Blog Posts

On Work-Life Fit: Dr. Cloud’s “One-Life Solution”

One-Life Solution Book

People used to have the structure of “work hours” that helped them know when work began and when it ended.  During the “good old days”, home was protected from work.  In the last two decades, however, the line between being available and unavailable blurred.

In his book, The One-Life Solution (2008), we join Dr. Henry Cloud as he counsels us to reclaim our personal lives while achieving greater professional success.

Continuing with ideas from his million-seller Boundaries, Cloud provides strategies to achieve success in 3 critical areas:

  • Be emotionally healthy
  • Be relationally healthy
  • Be performance healthy (fulfillment from your talents and passions)

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What is your work-life fit?

Several years ago, our HR Director started using the term “work-life fit” to characterize her support of employees’ life outside of NASA.  “Balance”, she pointed out, was not appropriate.  There are times in life when we need to provide more attention to our work, and other times when more attention is needed in the life side of the ledger.

 For me, “work-life fit” involves balancing my roles at NASA, home (as a husband and father of three kids), and church (currently serving as 4th/5th grade Sunday School teacher and chair of our Deacon Fellowship).  I often tell people that work will take as much as you’re willing to give it.  So, you have to take responsibility to set guidelines and boundaries for your work-life fit.  No one can or should define that for you.  If you’re in a leadership role, it’s important that you not impose your own values and choices on those you lead…their work-life fit will undoubtedly differ from yours!

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