How’s your work-life balance? Many women (okay most women I know and work with) struggle with this issue. Work seems to monopolize their time and energy crowding out family, fun, friends, spirituality, health, recreation and … No matter how well your career is going there’s ALWAYS more to do. Juggling everything is stressful and seems impossible. While it may be impossible to “have and do it all” you can create a work-life balance that’s right for you. Here are 6 steps to help you achieve work-life balance:
1. Identify Determine what is and who are the most important things and people in you life. This will help you figure out what/who to include and exclude in your schedule.
2. Get Organized
At the end of the day make a to-do-list. The next morning prioritize and pick the top three things you need to accomplish that day. To help you determine what to do use the grid to the right to divide each of the items on your list into one of four categories. Then do the urgent/important items first! 3. Ask Ask yourself: What changes would make my life easier? Instead of doing it all focus on what’s most important to you. You don’t and can’t do everything so ask for help. Whether it’s taking out the garbage or filling out paperwork, think about where in your life you need help and ask for assistance.
4. Progress not perfection Let go of perfection and focus on progress. Learn from and accept your mistakes and realize that life is far too complicated to do everything perfectly. Practice self-compassion by realizing that we are all imperfect beings. Embrace yourself and exactly as you are and your life exactly as it is.
5. Set boundaries Leave work at work. Unplug. Create space and give yourself permission to relax.
6. Practice self-care Make self-care a priority. Take time to exercise, have fun, eat right, sleep and chill. You can’t thrive in your career and care for those you love if your own tank is empty. In the words of Hillary Clinton (who has mastered the balancing act) “Don’t confuse having a career with having a life.” While work is like a rubber ball – you drop it, it bounces back – the other important areas of your life – family, health, spirit, friends – are fragile. Take care of them so they don’t shatter beyond repair.
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