Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.
Preparation
Transcript
Presenter: Good morning, everyone. On today's show, we've got Chris Svensson with us, the author of No more nine to five, the new best-selling book about work–life balance in the current working world. Good morning, Chris. Thanks for coming.
Chris: Thanks for having me, Anna.
Presenter: So, Chris, tell us about your book and how the concept of a work–life balance has been changing?
Chris: Well, in the more traditional workplaces, people's working lives and their private lives are, or were, clearly divided. People often work from nine in the morning until five or six in the evening. People sometimes stay late in the office and work in the evenings. This is called working overtime.
Presenter: OK, and what else?
Chris: Well, in these environments it isn't common for people to work at the weekend or while they're on holiday. They can clearly separate their working lives and their private lives. And the evenings, weekends and holidays are free to focus on non-work areas of life, such as hobbies, interests, sports, spending time with the family and friends, and so on. It's important and healthy not to spend all your time just working, right?
Presenter: Right! So what has changed? How are things different now?
Chris: Well, for a start, most people can now access their work emails from their mobile phones. So they are more likely to quickly reply to an important mail in the evening or at the weekend. The same goes for laptops. It's easier to access your work in the evenings from home or even from your hotel when you're on holiday.
Presenter: That doesn't sound like much of a work–life balance. It sounds like all work.
Chris: Exactly, but this new mobility brings a lot of advantages with it. More people are now able to work flexibly, so if they need to leave the office early one afternoon to be with their family, they can catch up on work that evening from home or somewhere else.
Presenter: That sounds good. So, what you're saying is that although traditional divisions between work and life are fading, many employees now have more freedom to do their work from different locations and at different times.
Chris: Yes, that's it.
Actually I need be flexible. In general I can enjoy weekend and holidays to relax but, I try don't see the cellphone or computer in this time because always there are messages to answer.
Never call or answer messages in my vacation time
My management of work-life balance seems more like traditional workplaces. Because even if we use the same
technology as in Europe, our managers don't permit the advantages of flexibility, they are more concerned about
when you start and leave office than how many targets you reach. So I try to disconnect from office during evening and holiday as much as possible
I am a student, so I have a part-time job two or three days a week. To manage my work-life balance, I don't accept overtime and try not to think about work except during working hours.
I manage my work life balance by separating work from my personal life. when I'm at work I stay focused and complete my tasks. once I finish, I use my free time for hobbies and spending time with family and friends. I also make sure to take breaks when I need them
I manage my work-life balance by setting limits to my working hours and free time. I think the biggest problem to not having a good work-balance is, not establish limits regarding time. We need to know how to use our time to work and to personal matters.
Actually, as I am a student so my time is full with studying and exams,but I am trying so hard to take a break and time for my private life enjoying my time with my family,doing my favourite hobbies and learning new things.
Actually it is so important to have a work-life balance to balance yourself.
Yes, fortunately, because I am a freelancer and therefore the working life described is just like mine now!
Personally, I will create a permanent timetable for a whole semester on Google Calendar and I usually write a detailed study plan for the following day in my daily routine.
Thanks to Allah.
In a period of covid-19 expansion our company management gave us possibility to work from home. One of the advantage is flexibility, working from home can be not so easy although. There are distractions, such as children, or it may be difficult to concentrate when you are at home.