How do you balance the demands of earning a living and having a life?
The “narrative” strongly suggests that men find work/life balance by taking on all of the work, and leaving the “life” to his wife. Clearly, men are bucking these traditions left and right: men without wives need work/life balance, too, and even in more traditional marriages, men are primary caregivers in an increasing number of families, and forming more personalized arrangements of family life, dedicated spiritual practice, healthy behaviors, work, and play. In the process, we learn surprising things about our needs: that stay at home dads need friends and alone time, or that time spent doing nothing can be the most productive hour of the day.
Do you privilege a mentorship, church, a volunteer position, training for a marathon, or caring for a loved one over the 9-to-5 existence of your peers? Do you feel alone in your days, or do you find connections to others? Have your choices made you happier?
Write for The Good Men Project Magazine on Work/Life Balance and submit your work through Submishmash by Wednesday, March 14. Submission guidelines are here.
—Photo: Robert Couse-Baker/Flickr
Here’s my submission : Nobody gives you work/life balance. You take it.