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Money
1 I pay my bills on time and consistently save 10 per cent of my income.
2 All my tax returns have been submitted and any tax owing has been paid. There are no legal clouds hanging over me.
3 I have adequate medical insurance and rarely miss work because of illness.
4 I am on a professional career track that is financially and personally rewarding.
5 My source of income is stable and predictable, and I live well within my means.
6 My will is up to date, and I know how much I am worth financially.
7 My financial situation doesn’t keep me awake at night, and I have a financial plan for the next three to five years.
8 My personal assets are all adequately insured.
9 I have a sum equivalent to at least six months’ living expenses set aside in a savings account.
10 I am in a relationship with others who can help with my career/professional development.
Wellbeing
1 I walk or exercise at least three times a week.
2 I have had a complete physical examination in the past two years, including vision and hearing.
3 I have a rewarding life beyond my professional responsibilities.
4 I do not use illegal drugs or tobacco, or misuse prescription medication.
5 I regularly take evenings and weekends off, and take at least three weeks’ holiday
6 My blood pressure and cholesterol count are normal and my weight is in the ideal range.
7 I brush and floss my teeth daily and have been to the dentist in the past six months.
8 I rarely watch more than five hours of television a week.
9 I drink caffeine and/or alcohol moderately and don’t rely on adrenaline to “get the job done”.
10 I have something to look forward to virtually every day.
Relationships
1 I don’t gossip or talk negatively about others, and I don’t take personally what others say about me.
2 I have a circle of friends/family who love and appreciate me for who I am, not just for what I do.
3 There is no one I would dread meeting or feel uncomfortable encountering at a party, an airport terminal or on the street.
4 I have a best friend or soulmate with whom I can share confidences and intimate thoughts, and I regularly tell my parents, siblings, children and spouse/significant other that I love them.
5 I almost always put people first and results second.
6 I am a person of my word. Others can count on me to mean what I say.
7 Rather than complaining, I make requests of others so they know how they can help me.
8 I get along well with my coworkers, clients and staff.
9 I return telephone calls and e-mails within 24 hours.
10 I do not inappropriately express anger or rage towards others.
Physical environment
1 My personal files, papers and receipts are filed away neatly.
2 My car is in excellent condition. It does not need any mechanical work or repairs, cleaning or replacing.
3 My clothes are clean, pressed, well-fitting, and make me look great.
4 I live in a house/flat that I love in the area of my choice.
5 My plants and animals are healthy and have everything they need to thrive.
6 I surround myself with beautiful things, appropriate to my income level, without being ostentatious, superficial or flashy.
7 I practise recycling.
8 My work environment is inspiring and productive.
9 My home is neat and clean (beds made, carpets vacuumed, cupboards clean).
10 I do not injure myself, fall, or bump into things.
Spirituality
1 I have a regular “quiet time” of prayer, meditation or reflection.
2 I have regular sessions with a spiritual director, mentor or coach.
3 I am connected to and in conversation with my circle of close friends.
4 I do not use profane or obscene language to express myself to others.
5 I feel that I am loved by God/my higher power unconditionally.
6 I regularly give time, gifts and financial resources to help others.
7 I feel personal accountability for the stewardship/care of Nature, plants and animals.
8 I often experience a sense of “awe” and/or “mystery” about life.
9 I do not harbour any unresolved resentment, animosity or ill-will toward others.
10 I believe that I am a person of infinite worth and affirm others as being of infinite worth.
What your score means (One point for each question that you can answer in the affirmative)
40-50 Mastering work/life balance
30-40 Good work/life balance
20-30 Average score
0-20 Below average
Score 40-50: You have made the decision to have a personal as well as a professional life. Now you may want to choose an area on which to focus that will continue your personal growth.
Score 30-40: A good work/life balance puts you above average. Now, in what areas do you want to raise the bar and create the life that you really want?
Score 20-30: An average score indicates that you are probably experiencing the same amount of stress as your peers. You may want to hire a coach to help you to eliminate stresses.
Score 0-20: A below-average score means that you need to take a new look at your life and make a commitment to change and personal growth. Based on material from coachinc.com
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This sounds similar to much of the New Age mumbo jumbo that is infiltrating large organisations nowadays. They package up a mixture of proven management techniques and fashionable theories and sell it to mugs for ££££s.
Kevin, Essex, UK
I seem to have easily met that challenge. However I think that this is just another load of psuedo bollocks to sell a book written by someone who clearly wears Arran jumpers, believes in homeopathy and probably is a veggie.
