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FAMILY/WORK BALANCE

As women, we know the stresses of being pulled in multiple directions and our daily struggles to find just the right balance. But just what is this balance and how do we achieve it?

Why is work-life balance important for women?

Work-life balance is crucial for our physical and mental health. Imbalance can lead to stress, burnout, and mental disorders like anxiety and depression. A good work-life balance allows us to be more engaged both at work and at home, leading to improved performance in professional and personal roles.

How to manage work-life balance for women?

This could include aspects such as quality time with family, personal hobbies, career progression, or self-care. Learning how to manage work-life balance for us requires strategic planning, effective delegation, and embracing flexibility in both professional and personal spheres.

What is a good work-life balance for women?

A good work-life balance allows us to be more engaged both at work and at home, leading to improved performance in our professional and personal roles. Achieving work-life balance can bring more fulfillment to life, enabling us to be successful in their careers and as parents, and enjoy life more.

The key is not only about “balance,” it’s also about integration. A successful work/family integration is a long game that plays out over a week, a month, a career. If we have older parents that need support, an ailing spouse, young children, or other demands at home, they will (rightfully) need more of our attention. Sometimes work projects and deadlines demand more of our focus. Integrating the day’s work needs and life needs is about learning to reprioritize (with compassion and flexibility) — sometimes on a daily or hourly basis.

A few ideas are

Put words to the problem

Most of us can identify when we feel stressed, but we can’t always pinpoint where it’s coming from. Grab a piece of paper and write down the answers to the following:

When I’m at work, I’m worried about…
When I’m with my family, I’m thinking about…
If I had unlimited time and money, I would…
The number one obstacle to my work/life balance is…
This exercise can be challenging. It may bring up feelings of guilt, being stuck, resentment, or hopelessness. If you start to feel angry, try taking a couple of deep breaths.

Talk to your family

Once you’ve started to journal your thoughts and feelings, plan some time to talk to your family/friends. Tell them how you’re feeling and what you think would be helpful for you.

For example, your late hours mean that you order takeout multiple times a week. You feel terrible about this, so you apologize to your family, only to learn that they don’t care. They love ordering takeout and what they really care about is having more time with you.

These candid conversations can help you re-establish your priorities and your family values. Build family time into your schedule and make it sacred so they know what to expect from you.

Ask for help

Change doesn’t happen overnight. Rebalancing work and family life will likely mean that you’ll have to set boundaries in new ways. Connect with other women who have learned best practices and creative ways to juggle the multitude of requests.

Take a realistic look at your work schedule. Are your long hours necessary? Is there something else that you can change so you can have a more predictable schedule? If you need more flexibility at work, reach out to your manager. Remember that everyone wins when you take care of yourself and your mental health.