Work-Life Balance – It Doesn’t

A funny thing is happening with the incoming generation. They are looking to us baby boomers for advice on how to make their work-life balance successful.

C’mon! Does anyone else see the irony in this? The one thing we have learned is that when it comes to work-life balance … it doesn’t.  But in their eyes, we have somehow done it. HA! Boy, have we fooled them. This is where you see me strutting around as if I have all the answers. Sure. I can act the part of know-it-all, but I really don’t.

However, I will give the 20- and 30-something generation some credit. They are all ears to their older generations. They want to be mentored. They want to learn. They are ambitious and confident. Good thing. Good because they are slowly seeing the stress that is caused by juggling of work and life. BTW – the photo on the inset is actually one of a computer attached to a cycling machine. There’s your answer.

Here is some initial advice.

We have some systems that work for managing our calendars, and other that seem to unravel regularly. There are constant gadgets that distract us. We are lured by shiny new time management techniques.

 

Points to Keep in Mind

For the work-family situation, an overly-challenging attempt at balance interferes with the personal productivity in the majority of us. Managing that work-family balance effectively leads to reduced stress.

Sounds to me like understanding how to manage your own work-life balance is a tricky little key to solving lots of things: conflict, stress, time management, establishing world peace, and of course getting the evening casserole made.

A recent study looked at the source of conflict created by a lack of work-family balance and identified several items that can help improve it. One of them is knowing yourself and your personal style and habits.

Try These Steps

What may work for others may not work for you. Attractive new trends are tempting to try out so that you feel like you are hip and on the verge of what everyone else in the modern world is doing. For example, the latest advice on texting during vacation may recommend you stay away from work during time off, but for some people it actually helps them feel they are nicely-balancing work/family while being productive.

Set a certain time frame, perhaps a week, to do nothing more than inventory what is working for you and what is hindering you in managing your work-life balance. Where do you get stressed? Where does a personal need butt up against a work need? How often do you do a u-turn at the end of your street because you forgot something again? Measure stuff like that.

 

For me, it’s self discipline. Oh .. wait there while I check out the daily email from eBags.com. Did you SEE that cute little number by Piazza? OMG. Ten minutes later ….

Set this list aside at the end of a week to incubate. Then, analyze it for trends and no-brainers. For example, did you notice that you were stressed at the end of a certain day because something did not get done and you had to leave for a family get-together? But now that you look at it in hindsight, you see that the to-do’s could have easily transferred over to the next day. Why the anxiety over having everything off your list at once? Use this list to make adjustments on what may be worth letting go of and where you may want to expand your options.

Look at how you operate in your chaotic world as flexible. Actually say to yourself, “I have my own personal flex-style and it includes …”

Own it.

*** Adapted from the article Is Stress Getting to You by Rebecca A. Clay, Monitor on Psychology, January 2011.