The work/life “balance” topic is so important, and it’s so interesting to see how it’s evolving as we have more and more expectations to be “on” or available thanks to our phones and the WFH boundaries falling over during the pandemic.
I like an analogy from YouTuber/Podcast host CGP Grey on how you have to balance work, relationships, health, and home: Each of these is an imaginary light bulb and you have to distribute your energy across them all. If you are giving 100% to work, the other bulbs will be completely dark. To turn up one of the bulbs, you have to pull from somewhere else. I use this analogy and am transparent with my team/management at work (and at home with my partner). If I have something important happening at home that’s taking my energy, I am clear about that and manage work accordingly. And vice versa at home, I know I have a busy period at work, I set that expectation with my partner. There have been times when we know that to manage at home, we actually board our dogs or hire a dog walker to lighten the load at home to help support the energy need for that “light bulb”.
a bit late on the replaying game but just wanted to share that this post was actually inspired by our conversation over on instagram!
one thing i learned about balance is that it's impossible to do alone. community support is so critical in maintaining this delicate balance. we need help from our team, our partner, our friends. otherwise things can fall apart.
"I prefer to believe that work and life are not two things that need to be balanced. But that work is just one part that needs to be balanced with friendships, movements, naps, hobbies, and everything else that makes up our individual lives."
100%. I can't help but bring my product brain around me with every product I use but continually remind myself that it's not my duty to fix all the things. Just to make the best of what is in front of me with the tools I have and focus on making those things the best they can be.
i find that product managers have a tendency to want to save the world 😅 we're great at prioritizing problems to solve, opportunities, initiatives. but we're not so great at prioritizing the things on our plate that is definitely more than work.
The work/life “balance” topic is so important, and it’s so interesting to see how it’s evolving as we have more and more expectations to be “on” or available thanks to our phones and the WFH boundaries falling over during the pandemic.
I like an analogy from YouTuber/Podcast host CGP Grey on how you have to balance work, relationships, health, and home: Each of these is an imaginary light bulb and you have to distribute your energy across them all. If you are giving 100% to work, the other bulbs will be completely dark. To turn up one of the bulbs, you have to pull from somewhere else. I use this analogy and am transparent with my team/management at work (and at home with my partner). If I have something important happening at home that’s taking my energy, I am clear about that and manage work accordingly. And vice versa at home, I know I have a busy period at work, I set that expectation with my partner. There have been times when we know that to manage at home, we actually board our dogs or hire a dog walker to lighten the load at home to help support the energy need for that “light bulb”.
a bit late on the replaying game but just wanted to share that this post was actually inspired by our conversation over on instagram!
one thing i learned about balance is that it's impossible to do alone. community support is so critical in maintaining this delicate balance. we need help from our team, our partner, our friends. otherwise things can fall apart.
"I prefer to believe that work and life are not two things that need to be balanced. But that work is just one part that needs to be balanced with friendships, movements, naps, hobbies, and everything else that makes up our individual lives."
100%. I can't help but bring my product brain around me with every product I use but continually remind myself that it's not my duty to fix all the things. Just to make the best of what is in front of me with the tools I have and focus on making those things the best they can be.
i find that product managers have a tendency to want to save the world 😅 we're great at prioritizing problems to solve, opportunities, initiatives. but we're not so great at prioritizing the things on our plate that is definitely more than work.