Work Smarter, Live Better: ‘Work Backwards’ Method for a Healthier Work-Life Balance

We are so used to putting other people into neat little boxes based on what they do that we don’t even think about that obligatory second question. Our work and our identities are so intertwined with each other, but what happens when that falls apart? That’s what happened to me a few years ago when I left the Australian media company I’d co-founded after 15 years of running it. 

My identity and my job were inextricably linked, something I only realised as soon as I stepped away from it. That loss of identity, combined with the shifting work rules of the Covid years and the death of my father, my biggest mentor, set me off on a path to question everything about how I worked and lived. 

I embarked on a journey that led me to a sobering conclusion: the way we are working is fundamentally broken. This realisation didn’t come easily. It was the result of years of research, studying countless papers on workplace meaning, happiness, and stress, and meeting with leading experts worldwide as part of the process of writing a book. 

I discovered that the modern work environment is characterised by three major trends that are evident in many places. Firstly, burnout has reached epidemic proportions, with a 2022 McKinsey report finding that nearly a third of employees worldwide experienced burnout symptoms sometimes, often, or always. This is not just a matter of job dissatisfaction; it’s a serious health issue. The World Health Organisation has found that working 55 hours or more per week significantly increases the risk of stroke and heart disease compared to a standard work week.

Secondly, employee disengagement is at an all-time high. Gallup Research’s annual survey reveals that only 24 per cent of people are actively engaged at work, with a staggering 77 per cent categorised as either ‘quiet quitting’ or ‘loud quitting’. This widespread disengagement not only affects productivity but also indicates a deeper issue with how we approach work and its role in our lives.

Lastly, there’s a growing apprehension about the future of work. A recent PwC report showed that 60 per cent of my fellow Australians, for example, are concerned about their future work prospects, with a third worried about AI replacing their roles soon. This anxiety about job security and relevance in an increasingly automated world is a significant stressor for many employees.

So, what’s the fix to all of this? Well, most of us think about our lives in the order of work-money-life. We prioritise finding a job, then focus on the salary it provides, and only then consider how it impacts our life outside of work. This approach is fundamentally flawed and one of the causes of some of the problems with our workplaces. Instead, we need to reverse this order to life-money-work. This is what I call the ‘work backwards’ method, and this is how to do it:

Life: You need to start by consciously deciding what meaning you want to derive from your job and everything outside it. Identify your unique values and priorities. Without this foundation, you’re essentially flying blind. 

Money: Next you must determine what ‘enough’ means for you. What truly fulfills you? Once you’ve identified this, preferably in writing, you can plan how much money you need to live the life you want, rather than working endlessly with no clear goal.

Work: The final step is thinking about work. Only after establishing your life priorities and financial needs should you consider what type of work aligns with your vision.

To continue reading this article in full click here: The ‘work backwards’ method: working smarter and living better