and organisation leaders/advisers.
HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO MY INDUSTRY?
Performers are renowned for working unsociable hours. With an estimate of 8 shows a week (two shows on a Wednesday and Saturday) and only Sunday off, we have restricted time to prioritise and schedule sleep, leisure, family, social time, and for me degree work!
The average timings of matinee and evening performances are 2:30pm and 7:30pm, with shows lasting up to 3 hours long! This means I would usually leave the theatre at 10:30pm, travel home to arrive at roughly 11:45pm. Due to this I do not have a regular sleeping pattern and rarely have over 7 hours sleep per night, as I have other chores and tasks to be done that night or in the morning:
- Unpack my bag
- Prepare lunch/dinner for next day
- Read over show notes
- Degree work
- Shower
When I started my first performance contract in 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers' the performance schedule entailed what I previously described. From graduating early this hectic timetable hit me dramatically. Even though I tried to plan every Sunday off to visit family or friends there were times where I felt mentally and physically drained, and needed a very chilled sunday with my feet up and regenerating my energy for the week ahead. I struggled to battle my energy with socialising within this contract due to the lack of sleep and the intensity of the shows. Even though I wasn't performing overtime, the difference of routine and lifestyle compared to other industries impacted greatly on my work-life balance.
I have been away from home to complete a performance contract in the past however I have never ventured on a tour lasting 6 - 12 months long. Even being away from my home, friends and family for two months had a major impact on my work-life balance. Being in a different location, living with a land lady or in a self contained flat brings new tasks to be done around performing such as:
- shopping
- cleaning
- washing clothes
- paying rent
- cooking
On a recent Blog:
http://hucklebethany.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/skype-session-saturday-17th-january.html
a fellow Bapp Student commented on the blog whilst discussing their interest in tour life and how our wellbeing and work-life balance is impacted. This comment has influenced me to explore this subject further. By using my reflective journal I plan to talk to friends within my industry who have toured as well as being apart of a cruise performance contract. I wish to create a blog presenting my journal entries and what I have gained from the conversations.
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