We have never been more connected to our jobs, and yet, we have never felt more dissatisfied with them. The millennial generation is seeking more fulfillment from working life, google is introducing napping pods at its offices and younger workers are yearning for telework policies to provide them with the comforts of home while they attend to their jobs 24/7. All of these are indicators that we are craving balance in our lives, that we are striving to figure out how to separate work and play in the midst of ambient connectivity. So herein lies the million dollar question, how does one achieve work-life balance in today's digital age?
3. “Welcome to the
new world of work,
where 5:30 p.m. is
far from the end of
the day.”
Knowledge@Wharton, Time Magazine, 2012
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4. We now have the means to stay
connected to our jobs
via smartphones, tablets and laptop
computers
24/7
5. 83% of professionals say they
check email after work
Time Magazine, 2012
Photo: F Delventhal via Flikr
6. 2/3 professionals say they’ve
taken a work-related
device, such as a
smartphone or laptop,
with them on vacation
Photo: Marcia Taylor via Flikr
Time Magazine, 2012
7. Technology may enable work-a-holis
but society encourages it
Photo: Raychel Mendez via Flikr
8. “Being a successful
member of middle class
society is showing our
dedication to professional
work and being
available at all
hours of the day,”
- Carolyn Marvin, professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for
Communication, 2012
9. we expect more from our
jobs
Photo: Julian Faylona; http://julian-faylona.deviantart.com/art/Director-s-Office-31072012-317935822
As technology allows work to
play a more prominent role in our
lives,
10. “as shown by Net Impact’s survey, they [millennials] are more
concerned than their predecessors with finding happiness and
fulfillment in their work lives.”
-Jeanne Meister, Forbes Magazine
Photo: Calita Kabir via Flikr
Jeanne Meister, Forbes Magazine
12. “According to
research by Future
Workplace,
flexible hours
and generous
telework
policies are even
more important to
younger workers
than is salary.”
Jeanne Meister, Forbes Magazine
Photo: via Wikimedia
13. But
are we, as humans,
designed to be working
every hour of
the day?
14. In a recent Harvard Business Review article, Leslie
Perlow found consultants at Boston Consulting Group
(BCG) who had regular downtime, reported greater
satisfaction with their jobs
Photo: Ste. Anne’s Spa via
Time Magazine, 2012
15. If digital technology
prompts us to bring
work home, perhaps
work-life balance in this
digital age requires
bringing downtime
to work
16. Google’s offices have recently installed energy
pods within the office for 20 or 30 minute breaks
Time Magazine
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17. Then again, perhaps
work-life balance lies
in knowing when to
detach from work
completely
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18. According to The
Washington Post, the
only country whose
productivity rivals
that of the overworked
United States, is
France.
Photo: Via Wikimedia
19. “Yes, France. Where workers enjoy 30
days of paid vacation every year… and a
leisurely stroll to the café after leaving
work at a decent hour.”
Brigid Schulte, The Washington Post
Photo: Stas Porter via Flik
20. Indeed, multiple strains of
research show that work-life
balance
increases efficiency
among workers
21. “if you can’t get your work done in the standard
37 hours a week, you’re seen as inefficient.”
Brigid Schulte, The Washington Post
Photo: alaskahokie
Via Pixabay
In Denmark,
22. So before becoming a busy bee,
consider this:
Photo: PollyDot via Pixabay
24. Works Cited
Knowledge@Wharton. "Why Companies Should Force
Employees to Unplug." Time Magazine 16 Feb. 2012,
sec. Management & Leadership:
http://business.time.com/2012/02/16/should-
companies-force-employees-to-unplug/
Meister, Jeanne. "Job Hopping Is the 'New Normal' for
Millennials: Three Ways to Prevent a Human Resource
Nightmare." Forbes Magazine 14 Aug. 2012, sec.
Leadership:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeannemeister/2012/08/14/
job-hopping-is-the-new-normal-for-millennials-three-
ways-to-prevent-a-human-resource-nightmare/
Schulte, Brigid . "U.S. productivity: Putting in all those
hours doesn’t matter." The Washington Post 14 May
2014, sec. PostTV:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-
people/wp/2014/05/14/u-s-productivity-putting-in-all-
those-hours-doesnt-matter/
Photo via openclipart.org
