Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Southwest Michigan Section
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WORK-LIFE BALANCE Helpful Tips “Looking at ones own Work-Life Balance is an exercise in the evaluation of the importance of different aspects of ones life. The basic struggle is between earning a living and living a life, between "working a job" and "having a life". An individuals Work-Life Balance position can shift as they change as a person or as they grow older, as they undertake subsequent re-evaluations on their own life after periods of life experiences (time). Regardless of an individuals initial alignment e.g. "you should work hard and invest for the future" vs. "live your life like today is the last day of your life", events experienced (or possibly missed) will shift the weight of argument between the two extremes and possibly give the individual a new perspective or evaluation of life.” Remember that Work-Life Balance does not mean an equal balance and it also is not a constant, it varies over time. There is no one-size-fits-all work life balance and it definitely doesn’t mean it reduces the time spent at work!
The nine Work-Life Balance tips below are based on a presentation made by Mr. Parthasarathy at the Mind Tree Lecture Series number 4 in August 2004.
1) SIMPLIFY
a) Learn to say “NO” if it affects your schedules. You don’t have to be busy all of the time. b) Remember nobody is indispensable. c) Choose your best time to do the toughest work. Look for tools to improve productivity. d) Stay home once in a while. Don’t carry the frenetic madness of the workplace home – rushing from cinema to restaurant to club. Chill out. e) Don’t commit yourself to anything, especially avoidable social engagements while at home and don’t feel guilty. f) Find something at home that is relaxing, listening to music, little chores etc.
2) DE-STRESS
a) Sure it’s easier said than done. A degree of stress enables creative people scale new heights. But one must manage stress so it can enrich and motivate not result in high blood pressure. b) The best relief from the debilitating affects of stress is to ‘take it easy’ at times. Get your second breath and then tackle the problem. c) Learning yoga or doing a course in breathing has helped many a stressed out individual. d) Take your dog for a walk.
3) BE A CHILD
a) Read with your child. There is nothing to beat a fairy tale to bond with your child, as well as improve your voice modulation. b) Get down on the floor and cuddle your little one. c) Take a walk to the nearby park with your child and point out the flowers & trees. d) If you have a teenager, have regular conversations; talk to him/her about the birds and the bees. e) Go for a movie impulsively with the family. Become a little child yourself. Buy that popcorn, cotton candy or ice cream cone. Nobody is looking. f) Go on a holiday at least once a year. It doesn’t have to be a long one. You can have a number of short holidays. g) Get yourself a pet. (Believe me, there’s nothing to beat the welcome you get from your pet dog when you return home).
4) SHARE THE LOAD
a) A clean, orderly home reduces so much unnecessary tension. Everything in the right place makes existence so much simpler. Sit down as a family and assign each other tasks. Dusting books & CD’s can have a calming affect on your nerves. b) At the workplace, learn to share your burden. Don’t take the entire load on your shoulders. Learn to say “NO” if it affects your schedules. c) Trust your colleagues and delegate. Don’t do their fishing for them, teach them how to fish.
5) SLOW DOWN
a) Sure that’s a contradiction in terms. At the workplace we want the assignment done yesterday not tomorrow! If only we could bend e=mc2 to our will! Yet you mustn’t get pulled in different directions. One step at a time, that’s the key. Sometimes one must let go to see the light, to discover a new way of doing the same thing.
6) TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH
a) It’s the most neglected aspect of existence. ‘All work and no plan makes Jack a dull boy.’ b) Don’t make grandiose plans: take a walk, go to yoga class, join a gym if you are so inclined, and take a swim. Take up a sport, any sport. c) Eat a well balanced diet; reduce junk foods and pesticide contaminated soft drinks. d) And don’t forget adequate rest, meaning ‘Please Sleep’
7) DON’T POSTPONE
a) When something needs to be done, Do it. Never procrastinate. b) Avoidance uses up more energy than actually doing it.
8) HAVE A POSITIVE APPROACH
a) Look around you. There is so much to be grateful about. b) Take time to list things that you are thankful for, it will be a good reminder of how much is going right for you. Remember that it could have been worse.
9) FINALLY, TAKE CHARGE
a) It’s your life and as far as we know the only one we have. b) Plan ahead; short term, medium term, long term and then work towards them. c) Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.
10) DON’T TAKE YOUR WORK HOME WITH YOU
a) If you can give your children or your spouse 100% of your attention, even for a brief period, it goes way longer than compromising and giving them some time because you think you should."
Work-life balance: Establish Priorities
from
MayoClinic.com Here are some options to help you find the balance that's best for you and your unique situation.
· Keep a log. Track everything you do for one week. Include work-related and non-work-related activities. After you see your patterns, decide where to make adjustments. Cut or delegate activities you don't enjoy, you don't have time for or you do only out of guilt. If you don't have the authority to make these decisions, talk to your supervisor.
· Manage your time. Organize household tasks efficiently. Doing one or two loads of laundry every day rather than saving it all up for your day off, and running errands in batches rather than going back and forth several times from your home are good places to begin. A weekly family calendar of important dates will help you avoid deadline panic. Find out if your employer offers a course in time management. If possible, sign up for it.
· Rethink your cleaning standards. An unmade bed won't alter the course 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. Eliminate time-consuming misunderstandings by communicating clearly and listening carefully. Take notes if it helps.
· Nurture yourself. You can't have a job, family and friends without nurturing yourself. So try to set aside some time each day for an activity you enjoy, such as reading, working out or listening to music. Decompress after a hectic workday by taking a walk, going to the gym to work out or taking a bath or shower. You and your family can decompress by spending the first 15 minutes at home at the end of the workday eating a healthy snack you've prepared beforehand.
· 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 friends, partner or family, such as making dinner together, playing a game or going for a walk. 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 you can also 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 to during times of stress or hardship. If you're part of a religious community, take advantage of the support your pastor, rabbi, priest or other religious leader can provide.
· 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).
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