There is really no difference between man and the other living things on earth when it comes to life and work. In order to live, work is part and parcel of living. The human race has to live and work at the same time in order to survive, the way one wants life to be.

It is a law of nature to conserve and preserve existence. We have to act accordingly based on human needs. Food, clothing, and shelter are the basic needs in life. They have to be sustained to be satisfactory rather than being satisfied with it. We can make them possible when we have the means to acquire and manage the said needs. We have to earn a living through toil, labor, and work to make progress.

Aside from the practical side of having to work to earn a living, work is necessity to life. Man’s law also dictates that working is a social obligation. We work not only for ourselves. It is our obligation to bring home the benefits our family deserves from the fruit of various endeavor.

When it comes to life and work balance, the question as to which should be given priority must be given careful discernment. In essence, the purpose of the two has to be clearly defined depending on the perspective of individual needs. There are those who get into trouble by giving more time to their work because of the mindset that earning more will mean a better life. But it is not necessarily true. Consuming time beyond the regular work hours is not a guarantee to living a happy and satisfied life. In the long run the brunt of long hours of toil will definitely affect the health and body of an individual. Mixed with pressures and stress, the mind also gets affected in thinking without given the benefit of doubt. It is true that when we are employed or even in self-employed status our physical body also has its limitation.

Another thing to consider is when a person engaged in the work process comes to a point of having it as a reason that work provides well for one’s family and self is an oversight of reality. For whatever reason, the blunder will not justify the means when it is clear that priorities outside of work are being sacrificed. Condoned obligations to love ones, forgetting to pay attention to personal needs, loss of esteem to other responsibilities may in one way or the other affect the normal life process.

To be able to grasp the balance needed between life and work, one must understand that all of us need jobs to eke out our living. We may be adept in working overtime but it is no reason to take the quality time we have to compensate the needs of ourselves and those who are dear to us. We can always attend to the priorities of both ends with good time management and ensuring that neither of the two is to be set aside.

Loving one’s work is appreciated when the focus of endearment to one’s personal needs and obligation is never set aside. We all live to work because we are working to have a better life. Enjoy and be happy with both.