4 Work/Life Balance Lessons We Can Learn from TV
We’re hearing so much these days about needing to strike a healthy balance between our work and personal lives. It’s starting to sound like that “Far Side” cartoon where the dog hears his master’s voice as “blah, blah, blah.” Do you really know anyone who pulls off the life/work balance thing successfully?
As a corporate-world escapee, artist, psychotherapist and freelance writer, I’d love to tell you that I’ve achieved this balance. Well, kind of. Has it been from years of diverse work experience, clinical training and vast amounts of self-help/biz-book reading? Nah, I’ve picked it up from watching too much TV - not brainy PBS-type TV, but sitcoms, reality shows, etc. Here’s what I’ve learned...
1. Have a definite demarcation between your work day and downtime. Let’s look at “Father Knows Best,” an ancient show about working Dad and stay-at-home Mom. Kind of like “Mad Men” without all that scotch and cigarettes. When Dad arrived home from work, he put down his briefcase, gave Mom a kiss and said “hi” to Kitten (Note: this wouldn’t work with your adolescent son) and focused on his family life. I know it sounds medieval, but you get the idea - leave work at the door.
2. Schedule defined socializing time. Lots of folks do a happy hour after work. But typically, you crab about the boss or the lame new temp and the focus is still on work. Remember “Cheers?” A bunch of regulars met at a bar and the only thing we knew about their work was Cliff was a mailman. Meet some friends for dinner and make a rule to not talk shop.
3. Do some volunteer activity. Okay, this is a stretch, because these guys are usually drinking, fighting and almost never take off their work personas. But on a recent episode of “Rescue Me,” the firefighters went to a pediatric cancer hospital ward. They focused on helping sick kids. Nice way to strike a balance.
4. Embrace your nerdy, arty or other leisure pursuits. On “Big Bang,” the characters are über-nerds working in a college physics department. In their off time, they pursue hobbies of comic-book collecting and playing “Klingon Boggle.” They can’t unplug those super-brains, but do know how to embrace play time.
Well, you get the gist - striking a healthy balance is a process. Just keep working on it and maybe I’ll try to watch a little less TV. But I can’t give up “Denise Richards: It’s Complicated,” or “Nurse Jackie…” Like I said, it’s a process.
This is a guest post by Nancy LaFever. You can read more from her at the Centre for Emotional Wellbeing blog.
Andrew G. Rosen
Reader Comments (21)
#2 resonates most with me. That is great advice!
Of course, my first thought was of "Friends." Wouldn't we all just love to spend all our downtime with five attractive best buds in a trendy coffee shop in the Village? ;) They never seemed to have errands to run, their apartments were always spotless (even the boys' place!), but they spent all their time just hanging out!
I look forward to reading more from you!
Great post!
What Would Uncle Jesse Do?
"A bunch of regulars met at a bar and the only thing we knew about their work was Cliff was a mailman. Meet some friends for dinner and make a rule to not talk shop."
Now, we're talking! Have you ever noticed how people define you by your job, instead of welcoming you because of who you are, and enjoying your company? What do you do? Or, where do you work? are almost always the first questions strangers ask.
It's so true that all these lessons could be gained form TV. It made me think of one more: whenever you are stressed out, go exercise. TV heroes are always, running, kickboxing, or some other rigorous activity to feel better. Definitely works for me too.
JT