How to balance work and life - B1 Listening Practice - British Council

Summary

In this interview, Chris Benson, author of 'No More Nine to Five,' discusses the evolving concept of work-life balance. Historically, work and personal life were clearly divided, with set hours and boundaries. However, the rise of mobile technology and flexible work options has blurred these lines. People can now respond to emails after hours or work from home, enabling more flexibility. While this shift offers increased freedom, it also challenges traditional separations between work and life, offering both advantages and potential drawbacks in maintaining balance.

Takeaways

• 😀 Traditional work-life balance often meant clear separation between work and personal life, with set hours from 9 to 5.
• 😀 Overtime work was common, and employees sometimes stayed late in the office or worked during the evening.
• 😀 Weekends and holidays were typically free from work, allowing people to focus on hobbies, sports, and spending time with family and friends.
• 😀 Maintaining a clear division between work and personal life was considered healthy for well-being.
• 😀 Modern technology, such as mobile phones and laptops, has made it easier to access work emails and tasks at any time.
• 😀 This new mobility means employees are more likely to respond to work emails or complete tasks outside of regular office hours, including evenings and weekends.
• 😀 The increased mobility has some benefits, such as allowing for more flexible work schedules and locations.
• 😀 Employees can now leave the office early to spend time with family, then catch up on work later from home or another location.
• 😀 The traditional boundaries between work and personal life are blurring, but flexibility allows workers to manage their schedules more effectively.
• 😀 While the division between work and life is fading, the freedom to work from different locations and at different times offers new advantages.

Q & A

What is the main topic of Chris Benson's book 'No More Nine to Five'?

Chris Benson's book 'No More Nine to Five' focuses on work-life balance in the current working world, exploring how the traditional separation between work and private life has been changing.

How were people's work and private lives divided in traditional workplaces?

In traditional workplaces, people typically worked from nine in the morning to five or six in the evening. Their work and private lives were clearly separated, with evenings, weekends, and holidays dedicated to personal time.

What is the significance of overtime in traditional work environments?

In traditional work environments, working overtime was common. People would sometimes stay late at the office or work in the evenings, blurring the line between work and personal time.

What types of activities were people able to focus on during evenings and weekends in traditional work settings?

People in traditional work settings could use their evenings, weekends, and holidays to focus on hobbies, interests, sports, or spend time with family and friends, which helped maintain a healthy work-life balance.

How has the access to work emails through mobile phones changed the concept of work-life balance?

With the ability to access work emails on mobile phones, people are more likely to respond to important messages in the evening or on weekends, disrupting the traditional boundary between work and personal life.

What are the implications of being able to access work via laptops outside of the office?

The ability to access work via laptops at home or while traveling means that employees can continue working outside regular office hours, even during vacations, making it harder to separate work and personal time.

Does the increased mobility and flexibility in work schedules lead to a better work-life balance?

While the increased mobility allows for more flexible work schedules, it can make it harder to maintain a true work-life balance. However, it offers employees the freedom to adjust their work hours, such as leaving early for family commitments and catching up later.

What are the advantages of the increased mobility in modern workplaces?

The increased mobility in modern workplaces allows people to work from different locations and at different times, providing greater flexibility, such as working from home or other remote places when necessary.

Has the traditional division between work and personal life become less important in today's working world?

Yes, the traditional separation between work and personal life is fading as technology allows people to work from virtually anywhere, making it easier to blend both aspects of life.

How does Chris Benson view the changes in work-life balance with modern technology?

Chris Benson acknowledges that while the traditional separation between work and personal life is diminishing, he believes the flexibility and freedom provided by modern technology are beneficial, allowing employees to manage their work and personal commitments more effectively.