7 Ways to Rethink Work/Life Balance|Lifestyle
In a perfect world, "work" and "home" would balance out neatly. But for those of us here in the wake of the Great Recession, firmly entrenched in an "always on" society, this notion seems hopelessly out-dated. Most of us are working longer, more stressful hours, and work is spilling over into evenings and weekends. No wonder a recent survey of North American employees found that 87 percent of respondents say their work/life balance (or lack thereof) is negatively affecting their health. Work/life balance, at least in the sense that most of us think about it, is a myth. It does not exist. For many people, it never has. But understanding your rhythms and planning according to the seasons of your life can help you create a life that is more passionate, more productive, and happier in every way. Here's how:
It's true that work/life balance is a topic that seems to be on many minds. But in many ways, a perfectly balanced life is a perfectly tepid life. How much balance do you think Bono has when U2 is on tour? Or an Olympic athlete preparing for a competition? Probably not much, but their passion and purpose fuel them to work harder and longer with more joy and satisfaction in both work and life. When your goal is to achieve perfect work/life balance, you'll be constantly disappointed and so will your loved ones but when you approach every day with passion and purpose, whether you're working long hours to prepare an important presentation or staying up late with your daughter to work on her science project, you can find joy and happiness in whatever it is you're pursuing at that moment.
Rather than thinking of your work and life day to day, think of it as a whole. How many times did you get away with your family last year? Were there particular weeks/months where you worked really, really long hours? Were there times you were less busy? You might find that, when viewed that way, you did have a balanced life. Or you might realize you need to make a change in the way you do things during the upcoming year. It is going to be virtually impossible to achieve complete balance every day of your life. Instead of driving yourself crazy trying to achieve a work/life balance every day, look at your life on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis. Schedule times to work hard, recharge, renew, play, and engage with your family and friends.
Most companies work like seasons in nature. They have busy seasons and not-so-busy seasons. It might be easy for you to plan your work/home life flow around these times. Not just in terms of when you plan vacations, but also in terms of daily work hours. During the slow time, it's okay to leave a little earlier each day if you know you're going to be working long hours once busy season arrives.
Of course, you can't base everything on work schedules. There are times your family needs you more than others: birth of a new baby, when a child starts school, or when an older parent is having a crisis and needs you to care for him/her. At times like these, you will want to put in the family time and make it up when you can at work. Just as with your work, you can plan for some of these seasons, but other busy seasons might pop up unexpectedly--such as a sick parent. You have to be ready to adjust to the season. You have to go where you are needed. If you are worried about work at those times, you can take comfort in knowing that there will be a period when you can apply more of yourself to the job.
When the company needs you to really push, push hard. This way, when you need to slow down the pace or take time off, they'll be willing to work with you. By willingly and happily accepting the challenge of a difficult project or client or by working long hours to meet an important deadline, you make deposits in the company's 'hard work' bank account. When you need to make a withdrawal, whether it's for a family emergency or just a much-needed break, you'll have plenty of goodwill with the higher-ups in your account and they won't begrudge you for taking the time off
Fully commit to whatever you're doing at work. Don't complain--positivity goes a long way. And don't feel guilty that you are not at home. Feeling guilty is a recipe for misery and poor performance on the job and unhappiness at home. Commit fully to your season of hard work while planning for your season of rest and recharging. When you commit to your season of work, you won't be tempted to watch the clock and you'll be more successful at work and feel more fulfilled.
Throw yourself into those precious family relationships. Don't spend family time thinking about work or zoning out in front of the TV or computer. It's not about the amount of time we spend with our families, it's about how engaged we are during the time we do have with them. So when you're in a family season, don't constantly check your BlackBerry. Don't take work calls during dinner. Devote as much of yourself as possible to your family. Use the time that you wouldn't get to spend with them if you were in a work season to do something special. Read to your child each night or take your family on a surprise weekend trip.
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