Balancing Act
DEVELOPING A HEALTHY WORK-LIFE BALANCE IN A HECTIC WORLD
It’s one of the oldest sayings in the book, and it sounds simple enough. But anyone who’s ever been employed knows that, more often than not, there just aren’t enough hours in a day to complete your to-do list. Add to that the responsibility of raising a family, and it’s easy to see the clock doesn’t always cooperate. With so much on your plate, how do you create a healthier worklife balance?
“It means making sure you prioritize what you value rather than what society deems to be important,” says Rachel Sparks, life coach at Inner Spark Consulting, “to examine what kind of person you want to be and then support those behaviors or activities that will help you achieve it.”
Thankfully, employers are starting to understand. Since the early 1990s, there has been a work-life balance boom, with companies striving to develop new strategies that enhance productivity and quality of life.
“Technology has made it possible for employees to work a more flexible schedule, and that’s becoming an increasingly common practice,” Rachel says. “The idea of needing to take time off for family activities has also become more widely accepted.”
At the same time, 56 percent of working moms say they find it very or somewhat difficult to balance their responsibilities, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. According to Rachel, that’s because, though work-life balance has improved, the distinction between the two has become increasingly difficult to distinguish. “In the past, home was a place we could escape work,” she says. “But now, it’s on our laptop, on our smartphone; it inevitablycomes home with us.”
That’s why it’s more important than ever for working women to determine a strategy that works for them. Rachel suggests assessing your routine and determining where you can outsource to minimize stressors.
“Take a step back to examine what activities drain your energy without adding value,” she says. “Then see how you can delegate those tasks that you spend a significant amount of time on. For instance, if you can spend a little bit of money each week to have someone clean your house, and it allows you to reallocate even an hour of your time, then it could be worth it.” Although that process sounds easy enough, Rachel acknowledges it’s not something you can do overnight. “It takes time,” she says, “but it will allow you to have a laser focus on the aspects that really count with your family and at work. You’ll not only feel better but be able to be a better mother, partner and co-worker in the time that you’re saving.”
After you’ve stripped away stressors, Rachel’s next — and most important — piece of advice is one you likely hear often but don’t implement nearly enough: Take time for yourself. “As a working mom, I know this sounds almost cliché, but it’s so necessary,” she says. “If we have free time, we feel like we should be spending it on our husband, our kids or our job. It feels selfish to focus on ourselves. That’s just not the case. We need to set aside the time to relax, to meditate, to work our hobbies or even just to breathe.”
Even with these strategies in place, however, there are times when work and life inevitably overlap. It’s in those instances that you’ll be thankful if you prepare ahead of time. “Work and life will always blur, so make sure you’ve set boundaries and have a support system in place,” Rachel says. “If you know you have a big project coming up at work, have preliminary conversations with your partner about what to expect and how they can help you through it. Then set boundaries for yourself. For instance, determine that you’ll only answer emails until a certain time of night, and stick to it. It’s all about limiting your commitments and making exceptions only when it’s absolutely necessary.”
In today’s world, busy seems to be the new normal for most families, but that doesn’t mean that stressed has to be your normal mindset. “Just remember to be cognizant of your time,” Rachel says. “Continuously evaluate your values, and make sure your daily life is a reflection of them. It doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s not a task you’re ever finished with. It’s a process — an ever-evolving process.” For more advice on achieving success in all areas of your life, visit InnerSparkConsulting.com.
