Data, Duty, and the Edges of Home

Long day. The team and I locked ourselves in the analysis bay and sifted through every scrap of data from the northern perimeter. Soil density maps, atmospheric drift models, drone telemetry, all of it. By midday, we were half-delirious from staring at holo‑projections, but the picture is finally coming together.

James was in his element with the technical side of the analysis. Maintenance and updates are mundane and rather dull compared to something like this, and you can clearly see that he revels in it.

The land up there could support the next phase of the colony. It’s rugged, sure, but rugged isn’t bad. Rugged can be shaped. I think we’re close to recommending a green light, though I’ll sleep on it before signing anything. A clear head never hurts.

Ranih, my beautiful wife, has reminded me to try not to bring too much of my work home with me, as in, not to dwell on it after working hours.  Home is where we relax and unwind after work, even though I do, from time to time, work in my home office, which was specifically designed to be not part of the house and connected by a corridor to emphasise the distinction between work and home. 

There is something that has been a part of life for centuries, regardless of where you are from and what era it is or was. Work-life balance is the equilibrium between professional responsibilities and personal life. It involves successfully managing time and energy so that work commitments do not hinder personal well-being, and personal life does not negatively impact career performance.

You would think that by the 25th century, we would have perfected it, but no. As things march forward through rapid change and advancement, so do the complexities of life. The principles of Work-life balance are still there, but how we try to apply them are in a state of constant flux.

Image from Unsplash by Lesly Juarez