Test: What type of work-life balance are you?
How do you organize your work-life balance? Are you a flexible "changer" who reacts spontaneously to every challenge, an integrator who loves multitasking, or a strict "separator" with a clear division between your professional and private life? Take our balance type test to find out which strategy you use and what the risks and side effects are.
Meet the Integrator: It's Monday morning, 7:30 am. The integrator is sitting at the kitchen table, drinking coffee from a cup labeled "Work Hard, Play Hard" and juggling between his laptop, which is displaying job emails, and a pile of laundry that he is folding on the side.
The cell phone beeps - a push message. "Can you finish the project by 10 a.m.?". The integrator nods confidently, makes a quick shopping list and feeds the dog.
Jumping between private and professional demands is an art form for the integrator, juggling different balls gives him a positive kick.
The Separator: On the other side of the city, the Separator wakes up. His morning ritual is strict and unwavering. 7:00 a.m.: Get up. 7:15 a.m.: Meditation. 7:30 a.m.: Breakfast. At 8:00 a.m. sharp, he/she enters the home office, closes the door behind him/her and is in the "working world".
No cell phones, no interruptions, just pure concentration. At 12:00 noon sharp, he or she goes to the kitchen, eats a precisely portioned lunch and returns to the desk at 1:00 pm.
Work and private life? Two different universes for the Separator.
The Ch anger: The Changer starts his Monday at 7:00 am, rethinks his flexible weekly schedule and starts the day with an impromptu client meeting at 8:00 am. He goes jogging at 10:00 a.m. and then returns to his important project refreshed.
At lunch at 12:00, he meets with a colleague to exchange ideas. After a team video conference at 14:00, he takes a creative break at 16:00.
An urgent customer call at 5 p.m. leads to a quick change of plan, but the Changer masters the challenge and ends his day at 6 p.m. satisfied, ready for new flexible tasks the next day.
Ellen Kossek: Be the "CEO" of your life!
The idea of different balance types comes from Ellen Kossek, a leading expert in the field of work management who has studied the topic of work-life balance in depth. In her book "CEO of Me: Creating a Life That Works in the Flexible Job Age" (published by Addison Wesley), the social scientist offers valuable insights and practical tips on how we can better organize our lives in the flexible working world.
Ellen Kossek's research shows that there is not just one single method for achieving work-life balance. Rather, her research makes it clear that everyone can develop and flexibly adapt their own strategy to achieve a healthy and fulfilling work-life balance.
Kossek finds an image in which each and every one of us should take on the role of "CEO" of our own lives. This means actively making decisions that harmonize our professional and private goals.
Strategies for your work-life balance
In her book, Kossek presents three strategies for achieving a successful work-life balance. These include:
- Set priorities: Clearly define what is important to you.
- Develop goals: Set yourself realistic and achievable goals, both professionally and privately.
- Time management: Learn how to use your time effectively.
Kossek is not only addressing employees, but also companies in particular. She calls on companies to promote a culture of flexibility. After all, flexible working hours, home office options and a supportive working environment are key to giving employees the opportunity to better balance their professional and private commitments.
Use our balance type test to find out which type you are: What strategy do you use to draw boundaries between private and professional life? What risks and side effects can you expect? What works well, what can be adjusted?
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