Some years ago, 8-5 was exactly that, 8-5pm. People left work behind as soon as they clocked out, but 8-5pm is no longer the norm. The tides have changed and getting ahead and staying ahead requires more than 8-5pm, or rather the quality of what you put into it. In the UK for instance, the environment is designed to function for 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. In other words, work happens non-stop, the economy never ‘sleeps’. This has its benefits as it helps to facilitate economic progress, particularly in this era of rapid change where we have seen new companies emerge, while old ones, like Yahoo suffer huge loss in net-worth.
However, families who have not been able to prioritise by clarifying why they exist and what is most important to them are swept off by these opportunities. We have seen families where both parents work almost round the clock and their teenage children are left on their own, no time for family meals where values are passed, no special date time with dad or mum, no effective boundaries around what the children watch on their phones, no time invested in the marital romance and any spare time they get is spent on urgent demands, which are rarely any of the aforementioned.
The focus here is not to add another item to your already busy lifestyle, but to urge you to re-evaluate your present priorities. Ask yourself, would these activities still matter 10 hours, 10 days or 10years from today? According to Prof. Barnfield, taking a long term perspective when making daily decisions is one of the hallmarks of successful people. Reprioritise today, while you still have the energy and the time to make things better. Work more on improving yourself (attitude, thoughts, competences, personality, judgement) than you do on your job and marriage. When you change, your job, marriage, family and parenting would change.
Chidi & Victor Akunna
Foundation For Family Affairs
www.foundationforfamilyaffairs.org
This audiobook contains tips on how couples can manage the different unexpected challenges that cost them their happy marriage!
Photo credit: Kidspot
Chidi & Victor Akunna
Foundation For Family Affairs
www.foundationforfamilyaffairs.org
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