Today I want to discuss the importance of finding and maintaining a work-life balance. The New Year is here! I’m sure I am not alone when I say, “Let this be a better year”. With the New Year brings resolutions, cold days and nights and (in my opinion) my favorite thing…reflection! When I think about this past year, not only do I like to think about where I grew but in what area I personally struggled. I believe one of the greatest opportunities I had was balancing my work and home life. Anyone feel the same? Prior to this year, I struggled with leaving work at work. I had a hard time turning off my ‘work brain’ once I walked into my house and even, closing my laptop when my husband talked about his day.
So how do we balance our work and home life? I’ve had personal moments of coming home after a challenging day or managing a crisis situation that caused me great distress. Times like that made me tense and I found myself yelling at my spouse for non-deserving, small things. I was causing dissatisfaction between us. I started to reflect on how to process my days by using my long commute as a time to reflect and ponder. That alone time benefited my personal mental health so I could process before entering my home life! Does any certain time of the day come to mind for you?
Managing multiple roles
First off, finding balance does not mean removing roles or responsibilities from our lives. Quite the contrary! Having multiple roles actually increases life satisfaction. It can give us drive, respect and even, prevent mental illness. Managing multiple roles means considering all roles and setting firm boundaries. A common example I give couples and families is knowing when to turn off the work email so you may give your full attention. Trust me, after a few days you won’t want to go back after that!
How do I know if my work-life is unbalanced?
Recognizing imbalance among ourselves requires looking inward and asking several questions. Have I lost my passion for this job? How often am I complaining excessively? Do I feel bored? Is this tapping into my personal life? Are the people around me complaining about my absence? Do you feel close to burning out? If you responded most of these questions with ‘yes’, your work and home life are most likely spilling into each other
But how do I incorporate more balance into my life?
The most effective way of balancing responsibilities with work and home life is to set manageable goals that reflect our four life quadrants: work, family, friends and last but not least…yourself! Goal setting is a helpful tool to reflect on personal priorities and values. On a personal note, I’ve had to use my planner to confirm that my life quadrants are each being fulfilled! Chaotic schedules can make it challenging when balancing work and life so I always recommend implementing personal boundaries to reinforce overall fulfillment.
We are all committed to our careers and professional development. That same commitment and respect should be considered when taking care of family members and ourselves. If you or someone you know needs help balancing work and home life, contact Barnum Counseling at (630) 797-9192 or click here to complete a contact form inquiry.
Written by: Coral Pidone, MA, LPC
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