English Podcast - Do You Work to Live… or Live to Work? | Work-Life Balance Talk – YouTube Dictation Transcript & Vocabulary

1.hey there listeners welcome back to English on the go the podcast where we learn everywhere and speak everywhere i'm your host Brian today's question might hit close to home do you work to live or live to work in a world where emails never stop and work followers home finding work life balance is harder than ever but how much does it really matter in this episode Nina and Tom dig into this everyday struggle sharing real life frustrations some helpful advice and a few laughs along the way so if you've ever answered emails in bed or skipped lunch because of deadlines this episode is for you i can't believe it's already 700 p.m i still have three emails to answer and a report to finish you're still working it's Friday night Nan walk off and breathe a little i wish I could but if I don't finish this tonight Monday will be a disaster sometimes I feel like I live to work that sounds rough you know there's a reason people talk about work life balance it's not just a trend it's survival easy for you to say you're a freelance you set your own hours true but I used to be like you always online always stressed then one day I realized what's the point of earning money if you're too tired to enjoy it that hits a little too hard i feel like my job takes over everything even on weekends I think about deadlines and meetings that's exactly the problem nowadays with remote work and phones buzzing 24/7 it's harder than ever to disconnect yeah I check emails before I even get out of bed that's your first mistake morning should be coffee and fresh air not company memos i know i know but the pressure is real everyone's trying to prove they're productive especially now when job competition is tough sure but burning yourself out doesn't make you a better employee it just makes you miserable so what's the solution just ignore my boss's emails no but you can set boundaries like turning off notifications after work hours or not checking emails on weekends that sounds like a dream but seriously do you think balance is really possible or is it just something people talk about i think it's possible if we make it a priority start small block out time for lunch away from your desk go for a walk call a friend i barely have time to eat some days that's the point you're a human not a machine you need rest hobbies social life those things recharge you what do you do to keep balance i try to finish work by 6:00 p.m i take weekends off unless there's an emergency and I schedule fun stuff like hiking or game nights just like I schedule meetings that sounds healthy i used to paint actually but now I can't even remember the last time I touched a brush you should pick it up again doing things you love reminds you there's more to life than work you're right but do you think companies even care about employees having balance some do the smarter ones because happy employees work better when people are burned out they make mistakes and quit and that's true a friend of mine recently resigned because her company expected her to work late every night exactly it's not just about the hours it's about feeling respected and having time to live your life maybe it's time I start making changes even if it's just small steps yes start by claiming your evenings take back your Saturday mornings go paint something i think I will thanks Tom you've given me a lot to think about anytime and remember we work to live not the other way around cheers to that let's pause to look at 10 useful words and phrases from the conversation that you can use when talking about work stress and personal life work life balance it means the division between work time and personal time for example I'm trying to find better work life balance these days burnout it means extreme mental or physical exhaustion due to overwork for example she burned out after working 12-hour days for weeks set boundaries it means create limits to protect your time or well-being for example I set boundaries by not checking emails after 700 p.m freelance it means self-employed or working for different clients for example Tom works freelance so he controls his schedule disconnect it means stop working or engaging with digital devices for example I try to disconnect on weekends and just relax notifications it means alerts or messages from apps or emails for example I turned off my notifications during dinner productive it means getting a lot done effectively for example I feel more productive when I take regular breaks priority it means something considered more important than others for example self-care should be a priority not a luxury recharge it means to restore energy or motivation for example I need to recharge after a stressful week claim your time it means take control of your schedule for personal benefit for example I'm starting to claim my weekends for rest these expressions are perfect for both professional and casual conversations especially when talking about modern work culture now it's your turn and listen to the conversation one more time and try to spot these expressions in action if you enjoyed this episode don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more great content click the subscribe button and stay updated with our latest episodes [Music] i can't believe it's already 700 p.m i still have three emails to answer and a report to finish you're still working it's Friday night n mean log off and breathe a little i wish I could but if I don't finish this tonight Monday will be a disaster sometimes I feel like I live to work that sounds rough you know there's a reason people talk about work life balance it's not just a trend it's survival easy for you to say you're a freelance you set your own hours true but I used to be like you always online always stressed then one day I realized what's the point of earning money if you're too tired to enjoy it that hits a little too hard i feel like my job takes over everything even on weekends I think about deadlines and meetings that's exactly the problem nowadays with remote work and phones buzzing 24/7 it's harder than ever to disconnect yeah I check emails before I even get out of bed that's your first mistake morning should be coffee and fresh air not company memos i know I know but the pressure is real everyone's trying to prove they're productive especially now when job competition is tough sure but burning yourself out doesn't make you a better employee it just makes you miserable so what's the solution just ignore my boss's emails no no but you can set boundaries like turning off notifications after work hours or not checking emails on weekends that sounds like a dream but seriously do you think balance is really possible or is it just something people talk about i think it's possible if we make it a priority start small block out time for lunch away from your desk go for a walk call a friend i barely have time to eat some days that's the point you're a human not a machine you need rest hobbies social life those things recharge you what do you do to keep balance i try to finish work by 6:00 p.m i take weekends off unless there's an emergency and I schedule fun stuff like hiking or game nights just like I schedule meetings that sounds healthy i used to paint actually but now I can't even remember the last time I touched a brush you should pick it up again doing things you love reminds you there's more to life than work you're right but do you think companies even care about employees having balance some do the smarter ones because happy employees work better when people are burned out they make mistakes and quit and that's true a friend of mine recently resigned because her company expected her to work late every night exactly it's not just about the hours it's about feeling respected and having time to live your life maybe it's time I start making changes even if it's just small steps yes start by claiming your evenings take back your Saturday mornings go paint something i think I will thanks Tom you've given me a lot to think about anytime and remember we work to live not the other way around cheers to that let's quickly review the core messages from Nina and Tom's conversation first modern work culture is demanding people often feel pressure to stay connected and responsive even outside work hours second lack of balance leads to burnout constant overwork skipping meals and ignoring hobbies can harm both mental health and job performance third setting boundaries is essential and simple actions like turning off email notifications or not working weekends can improve your well-being fourth balance doesn't happen by accident it requires intention planning rest fun and personal time as seriously as you plan work fifth personal time helps you recharge hobbies social time and rest aren't luxuries they're necessary for long-term energy and happiness sixth companies benefit from happy employees businesses with better work life balance often see more loyalty creativity and fewer resignations and finally change starts with small steps even reclaiming your evenings or restarting a hobby can begin the journey toward a more balanced life that wraps up today's episode of English on the go so do you work to live or live to work no matter your job or schedule one thing's clear work life balance isn't just about having free time it's about making time for what truly matters whether it's painting hiking spending time with loved ones or simply taking a lunch break without guilt it all adds up to a fuller healthier life don't forget to download today's vocabulary list and remember you are more than your job until next time I'm Brian learn everywhere speak everywhere and live your life don't just work through it see you soon