Scientific evidence on balance

We’ve talked a bit on this web site about having a balanced life and the role that plays in keeping you creative and in preparing you for challenges and failure.

Reader Karen M. sent me a note pointing to a batch of new supporting scientific evidence in favor of balance. One form of it anyway: taking care of a family.

The Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) and Clark University published the results of their work and family study in January’s Journal of Applied Psychology. From the short article on their website:

“Based on previous research, we were fairly confident that our study would confirm that being committed to family increases a person’s overall well-being. But our study shows for the first time that being a committed parent can improve a manager’s work performance,” said [Dr. Marian Ruderman of the CCL], a research director at CCL. “Raising a family helps develop skills such as negotiating, compromising, conflict resolution and multitasking, which are important traits of successful managers.”