Yes, you read that heading correctly. What's so balanced about putting "Work" before "Life"?
A lot of the commentary on Life-Work Balance discusses the difficulties faced by families in balancing their employment responsibilities with care of children. Apparently, caring for children is not "Work". Hmmm. For this discussion, let's take "Work" to include caring for children, elderly and/or disabled family members and running a household, and let's also take a broader view of what "Life" might be.
In his 1932 essay "In Praise of Idleness", Bertrand Russell thought that "the [First World] war showed that by the scientific organization of production, it is possible to keep modern populations in fair comfort on a small part of the working capacity of the modern world. " Given all the increases in labour productivity since, you might think this applied even more now.
Russell thought that "four hours' work a day should entitle a man to the necessities and elementary comforts of life, and that the rest of his time should be his to use as he might see fit". He thought people would use their extra time - and energy - to satisfy their scientific curiosity about the world, write, paint, develop professional ideas, and undertake active leisure, rather than passively listen to the radio or go to the movies. (We'd say "spend hours in front of the idiot box").
Russell also thought we would be nicer people, that being less tired and stressed we would "become more kindly and less persecuting and less inclined to view others with suspicion". So long before RoadRage and PhoneRage were invented, we knew what the causes were.
Working four hours a day probably isn't realistic for most - but still, dream a little. If you worked 6 hours a day (paid and/or unpaid), what would you do with the extra time and energy? And could you hope to be a nicer person?
By Vanessa King
Women In Engineering Tasmania
Note 1: The above is probably considered heretical during a "Skills Shortage", but should we work long, long hours at the cost of our physical, mental, social, spiritual and relationship health just because "the economy" needs us? I'd be interested in responses.
Note 2: The whole essay is worth reading.
Note 3: I'm about to return to the office after 15 months maternity leave. My Family Friendly employer has agreed to one day in the office and one day from home, and I also do the books for a small family business, as well as care for a gorgeous toddler, so I suspect the lovely ideas above about time for reflection and personal creativity will remain a fantasy for some time to come! However, it's good to dream...
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