Question: How do you balance your work out with your free time?

Asked by cnixon to Bev, Posty, Edward, Kate, Nathan on 21 Jun 2011. This question was also asked by dragon1.

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  1. Photo: Kate PattersonKate Patterson
    answered on 19 Jun 2011:

    Hi cnixon,

    That’s a really good question and I would definitely like to be better at it!

    For me its about working out your priorities. Sometimes there might be a really important project on at work that takes up all of your spare time. During that week, you might not get much time for sport or going out with friends. But… other times, if you have an important sporting match or family dinner then its important to make that a priority over the work you have. Especially if that work can be finished by staying back an extra hour the next day for example.

    I like to make lists. That way I can see all the things that I’d LIKE to do and I can prioritise to the top of the list the things that I think are the most important. Sadly… you can’t do everything in life that you want to do, so you have to make choices sometimes.

    I think the best trick is to choose a job (like science!) that feels like you could really do it for fun anyway. ie, it does not feel too much like work. 🙂

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  2. Photo: Bev MuhlhauslerBev Muhlhausler
    answered on 19 Jun 2011:

    Hi cnixon,

    I agree with Kate – it is tough and I sometimes don’t think I do it all that well..

    There are times, especially in the first few months of the year when there are a lot of deadlines for funding applications, when everyone is really busy and I do have to spend more time than I’d really like working on things over the weekends and after hours. But, at other times, when things have settled down a bit, I have more time to catch up with friends and family and to spend time going non-work things.

    I do make sure that, no matter how busy things get, that I go to the gym at least 3 times a week (really helps to get rid of stress too :-)), watch TV with my husband after work and take the dog for a walk every night. I also always have Friday and Saturday nights work free. Most of the time, I actually quite enjoy the work that I do at home, so it never really feels too bad 🙂

    Bev

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  3. Photo: Edward ShinEdward Shin
    answered on 21 Jun 2011:

    Like Kate and Bev, I’d also like to be better at it!

    However, I have the sort of job where I do most of my work ‘at work’ and ‘during work time’. So what is more of a problem for me is balancing HOUSEWORK (chores) with free time!

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