Among the many tools I provide to help people assess their use of time, probably one of the clearest challenges in time management comes from the Work-Life Balance (WLB) report. Now, if you have read any of my work for a while, you know I think work-life balance is a mirage. As much as you try and maintain an equilibrium between professional and personal life, events tend to pull you in different directions. For many, that default is…work takes precedent.  

This leads individuals to define their value in life to their occupation. So much so, that when you apply the results of the WLB, the formula looks like:

Self-worth = (80% X Professional Life) + (20% X Personal Life)

For the average person, careers can consume over 40% of awake time but even more of our energy, causing us to use time outside of work to recuperate and recharge the batteries for the next day.  Others jump right from work into personal obligations and over-scheduled activities that sacrifice personal care and Sleep to compensate.

In the pursuit of enhancing the amount of quality time in all of life, the components of your own self-worth equation should be examined, challenged, and adapted so that you are creating a formula that encompasses all aspects of your existence. Here are some of the ways to consider.

Define a Purpose Statement

“What do you do for a living?” It is a question often asked when people meet for the first time. However, it is often a conversation stopper when one of the participants is retired. While an easy way to get started, it immediately channels the conversation into only the professional side of life.

When asked this now, I typically respond, “Let me tell you about my purpose in life. I seek to make the best use of my time that God has given me.”

I am not going to lie, I have gotten all kinds of responses, and it has been a conversation stopper as well. Yet, it often leads to a “Why?” I now get to control the response and direction of the conversation.  

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Personal Time Blocking

Time blocking comes in a variety of forms. Whatever adaptation you use (or nothing all), it tends only to tie to professional activities. Once you get outside of traditional business hours, the calendar becomes a blank canvas that never gets painted.

Invest time into allocating dedicated personal time that gets tested back to your purpose statement. Sure, not all activities warrant fulfillment of major life goals, but keeping one eye on how you invest in your personal time, helps you realize more fulfilling quality time outside of work. It also creates opportunities of structured separation, increasing focused value beyond career.

Mindfully Present

Our access to our work is easier than ever. I tend to get a chuckle when people who are in the midst of a professional career who are going on a cruise for their vacation. On one hand they are gleeful that their coworkers won’t be able to communicate with them (typically they do not have access to work emails). At the same time, there is an underlying fear that they will miss something and that they will be buried in follow-up when they get back.

I always council, as the vacation plans and arrangements are made, plan the business side as well to be able to be mindfully present in the personal side of life when out of the office. In addition, map out the first couple of days back from vacation, time blocking ample time to get caught up on all the needed follow up.

Your challenge should be to adopt the cruise mindset when you are not on vacation. How can you plan your life so that you are fully present during important personal elements of life?

Living the New Equation

You may have made it to this point and could be thinking, “But I really like what I do, and my job is very meaningful.” Great, just consider adjusting your self-worth equation to add in enough flexibility.

Self-worth = (Life purpose) + (Time Blocking) + (Mindfully Present)

Define and reflect on a purpose in life that recognizes the value of your career while not ignoring quality time outside of work. Treat your personal time like your professional time by planning and blocking important events. Finally, focus on being mindfully present during personal time and enjoy the quality opportunities that will come your way.

David Buck is the author of the book The Time-Optimized Life, coauthor of The Retirement Collective, and owner of Kairos (Time) Management Solutions, LLC. Learn how to apply the concepts of proactively planning and using your time. Take the Time Management Analysis (TMA), the Retirement Time Analysis (RTA), or all the other free resources offered to help bring more quality time into your life.

The post Shifting the Self Worth Equation first appeared on Infinity Lifestyle Design.

David Buck Time Strategist

In 35+ years of business development, David developed a strong awareness of what it took for people to be productive and efficient, not just busy. He also personally sought to gain a balance of having a successful career along with the ability to pursue a meaningful personal life.

That led David to start Kairos Management Solutions, focusing all his attention to guide business professionals who struggle with a lack of flexibility in their life to gain more quality personal time. David helps others craft a strategy around their current management of time, and then define a lifestyle of intention, ease, and joy.

In 2024, David released two books, the first being The Time Optimized Life. The book reframes the reactive nature of time management and replaces it with a proactive method of time optimization. In addition, he co-authored The Retirement Collective, where he highlights and provides solutions for how to maximize the use of time for people in post-career life.