Work–Life Balance
Vocabulary Focus
1. job vs work vs career
Job — конкретная работа, должность.
Work — работа как процесс (неисчисляемое).
Career — карьера, профессиональный путь.
She found a new job in marketing.
Она нашла новую работу (должность) в маркетинге.
He has a lot of work to do today.
У него сегодня много работы.
She is planning a career in law.
Она планирует карьеру в юриспруденции.
Ошибка: нельзя сказать a work (если речь не о произведении искусства).
2. earn vs gain
Earn (money / salary / respect) — зарабатывать (деньги, уважение).
Gain (experience / skills / knowledge) — приобретать (опыт, навыки).
He earns a competitive salary.
Он зарабатывает конкурентную зарплату.
She gained valuable experience during the internship.
Она приобрела ценный опыт во время стажировки.
Ошибка: не говорите gain money (если речь о зарплате).
3. responsible for vs in charge of
Responsible for — отвечать за результат.
In charge of — руководить, быть ответственным за организацию.
She is responsible for customer service.
Она отвечает за обслуживание клиентов.
He is in charge of the sales department.
Он руководит отделом продаж.
Ошибка: формы часто путают в письменной части.
4. achieve vs succeed (in)
Achieve (a goal / success / results) — достигать (конкретную цель).
Succeed in (doing something) — успешно справляться, преуспевать.
She achieved her professional goals.
Она достигла своих профессиональных целей.
He succeeded in finding a better position.
Ему удалось найти лучшую должность.
Story
Finding the Right Balance
For several years, Daniel focused entirely on his career. He wanted to achieve professional success as quickly as possible. He worked overtime, accepted every new project and rarely took days off. Although he earned a high salary and gained valuable experience, his personal life began to suffer.
Daniel was in charge of a large team and was responsible for important decisions. The pressure at work increased, and he found it difficult to succeed in managing both his job and his family responsibilities. He often brought work home and continued answering emails late at night.
Eventually, he realised that success at work does not automatically guarantee happiness. He had achieved many goals, but he felt exhausted and disconnected from his family. Daniel decided to change his priorities. He reduced his working hours and learned to delegate tasks.
Over time, he discovered that a balanced lifestyle helped him perform better at work. By maintaining clear boundaries between his job and personal life, he managed to achieve not only professional results but also emotional stability.
Useful Words and Expressions
focus on — сосредоточиться на
professional success — профессиональный успех
overtime — сверхурочная работа
accept a project — брать проект
take days off — брать выходные
personal life — личная жизнь
suffer — страдать
be in charge of — руководить
be responsible for — отвечать за
pressure — давление
manage responsibilities — справляться с обязанностями
bring work home — брать работу домой
eventually — в итоге
achieve a goal — достигать цели
delegate tasks — делегировать задачи
balanced lifestyle — сбалансированный образ жизни
maintain boundaries — поддерживать границы
emotional stability — эмоциональная стабильность
Exercises
Exercise 1. Choose the correct word.
She wants to build a successful (career / work).
He (earned / gained) a lot of experience abroad.
She is (responsible for / in charge of) organising the event.
He managed to (achieve / succeed) his main goal.
She (earns / gains) enough money to support her family.
Exercise 2. Match the words with their definitions.
career
earn
gain
in charge of
achieve
a) to receive money for work
b) to reach a goal
c) to obtain something useful
d) a long-term professional path
e) having control or authority over something
Exercise 3. Answer the questions (2–3 sentences each).
Why did Daniel focus entirely on his career?
What problems did he face because of his lifestyle?
What changes did he make to improve his work–life balance?
Why is it important to maintain boundaries between work and personal life?
What does work–life balance mean to you?
Answer Key
Exercise 1
career
gained
responsible for
achieve
earns
Exercise 2
1 — d
2 — a
3 — c
4 — e
5 — b
Exercise 3 (Sample Answers)
Daniel focused on his career because he wanted to achieve professional success quickly. He was highly motivated and ambitious.
His personal life began to suffer because he worked overtime and rarely rested. He felt exhausted and emotionally disconnected from his family.
He reduced his working hours and delegated tasks to colleagues. He also set clearer boundaries between work and personal life.
Maintaining boundaries helps prevent burnout and reduces stress. It also improves relationships and overall well-being.
In my opinion, work–life balance means being able to achieve professional goals without sacrificing personal happiness and health.
Mini Advice
В теме работы и карьеры на ЕГЭ часто проверяются:
job / work / career
earn / gain
responsible for / in charge of
achieve / succeed in
Учите устойчивые сочетания:
build a career, earn a salary, gain experience, be responsible for results, succeed in doing something, achieve a goal, work overtime, maintain a balance.