Work and life are not two separate things that need to be balanced – like they’re on opposite sides of a set of scales. Work is one of the things that makes up our lives, and it can take up as much space in our lives as we let it. That’s where the balancing trick comes in.
For most of us, work is an important part of our lives – even after we stop working full time, many of us continue some kind of work to keep our lives full. But it isn’t all there is to life. Not ever.
Whether you’re scaling back and working towards retirement, or your balance has just got out of whack and needs some attention, taking some time to think about what’s important will help you decide what balance is right for you.
5 fresh tips for getting started
- Give yourself a chance to think this through properly. The factors are complex, and working it out will take time.
- Talk to people who will be affected by your decisions so that you can understand how they feel, and involve them in the decisions.
- Think critically about what is realistic for you. Your decisions need to fit with how things are, not just how you want them to be.
- Treat this time as a positive, life-building exercise, rather than a pruning exercise.
- Think beyond the obvious: sometimes there are creative and unusual ways to get what we want.
Useful Websites
If you’re looking for career resources, try these free Australian websites:
For information on labour market statistics (which occupations are in demand):
www.joboutlook.gov.au; or www.deewr.gov.au/lmip
For information about jobs and training pathways:
www.myfuture.gov.au; or www.jobguide.deewr.gov.au
For information about career development practitioners around Australia:
www.cdaa.org.au
For information about setting up your own business:
www.business.gov.au
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