Have you achieved "Work-Life Balance?"

I go to work. I'm still alive. I'm gonna call that a win.&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>Seriously, though.... While I have loved my time in command, I am really looking forward to passing to colors in just under 4 weeks. It has been a second full-time job. I can't wait for my new staff assignment, a mere 746 miles from my house!!!</div><div><br></div><div>Probably my biggest recommendation - remember that person who told you that you had to finish everything you start? Build a time machine, go back, strangle them. &nbsp;The only thing that kept me sane over the last two years was developing an acceptance that it was ok to drop the less important to focus on the more important.&nbsp;</div>

Great question! I was not very good at the work-life balance concept for many years. I would leave work after a 10 hour work day, drive home thinking about work, and then get home - and think about work. I've literally woke up in the middle of the night thinking about something that needed done in the office and have actually e-mailed myself at work so that I wouldn't forget to do it. Unfortunately, the stress caught up with me and I had to cautiously "step back" and remember what I was working so hard for: My family. I am obviously very passionate about what I do, and I work very hard, but I've learned to work hard while at work. Now when I am at home, I make sure to spend quality time with my wife and daughter. This is not only to ensure I am being a caring, loving father and husband, but it also allows me to properly "recharge and re-energize." I find that in the end, I am actually even more effective at work. I had no specific technique in making the change, other than putting my mind to it and making the decision to separate the two.

It is my belief that finding the "work-life balance" is a myth. No matter what I'm doing, I always feel the "pull" to do something else. The real struggle is being "present" in the moment. I found this blog very helpful: http://www.markmerrill.com/.../be-present-not-balanced-stop-trying-to-live-a-well- balanced-life/.

Not sure how I missed this question when it was originally posted but it is a very good question. This is something I have struggled with my entire adult life and continue to struggle with. I used to be a true 'workaholic' and while I have made great progress in conquering that I think it is a struggle I will continue with until my ultimate retirement.
I no longer bring work home with me, physically, but it seems work is always on my mind.
I think awareness is the key, as long as I am cognoscente, I can maintain a better balance. Baby steps.

Yes... Alcohol!

I'm just joking... Yes I have. I maintain a balance of working 40ish hour weeks and I manage to keep work at work... 75% of the time. When I'm on leave... I don't check email often... and if bi get interrupted on leave... I mod my leave slip.

I also chase people, to include my boss, out of the office.

I just need to get back to my lunchtime work out

I have finally reached the perfect life-work balance. I retired

I realize this is an older thread, but RP suggested I post here rather than in a new question.

Work-life balance is something I've been struggling with recently. Work is winning and it's starting to impact my off-work life.
On a day to day scale, I get home with enough time to go to the gym, make dinner, and maybe watch a little tv with my husband. I have several projects which have sat untouched for weeks. I'm only really able to exercise my dog on the weekends. Errands, cleaning and general house upkeep eats up my weekends.
On a larger scale, it seems like there are so many things and events I'm missing out on because of work. It gets discouraging and makes it hard to be happy at work, which is a shame, because I really do like my job. I just wish it wasn't all consuming.
I would love to hear any suggestions you have about how to successfully balance work and life. Thank you.

TAKE TIME TO REJOICE SMILE LAUGH SING DANCE SHOUT SHOUT OUT LOUD SHOUT OUT TO GOD CRY OUT TO JESUS WOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO OOH RAH!!!!!!! YIPPI

As a leader, I take responsibility to ensure my folks are able to achieve it. Working people to death only creates acrimony and burn-out, which leads to low morale and turnover.

You cannot create more time, so realize that work will always be there another day. Deadlines are a measure, but we cannot constantly meet the shrinking time to complete things. It seems we need to constantly raise the bar, but eventually there is a peak. Few recognize when that happens.

My philosophy is that people's lives are the three-legged stool. Work life, personal life and spiritual life. Keep it in balance.

As my dad told me, "Too soon old. Too late smart."

Unfortunately no. Work life balance to me means a happy balance between time spent working - at work, at home (chores, repairs, etc) and time spent doing what I want to - time with my wife and children, date night, my hobbies and social activities, etc, The job has always been top priority not just because it pays the bills and keeps the roof over our head but because of supervisory demands. The law says a salaried employee can be obligated to work 24/7 (268 hours a week) if demanded too w/o increased pay, benefits or compensation time. My last few jobs have demanded 60-90 hours a week (with your salary "supposedly" based on a 40-45 hour work week) - NOT a good balance. So what's your recourse - quit one job and go to another where they say one thing to get you in the door then demand another once you're there. The "suck" factor in the job world today is running pretty high. I took 2 pay and benefit losses in 3 years to reach a sort-of balance but now the work requirement has yet again gone up. Seems like there is no getting away from it.