Growing at work, growing in life

A plea for personal development and quality of life at work

BA students working on a project in the Swiss mountains

I do not understand the concept of «work-life-balance». 9–5 work and 5–9 life. From 9–5 we spend our time with “physical or mental effort in order to make money”, as the Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of “work” says. Then from 5–9 we have time for “quality physical and mental experiences that make up our existence,” according to the same source in its definition of “life”. The idea of work-life-balance excludes life from work. Should not being alive unfold 24/7?

Following the «work-life-balance» concept, we all go to work like robots. We leave our lives at the coat check. And after work we pick up our lives again. Does that make any sense?

I believe that we have the right to be alive all day long. Especially between 9 and 5, our most waking hours. Instead of «work-life-balance» I plea for being alive while at work. Let us be creative, inspired, connected, and successful in regards to our work-related projects — and develop as persons in a meaningful way. Let us rather follow the concept of «life+work=growth».

I have the privilege to work closely with a team of around 30 members. In my «life+work=growth» imagination, we all come to work as authentic beings. We look forward to our life+work-time as an…