“Work-life balance” is a phrase we throw around quite often, but is it actually possible? Three Singaporean women with vastly different jobs share what their average work week is like.
“Work-life balance” is a phrase we throw around quite often, but is it actually possible? Three Singaporean women with vastly different jobs share what their average work week is like.
Crystal Liu 31, Senior Internal Auditor at Franke
"This week, I’ll be on a work trip to Shunde, China. I think my work-life balance will be quite good, but I will spend a lot of time resting. Rest is very important when travelling for work!”
Nicolette Soh 26, Marketing and Events Executive at Bang Bang and Privé Clarke Quay
I don’t think work-life balance is a problem for me as I make an effort every day to engage in activities that help me relax. I started going to the gym regularly five years ago and I changed my lifestyle and diet to improve my health and fitness.”
Angeline Yeo 25, Co-founder of Yoga+
"My friends and family say I’m a workaholic, and I guess that’s true! I’m not proud of it, though, and I think it’s important to strike a balance between work and connecting with your friends and loved ones.”
The verdict:
“My work day is usually very packed, but I’m used to it. In terms of work-life balance, I don’t think I have been faring well, but if I’m feeling pretty happy and satisfied, I think that’s what’s most important."
The Final Verdict
It’s interesting to see how Crystal, Nicolette and Angeline and all seem to blur the lines between work and play.
For Crystal, being able to travel often for work is a dream come true. “Travelling almost every month can be tiring, but exploring a country I’ve never been to makes it all worth it... Being with my family and resting at home is my priority now, especially because I travel so often.”
As a marketing executive at two nightclubs, Nicolette manages to let fun intersect with work. When asked if hitting Bang Bang with her friends feels like work, she said, “Considering how smashed I [can get], I would say no.”
Similarly, Angeline finds fulfillment in what she does, even if that mean she’s working a lot of the time. Despite being on vacation for close to half the week, she ended up working more hours than Nicolette and Crystal! While this could partly be due to the two-day yoga training workshop the studio was conducting, it’s clear she doesn’t feel like her work prevents her from achieving what she wants in life.
While these women have different jobs and takes on life, they all find joy in their work. Perhaps the key to being content with your work-life balance is to find a way to make work less about pain, and more about play.
Images 123RF.com, Nicolette Soh, Crystal Liu, Angeline Yeo, Bang Bang Text Liu Kai Ying.
