What is Tech-Life Balance?

Like most people, I was a busy professional in the I.T. industry for years and thought I had plenty of time to catch up with family and friends until a personal tragedy changed my life in 2009. I realized that, instead of leveraging technology to create more free time and a balanced life, I had become consumed by it. In redesigning my own life around tech-life balance, I found a passion for helping others do the same. Below I describe what Tech Life Balance means to me, as illustrated by my logo at the bottom.

Mind

Our logical reasoning and awareness; where we store information/knowledge and memories.

Spirit

The truth of who we are and and how we connect to the Divine and each other

Body

Our physical presence and external representation in the world

Heart

Where feelings like love, compassion and empathy originate; as we learn to love ourselves unconditionally, we give that to others.

BALANCE is the key! In our culture, we are programmed to lead busy lives centered in MIND -based activities (school, career, etc) and our looks are valued over maintaining a healthy BODY,)so that even those who are “physically fit” suffer heart attacks and high blood pressure from stress. HEART and SPIRIT are afterthoughts as romantic and family relationships and friendships are reserved for “spare time”, and spiritual practices happen in temples on Sunday mornings. This model results in the endless pursuit of wealth, unhealthy bodies, neglected hearts and spirits, and very little happiness. We become healthier, happier, and ironically more successful when we learn to live in the present moment, reprioritize ourselves first, and develop daily practices for overall HEART / SPIRIT / MIND / BODY health. Technology may then be used strategically to create more free time, stay connected to loved ones, and make our work and social lives easier. This is true tech-life balance.