Ask someone if he or she wants to "have it all," and the likely response would be a resounding, "Yes."
But what does it really mean to "have it all"? It could be argued that having it all means striking a healthy balance between work and life.
Work-life balance is a phrase that's tossed around a lot these days. It's become almost like a Xanadu — a mythical place we dream about reaching, where we can finally indulge in all of life's pleasures, while still making a good living and taking care of our households and loved ones.
The Xanadu concept is even more challenging during tough economic times when many people feel the need to put in more hours at work in order to retain their job or keep a business afloat. More hours spent working means there is less time available to spend on hobbies or leisure. This puts work/life out of balance.
Also, there was a time when the lines drawn between work-life and home-life were obvious. Among other factors, iPhone, iPad, smartphones, etc., technologies that facilitate always being "on the clock" or ‘accessible” have blurred those boundaries and made it more challenging to keep a healthy work/life balance.
North Americans already spend more time at work than people in other developed countries. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), they spend almost 30 more hours per year at work than the average of the nations surveyed.
Which countries are in the Top 10? The following have the best work/life balance: 1. Denmark 2. Norway 3. Netherlands 4. Finland 5. Belgium 6. Switzerland 7. Sweden 8. Germany 9. Portugal 10. France
If your country isn't on the list, and you want to do your part to help it crack the Top 10, then creating balance in your life is a four-step process.
- The first is "awareness" — awareness of what work-life balance is, and awareness of your own level of work-life balance in your life today.
- The next step is "desire" — where you tap into your deepest desire for the kind of balance you want to achieve, and exactly what that would look like and feel like if you had it.
- Your next step towards achieving balance is examining the components of your life that are "influencing" your work-life balance.
- And the last part of the process is "action" — the steps you'll keep taking, day after day, as you continually apply this learning and make different choices in your life.
Additionally, try combining the above four steps with the strategies below to help restore the balance in your life.
- "Underbook" your day. Instead of cramming appointments into every last minute, leave time on either side of those commitments. That leaves time to deal with the unexpected or enjoy the occasional free time that shows up.
- Get help. It can often feel as though you are the only one capable of performing a task or completing a project, but that's rarely the case. Enlisting the help of others helps lighten the load and lowers stress levels.
- Let it go. Will the earth stop turning if that one email goes unanswered at the end of the day or a dish doesn't get washed until tomorrow? Know when to prioritize the important tasks and let go of those things that really don't have much impact on your life.
- Choose your cliché. Stop and smell the roses. Life is too short. Remember, clichés are clichés for a reason — they contain pearls of truth. At work, take time for the essentials — drink water, eat healthy meals, take breaks — but also have lunch with a friend, talk to your colleagues for a few minutes, take a short walk outside. Remind yourself there is more to life than work.
- Find a new job. Sounds drastic, but it doesn't have to be. Instead of changing careers, find a less demanding job in the same field. That could mean more free time and less stress. I have a friend who found a new position with fewer responsibilities and she seems like a new person- vibrant and loving life! It could be a winning situation.
Work-life balance is really a series of choices you make about how and when you will do your work, and how and when you will pursue fulfillment. If you feel the achievement of work-life balance is more difficult than you thought, don't worry! You really can gain more clarity about your current balance between work and life, and what your ideal work-life balance might look like, and take steps toward achieving it. The fact is, work-life balance is not a destination you arrive at; it's a constant process of awareness, adjustment, and action so that you're continually working toward to achieve a peaceful balance between work and life.
Kristine A. Hodsdon RDH, BS
Director, RDH eVillage
