Work-life balance. Does it really exist? Let’s face it, if it were so easy to achieve, all of us would have it. Either way you tip the scale, the reality is that it’s time we stop stressing ourselves and beating ourselves up, striving for this ever-elusive highly unattainable goal.
According to a report by Business Improvement Architects on the importance of work-life balance, “Companies that have implemented work-life balance programs recognize that employee welfare affects a business’ bottom line.” As you can see, we cannot achieve work-life balance on our own; companies must do their part to help us. And, we must join them while doing our part through self-management by controlling our expectations of work-life balance – meaning, we need to stay positive, change our mindset and take a realistic approach to finding an even balance between our personal and professional lives.
Here are some tips to help:
Think Ahead
Is it more important to spend time with family or finish a report that’s due in an hour? Think ahead and weigh your options. If spending time with family is a priority, finish the report later or get it done before. Yes, you always have a choice. The key is to accept your decision and move on. It’s up to you to stay calm and level headed, remembering the realities of work-life balance.
Prioritize Your Options
If your goal is to eat dinner with family every day or go to the gym after work, then plan accordingly. Start your day earlier, plan each day ahead of schedule, prioritize what needs to get done now and finish the rest tomorrow. Again, work-life balance must be planned. It doesn’t just happen; realizing your role in its success takes prioritizing, understanding and a positive mindset.
Overcome Challenges
You thought ahead, you prioritized, you were thrown a curve. You intended to have dinner with family, but an impromptu meeting was called and there was no way you could avoid it. What do you do? Stay calm, breathe and maintain your realistic approach as you overcome this new challenge to work-life balance. Attend the meeting with the understanding that your goals will be back on track tomorrow.
Quality vs Quantity
Whether out with friends, enjoying a family vacation or simply taking some alone time, give it your fullest attention. Live in the moment. Understand that quality time is more important than quantity time spent living life’s pleasures. Then when you get back to work, you’ll be refreshed with a clear mind ready to accomplish your goals.
Here’s to tipping the scales for positive work-life balance experiences!
We want to hear from you! Do you believe there is work-life balance? What tips do you have for maintaining work-life balance?
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” the reality is that it’s time we stop stressing ourselves and beating ourselves up, striving for this ever-elusive highly unattainable goal.” – Totally Disagree. The definition of work life balance is subjective and different for everyone. To say that is an unattainable goal is unrealistic and sounds more like an author who could never really put a good model into practice in their own lives. I believe women can have their cake and it eat, too. In my opinion, to be defeated or pass failures on to the general women populous is not the right approach for this topic.
I agree that it is different for all women and in what ever life/work stance you are in. Using myself, I have been really sick this year but I do find life and work a balancing act. I finished my education earning a Master’s, and I am a Director of Admissions. I love my work and I love my home life and I treat each one with respect as such. We all have successes and failures in life but we continue to find that happy median between the good and bad. That’s life!
It is only possible to have a life work balance if you make it clear when you start your position before habits are formed. I have been working since 1976 and have learned the hard way that you have to set terms. Ideally you want to establish this during the interview process to see if the company is a good fit with your lifestyle.
It’s been difficult to find a job in a company that has the culture to balance work and personal life. Am glad that I can now devote my time in developing my psychotherapy private practice, be with my family, have time to read, write and play music! Yes, and to quote, “Love, work and knowledge are the wellspring of life, and they should also govern it,” by W. Reich.
Our entire team works very hard and for many years work / life balance was something we were striving for but not quite reaching. With direct focus on what this means collectively for our team we seem to be finding more balance each year. As a result we have a staff that is less stressed and happier over all. In addition our business is running more effectively and efficiently than ever.
I’ve been lucky enough to have managers that taught me that family comes first. Work will always be there, but the formative years with our children will not. If it means working late some days so that you can leave early others to be at that holiday program or the ball game in the spring, you do it. Sometimes it takes looking at the week from both a personal and business perspective and balancing them out so both things work, even if you have to delegate a project that is the type you love to do yourself!