Work life Balance
Prime Minister Trudeau takes a day off work, while visiting Japan, to celebrate his 11th wedding anniversary with wife Sophie and a tsunami of media coverage crashes all around us. Many Canadians criticize Trudeau's decision to celebrate the special date, albeit 3 days before his actual anniversary on Saturday May 28, but I'll admit that this powerful statement makes my knees a little weak. A man making time for work-life balance? Putting his relationship first despite the demands of one of the country's most demanding jobs? I can almost hear a universal sigh of sweet envy being exhaled by women around the world.
I've read all the comments... 'Why doesn't he celebrate his anniversary when he returns to Canada on Saturday?" "Think of all the taxpayer's money he's wasting on staff and expenses in order to vacation in Japan". I don't doubt that Mr. Trudeau has many priorities and a full schedule waiting for him upon his return to Canada on Saturday. Most of the politicians I know don't even recognize when the weekend comes around because they work through most of them. I'm also pretty sure that it doesn't matter whether his staff are on standby in Japan or in Ottawa, employees will be paid either way. I argue that taking a day off to spend with the most important person in your life should rank somewhere in the overbooked schedule.
The problem is, for most people, it doesn't rank. We all know we should do more than pick up a grocery store bouquet and card on the way home from work, but we don't. We convince ourselves that there will always be another anniversary, birthday, first day of school, Christmas concert, or family reunion. But what if there isn't? Work is important, yes, but at the end of our days it will be the things we didn't do which we regret most, not the list of things we did.
If you need a more scientific reason to take a day off, here are a few to consider. Taking time off has been shown in numerous studies to increase productivity during working hours. This pretty much negates the argument that the Canadian taxpayers are somehow being financially cheated by Mr. Trudeau's 1-day vacation. We'll get our money back plus interest today, for Mr. Trudeau's absence from work yesterday.
Additionally, relationships are strengthened by taking time off from work. While work is certainly important, so is one's mental health. It is important that people make time to nurture critical relationships with family and friends, the ones who support them in their careers day after day.
Judging by the popularity of our Prime Minister and his wife on the international stage, I sincerely hope that they stay happily married throughout Mr. Trudeau's time in office, for Canada's benefit and our bolstered reputation. Down the road, after the limelight fades, a strong and healthy marriage will be a legacy to Trudeau's wife and children. I hope, at that time, we will be thankful that the demands of Mr. Trudeau's position did not destroy a once beautiful life. Even the most dedicated workaholics should be encouraged by our nation's leader to make time for what is truly important.
Until next week, stay in the black and keep coming back.
