S l o w l y does it!

As you can see from Anne's blog below, we've started thinking deliberately recently in church about connecting up work, leisure and faith.

On this theme, you might enjoy having a look at the Slow Leadership site. It comes from across the Atlantic, and so its context is a bit different to the UK. It offers interesting snippets, links and articles.

For example, from its weekly resumé: a blog on why "work/life balance" doesn't work, and advocating "work/life separation"! Or one on connecting up the values you find in the work-place and the ones you follow in the rest of your life...

What do I know? I haven't done a 'normal' job for years! All the same, I think there's quite a lot of wisdom to be found on the Slow Leadership site.

Comments

[ripcurl]

Good to be looking at the connections between work, leisure and faith and much to be thinking about. Define a 'normal' job - and who does one? I suspect that whatever line of work/ vocation/ occupation people are involved in, there are, today, demands that may not have been present before. For example the internet - whilst it's a brilliant form of communication and information, it has speeded up communication to the point where people expect immediate response and if one isn't forthcoming they will feel irritated and if possible go elsewhere for one. This has been exacerbated by the advance of technology - the Blackberry - great tool, but also a ball and chain - I once met someone who was expected to answer theirs night and day - with a 2 hour break between 2 -4 am, it must do wonders for their work/life balance! It seems that how 'work' is approached is also a cultural thing - why is there such a gap between work and the rest of life's value in the Canadian survey? How do the Italians manage to take hour long lunch breaks when we, in this country, rarely do - and lunch is often skipped or eaten whilst working? There seems to be a sense that work is the primary function of adult life with everything else trailing behind. And I like Timothy Ferriss's point that 'the ideal dream job is the one that takes the least time. Be productive instead of busy,..' Obviously life isn't that simple.. but it's great as a thought!!

[Andrew]

I once had a job where we could do the Italian thing - in an Italian restaurant, every Friday, near my place of work. Some Friday afternoons weren't as productive as they might have been, but we were pretty resonsible about getting the work done *and* spending some time together to talk and mull over life and the universe. I suspect that doesn't happen in our work culture today. More's the pity. Now, I have a job where I'm suppose to spend time aside reading, reflecting, etc, for my own sake and for the sake of others. I'm very fortunate; but, still, there are times one feels guilty about doing it. That sense of guilt must come from somewhere. I think it's about being always *productive* - a drive one imposes upon oneself, as much as anything. I'm beginning to think: quality, not quantity, at work. For myself anyway - I don't suppose I can speak for others here!

[ripcurl]

Absolutely, I think the days of Friday lunches (Poets day!) went with the recession never, sadly, to return. I suspect you were as 'productive' on those Friday afternoons as you might have been if you had stayed at your desks - because I reckon to work well, people need good breaks. It's impossible, I believe, to be productive all the time, times to rest and take stock on things and generally taking a wider look at what life is about are all essential. However, for all sorts of reasons it's all to possible to get onto the hamster wheel of constant work and hasty time off. Not that I've got it completely sorted or anything!!!