Explaining Work Life Balance To A 5 Year Old Is As Easy As Pie

I've been dabbling in AI (or ChatGPT as some of you may call it) for about eight months. I've used it to strengthen blog titles, make content more "punchy" and help me get some creative juices flowing.

By far my favorite thing to do with it, however, is to ask it to explain a complex topic to a five year old. From bias to creative avoidance it has given me a stronger foundation from which to share ideas with others.

My favorite thing to do with AI is to ask it to explain a complex topic to a five year old. From bias to creative avoidance it has given me a stronger foundation from which to share ideas with others.

There has been one concept I've hesitated to ask it to explain, partly because I thought (in full transparency) it might do a better job than ME, and my pride would be hurt.

My curiosity got the best of me yesterday and I finally worked up the courage to ask ChatGPT to "Explain work life balance to a five year old."

This is the exact response it gave me:

Hey there, kiddo! Today, let's talk about something super important called "work-life balance." Now, you might be wondering, what on earth is that? Well, it's all about finding a good balance between our work or jobs and the other fun things we do in our lives.

Imagine this: think of your day as a yummy pizza. Work or school is like one slice of the pizza, and all the other things you love to do, like playing with friends, going to the park, or spending time with family, are the other slices. Just like how you want your pizza to be tasty with different toppings on each slice, you also want your day to have a mix of work and play!

Sometimes, grown-ups can get really busy with their jobs or tasks. They might have to finish some important projects or go to meetings. But it's also essential for them to take breaks and spend time doing things they enjoy, like playing games, reading books, or going on adventures.

Sometimes, grown-ups can get really busy with their jobs or tasks. They might have to finish some important projects or go to meetings. But it's also essential for them to take breaks and spend time doing things they enjoy, like playing games, reading books, or going on adventures.

Having a good work-life balance means finding the right amount of time for both work and play. It helps grown-ups feel happy and not too stressed because they get to take care of their responsibilities while also having fun and spending time with loved ones.

Remember, just like you need to eat a balanced meal with vegetables, protein, and maybe even a little dessert, grown-ups need to balance their work and personal lives too. It's all about finding that sweet spot where everyone feels happy and fulfilled.

So, whether you're a grown-up or a kid, it's important to remember that work-life balance means finding time for both work and play, so we can enjoy our lives to the fullest. After all, life is like a big, delicious pizza, and we want to savor every single slice!

Here are my thoughts as I reflected on its output:

It's not about balance. It's about being present in the moment where you need to be. Of course it's my fault for it talking so much about balance. I put the word "balance" in the request. I only use the term because it's what most people use to describe a desire to have a different cadence to their lives. I prefer "work life success."

The pizza analogy is brilliant. I like the idea of "toppings" which I would correlate to various activities in your day. I also thought about the "size of the slice" and what that could mean in utilizing your time. The line near the end about "savoring every slice" also reminded me to be fully present in the moment.

I like how it acknowledged that sometimes our lives will be out of balance. We all have days, weeks, or possibly even months where a work project, family commitment, or personal health will require more of our time than it has in the past.

Fantastic quote: "Balance means finding time for both work and play, so we can enjoy our lives to the fullest." I found myself asking, "Am I enjoying my life to the fullest?" And then I reflected on what might need to change to give a more resounding YES to the question.

Ultimately I thought the answer was spot-on. While I might nuance a few things differently, I believe anyone who read it could begin taking actions to be more fulfilled in their work and life.

And using food to explain the concept? That always gets my attention. I think AI and me are going to become really good friends.😉

Question: How would you explain work life balance in a simple way to someone? Share your thoughts in the comments.