Work life Balance....

[Adam]

Ok, mini-gloat for me, I've moved house and am close enough to walk to work. Something I longed for after five years of a highspeed 45 minute commute each way to work in the car. It adds up, 1.5 hours a day, 5 days a week....

That has made such a difference to me, I can walk home at lunchtime if needed, and its much more stress free. I even overtake the cars when the queue from the level crossing backs up

Anyway, I was wondering about other things people had done that really improved their work-life balance. Oddly, I find online banking makes quite a difference - rather than queuing up at the bank. Also, on the rare occasions I get a cheque these days, I simply post it to them, with a deposit slip.

In the same vain, when we first got a house, we'd pay each bill individually. Finally we switched everything to direct debit. No idea why we didn't do before, as we always paid on time. Guess it helped to see where the money was going.

So for me, things include

Walking to work...
Direct debits...
Online Banking...

Anyway got any others?

Adam

 

[LyNx]

Ride to work, i have a lovely trail from the house that finishes right outside my office window.

Online shopping from Sainsburys

Online banking, check money and move funds about.

 

[dedee]

Adam,
Well done on giving up the daily car based commute. I've only ever had a 20-25 min car journey to work and to be honest I quite enjoy it - local roads make it stress free driving. It's about the only time I get to listen to the news which is always less sensationalised than TV news (on Radio 4 anyway) and TMS of course.

Over the past few years the ability to work from home when it suited me has been of benefit. Or course being under utilised at work also helped.

Andy

 

[woodbloke]

Adam - I walk to work each day now and have done for the last 5 years, about 1.5 miles each way - fantastic. The stuff I think about on my walk once I get going is great - workshop, projects, holidays, kids etc etc. I would say tho' that you need to kit yourself out for the wet weather, I use the following : collapsible umbi in my holdall, waterproof shoes (M&S sell them) and a full length, lightweight, breathable waterproof coat with a built in hood if poss for when the sky really melts. I had some difficulty in buying a suitable walking coat but eventually got one made by 'Sherwood Forest' from my local horsey/leather shop in town for £50 - highly recommended - Rob

 

[Shady]

I found stopping working to be the best improvement in my work-life balance... Still trying to work out how to fund everything, though... :wink:

 

[chiba]

Giving the TV away.

 

[Adam]

Giving the TV away.

Getting rid of the TV is something we have thought about. Could be a good move I think. Having said that, its getting dusty at the moment its so underused.

Adam

 

[srs]

I agree with the idea of food shopping on line, I’ve also found only excepting paypal on ebay saves a lot of time. But I’ve just kicked the work life balance into the distance by starting a new job this coming Monday as my commute will go up from 15 mins each way to 1 ½ hours each way though if all goes well we will be moving nearer some time next year and I will get a workshop that I can spreed out in :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Shady]

On a serious note, a good sporting interest: mine are paragliding as a participant, and rugby as an ageing enthusiast.

 

[Matt_S]

The commute makes the big difference. Work in a converted barn on a farm and we bought a house in the next village. We do tend to drive to work in the winter as its all narrow muddy lanes cycle in the summer as its a nice 25 minute ride.

No commute means an hour/hour and a half after you finish work you can have eaten and be in the workshop

 

[Anonymous]

Oddly Adam, I found the opposite worked for me. I used to live less than a mile from work and arrived late every day! Also, after a stressful day, I arrived home stressed.
Now I drive 15 miles and unwind in the car listening to music or the radio. I have not been late for work in 7 years here either

The other thing that helps is swimming (exercise). I swim 2km a week on mondays and fridays lunchtime and this has made the biggest difference of all.

 

[gidon]

Well for me living in a nice part of the country and being a homeworker. No travelling, lovely scenery on our doorstep and can get to the beach in 30 mins.
Interesting point Tony makes though - sometimes I would actually quite like a 30 min drive to work to officially start and close the day. Some homeworkers I know walk out through the back door and come in through the front to start work - that may be a little OTT though!
Cheers
Gidon

 

[Shady]

Here's Gidon having a hard day in the office... :wink:

 

[beejay]

Saying goodbye to corporate activity 6 years ago and setting up my own company.
Bliss beyond belief!
beejay

http://community.webshots.com/user/eunos9

 

[gidon]

Shady - are you a fly on my wall :lol:!?
Cheers
Gidon

 

[Taffy Turner]

Shady - are you a fly on my wall :lol:!?
Cheers
Gidon

Better make sure that webcam is turned off in future!!!!

Taffy

 

[Richard in Smithville]

Guess I went the wrong way. Went from a 10 minute walk to half hour drive after being transferred. At least it gives me a chance to leave work at work. On the other hand, waking up to a Canadian snow storm can be an experience.

 

[devonwoody]

I would recommend all to plan that they can retire in their early fifties.
It beats even walking to work.

 

[superunknown]

Sound like you have made quite a change.

I just moved house too (well one month now) and also changed my job in the same week. I have had the same job for over 10 years so it was a big step really. I now have around 15 hours week more spare time than I had before with the old job. Its amazing.

You get so set in your ways and the speed that life goes by, sometimes you need to change something to appreciate life and what you have.


Good luck

 

[sliver]

I now work only 20 hrs a week & my better half works 30 hrs as that set up suits her. We seem to be better off financially, I think the reason is when you 'have more' you tend not to look at how you spend as closely as you should & you tend to waste a fair bit. Nola, you are right you know. You DO get so wrapped up in things that you can't see the woods for all them damned trees. :lol:

Devonwoody. Bang on there John, sadly I can't quite run to that yet. Maybe one day.

Sliver