The triple constraint of life is happiness, health, and productivity. In project management, it would be cost, time, and scope. Optimizing these three things in either case defines quality. The quality of your life or the quality of your project. Tackle life with a triple constraint mentality and I believe you will optimize the quality of your life.
Lacking focus on any specific method in project management can allow for scope creep to happen, throwing money at a problem or not taking the time to clearly define the plan. You can go months or years over schedule or just scrap the project altogether. That's a sucky way to spend your time and money, but it happens. More often than you might think.
I like to think that when a strong project manager gets put in place that they will set and adhere to a firm budget. The due diligence to estimate the time needed to complete a project accurately and address the risks will happen at the onset. They will clearly document, plan and communicate the scope effectively. On launch day, everyone walks away happy having succeeded at what they set out to achieve.
In life, many people will pick one thing and excel at it. If you ask some people what the meaning of life is they may simply answer: happiness. My problem with that answer is that you could achieve that through drug abuse. If the meaning of life is simply obtaining your own happiness, the quality of that life could be suspect. Focusing on health helps you put some control over the amount of time you have for this life but overfocus and it could be to the detriment of your family. And an overworked person could be the pinnacle of a productive life but if you leave your health and happiness behind, it likely will not end well.
The triple constraint of life is happiness, health and productivity. Find a balance between these three and you'll find a quality of life that is optimized. Let the happiness be your own but also that of others around you. See the opportunities to give and share kindness. Try hard to make healthy decisions, enjoy the natural world around you and share these experiences with people you love. Be productive, seek to make a positive impact on the world. Don't kill it at work and let the rest of your life suffer.
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