Finding work-life balance in today's frenetically paced world is no simple
task.
Spend more time at work than at home, and you miss out on a rewarding
personal life. Then again, when you face challenges in your personal life, such
as caring for an aging parent or coping with marital problems, concentrating on
your job can be difficult.
Whether the problem is too much focus on work or too little, when your work
life and your personal life feel out of balance, stress - along with its harmful
effects - is the result.
The good news is that you can take control of your work-life balance - and
give yourself the time to do the things that are most important to you. The
first step is to recognize how the world of work has changed. Then you can
evaluate your relationship to work and apply some specific strategies for
striking a healthier balance.
How work invades your personal life
There was a time when employees showed up for work Monday through Friday and
worked eight- to nine-hour days. The boundaries between work and home were
fairly clear then. But the world has changed and, unfortunately, the boundaries
have blurred for many workers. Here's why:
- Global economy. As more skilled workers enter the global
labor market and companies outsource or move more jobs to reduce labor costs,
people feel pressured to work longer and produce more just to protect their
jobs.
- International business. Work continues around the world 24
hours a day for some people. If you work in an international organization, you
might be on call around the clock for troubleshooting or consulting.
- Advanced communication technology. Many people now have the
ability to work anywhere - from their home, from their car and even on vacation.
And some managers expect this.
- Longer hours. Employers commonly ask employees to work
longer hours than they're scheduled. Often, overtime is mandatory. If you hope
to move up the career ladder, you may find yourself regularly working more than
40 hours a week to achieve and exceed expectations.
- Changes in family roles. Today's married worker is
typically part of a dual-career couple, which makes it difficult to find time to
meet commitments to family, friends and community.
Married to your work
It can be tempting to rack up the
hours at work - especially if you're trying to earn a promotion or some extra
money for a child's education or a dream vacation. For others, working more
hours feels necessary in order to manage the workload.
But if you're spending most of your time at work, your home life will likely
pay the price. Consider the pros and cons of working extra hours on your
work-life balance:
- Fatigue. Your ability to think and your eye-hand
coordination decrease when you're tired. This means you're less productive and
may make more mistakes. These mistakes can lead to injury or rework and
negatively impact your professional reputation.
- Family. You may miss out on important events, such as your
child's first bike ride, your father's 60th birthday or your high-school
reunion. Missing out on important milestones may harm relationships with your
loved ones.
- Friends. Trusted friends are a key part of your support
system. But if you're spending time at the office instead of with them, you'll
find it difficult to nurture those friendships.
- Expectations. If you regularly work extra hours, you may be
given more responsibility. This could create a never-ending and increasing
cycle, causing more concerns and challenges.
Sometimes working overtime is important. If you work for a company that
requires mandatory overtime, you won't be able to avoid it, but you can learn to
manage it. Most importantly, say no when you're too tired, when it's affecting
your health or when you have crucial family obligations.
Striking the best work-life balance
For most people, juggling the demands of career and personal life is an
ongoing challenge. With so many demands on your time - from overtime to family
obligations - it can feel difficult to strike this balance. The goal is to make
time for the activities that are the most important to you.
Here are some ideas to help you find the balance that's best for you:
- Keep a log. Track everything you do for one week. Include
work-related and non-work-related activities. Decide what's necessary and what
satisfies you the most. Cut or delegate activities you don't enjoy and don't
have time for. If you don't have the authority to make certain decisions, talk
to your supervisor.
- Take advantage of your options. Find out if your employer
offers flex hours, a compressed workweek, job-sharing or telecommuting for your
role. The flexibility may alleviate some of your stress and free up some time.
- Learn to say no. Whether it's a co-worker asking you to
spearhead an extra project or your child's teacher asking you to manage the
class play, remember that it's OK to respectfully say no. When you quit doing
the things you only do out of guilt or a false sense of obligation, you'll make
more room in your life for the activities that are meaningful to you and bring
you joy.
- Leave work at work. With today's global business mentality
and the technology to connect to anyone at any time from virtually anywhere,
there's no boundary between work and home - unless you create it. Make a
conscious decision to separate work time from personal time. When with your
family, for instance, turn off your cell phone and put away your laptop
computer.
- Manage your time. Organize household tasks efficiently.
Doing one or two loads of laundry every day, rather than saving it all for your
day off, and running errands in batches are good places to begin. A weekly
family calendar of important dates and a daily list of to-dos will help you
avoid deadline panic. If your employer offers a course in time management, sign
up for it.
- Rethink your cleaning standards. An unmade bed or sink of
dirty dishes won't impact the quality of your life. Do what needs to be done and
let the rest go. If you can afford it, pay someone else to clean your house.
- Communicate clearly. Limit time-consuming misunderstandings
by communicating clearly and listening carefully. Take notes if necessary.
- Fight the guilt. Remember, having a family and a job is OK
- for both men and women.
- Nurture yourself. Set aside time each day for an activity
that you enjoy, such as walking, working out or listening to music. Unwind after
a hectic workday by reading, practicing yoga, or taking a bath or shower.
- Set aside one night each week for recreation. Take the
phone off the hook, power down the computer and turn off the TV. Discover
activities you can do with your partner, family or friends, such as playing
golf, fishing or canoeing. Making time for activities you enjoy will rejuvenate
you.
- Protect your day off. Try to schedule some of your routine
chores on workdays so that your days off are more relaxing.
- Get enough sleep. There's nothing as stressful and
potentially dangerous as working when you're sleep-deprived. Not only is your
productivity affected, but also you can make costly mistakes. You may then have
to work even more hours to make up for these mistakes.
- Bolster your support system. Give yourself the gift of a
trusted friend or co-worker to talk with during times of stress or hardship.
Ensure you have trusted friends and relatives who can assist you when you need
to work overtime or travel for your job.
- Seek professional help. Everyone needs help from time to
time. If your life feels too chaotic to manage and you're
spinning your wheels worrying about it, talk with a professional, such as your
doctor, a psychologist or a counselor recommended by your employee assistance
program (EAP).
Services provided by your EAP are usually free of charge and confidential.
This means no one but you will know what you discuss. And if you're experiencing
high levels of stress because of marital, financial, chemical dependency or
legal problems, an EAP counselor can link you to helpful services in your
community.
Remember, striking a work-life balance isn't a one-shot deal. Creating
balance in your life is a continuous process. Demands on your time change as
your family, interests and work life change. Assess your situation every few
months to make sure you're keeping on track.
Balance doesn't mean doing everything. Examine your priorities and set
boundaries. Be firm in what you can and cannot do. Only you can restore harmony
to your lifestyle.
MayoClinic.com
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