Mark Chisholm, Dereham, Norfolk
I was doing pretty well until I hit that 'Spirituality' nonsense.
Why would anyone need a belief in a patently ridiculous Bronze Age cult to manage their home & work lives sensibly?
Mikey, Bromley, Kent
As an atheist, I find the Spirituality section patronising and offensive; indeed I believe that those who can answer "yes" to most of the questions are delusional.
Huge, Bedford, UK
This isn't a work/life balance quiz it's a recruiting vehicle for a dodgey looking american company that take money from insecure people..look at the website!
Ian, Reading, U.K.
Hire a coach? HIRE A COACH? How surprising is that considering it's from coachinc.com? Since when does the times from Infomercials? And I bet they're American too
Terry, Oxford,
I find it quite chilling that, in all the questions we are invited to pose to ourselves, there is no mention of proactively doing something for others in your community as a way to achieving a healthy outlook on life and sense of perspective. "Putting people before results" is laudable, but what about "I have a sense of gratitude that my life is as it is and express that by even just occasionally giving time or talents - not just money - to good causes outside my own self-interest circle. "What goes around, comes around", but there seems to be no expectation that those the lifecoach would wish to reach will be the ones to put it around.
Liz Roberts , Harwell, Didcot, UK
perhaps I've missed the point of this but I assume that it is a tongue-in-cheek attempt at comedy?
Jon, Guernsey,
"There is no one I would dread meeting or feel uncomfortable encountering at a party, an airport terminal or on the street. " - how can you live your life and not end up feeling like that about at least 1 person??
SC, London,
Actually not enough about work to be about work/life balance. I got 41 without going near any of the dissatisfactions I have re work.
As my wife says, I am a happy little soul, but work can be frustrating.
John Durnian, London,
The questionnaire sounds just like that Radiohead song off OK Computor
chris , Houston, Texas
I actually found this article quite interesting and realistic.
Not very informative, though. But everyone needs to check whether one is "on the tracks" or not, once in a while!
Well done!
Marta Silva, Osnabrueck, Germany
This doesn't make me aspire to achieving this - it makes me loathe any person who might!
Emma, London,
"I do not use illegal drugs or tobacco"?
What kind of freakish test is this?
"I have a regular âquiet timeâ of prayer, meditation or reflection"?
Oh.
I see.
Boredom = Life
Eve, London,
work-life balance = what's the minimum amount of spare time we need to recover so there is no significant loss of productivity at work?
To define work and life as antagonisms is the core of the problem and doesn't lead anywhere.
This test is crap: e.g. 30 points is not necessarily a score above average, it's only 60% of the possible maximum score. Then the 5 dimensions of the test are not independent, e.g. I can't live in a house I want and have "a sum equivalent to at least six monthsâ living expenses set aside in a savings account". The weight of the 50 questions differ between individuals and therefore can't just be added up.
What about a fulfilled sex life huh?
CSC, London,
I am pretty confident that Jesus/Buddha/Allah/Satan (delete as applicable) would score on the 0-20 scale on this test.
"I often experience a sense of âaweâ and/or âmysteryâ about life..." - only as to how normal people could follow Julia Hobsbawm's precepts....
Noel McLaughlin, Chester,
Could this be more American? What a load of rubbish
Grace, oxford,
I was previously worried about my live/work balance hence my clicking âtake the testâ, but now I have read it (and howled with laughter at itâs crass tone which devalued the meaningful points on the list) I am happy in the knowledge that I am not half as neurotic, insecure or in need of brainwashing as whoever made that list.
Although good for them if it helps them sleep at night.
And no I donât want a life coach thank you very much.
Ki, Reading,
Even Americans would find this a bit hard to take. This is for the smug, the self-obsessed and the husbands of Stepford Wives.
N.W., Cardiff, Wales
all of those give u a far too perfect life. wheres the challenging drama in life.. everyone hates it, but u need it!!
Jodie, Bolton, england
Woo-hoo! 14/50 - I rock!
TH, London, UK
Is this a joke?! Taken from the latest American (sorry) self-help book?
"I do not injure myself, fall, or bump into things": Oh yes, I've always considered this a fine criterium for assessing whether I have my work/life balance right...
EJH, London,
Who in heaven's name would manage all that without losing the plot??!!
e.m.l.cule, guildford, uk