Content Sponsor Edumilestones is an India, (Bangalore) based company. It is an India, (Bangalore) based company. They provide a premium career assessment platform and career counseling certification courses named Certified Career Analyst (CCA) and Certified Counselor for International Studies (CCIS) to over 1800+ professionals across 80 locations in India and abroad for over 10 years. They are official members of APCDA and IAAP international organizations. Their team consists of qualified and experienced top experts from psychology, education, design and IT, investing in extensive research and development. This month Ms Zalak Shah a senior psychologist with Edumilestones has shared some great insights on how womenfolk can justify work-life balance in their favour-
Should I quit my job or be a full-time mom? I love my work, I love my family, is there a better way to love both? I have noticed, many of my age women disappearing from the workplace – few after marriage and many after pregnancy.
Though women have been perceived as flexible multi-taskers, society will frown upon them when they work after marriage or pregnancy.
The term ‘work-life balance’ – is it misleading? Does it mean, 100% at work and 100% at home? Crazy! Women are pressured to strike a perfect balance but there is no secret recipe, do you know why? Because balance is a relative term and everyone sees balance differently.
Your work is a part of who you are. It is part of your life and not a separate entity, your family life needs to be in harmony with it. Question is how to integrate different elements of our lives instead of to make them go against each other.
Ways to make personal and work-life co-exist:
1.) Accept it
Life is not a smooth sail for exact balance. The reality is that life ebbs and flows. The ideal balance is a myth, instead, work on what makes you feel balanced or rather what helps you blend it better.
For example: If my son has an important school event, I make sure to arrange my schedule for the day around that, which may mean doing my office work at night while kids are in bed.
2.) Combine work and personal schedules
Putting personal and professional to-do list in one schedule helps you to see the bigger picture and plan accordingly. Be fully present at the choice you made, make sure you are in control of this list. To figure out your priorities ask yourself a few questions:
- What is completely non-negotiable?
- On which tasks will I need perfection
- Which tasks are okay with normal efforts?
- What are the most-important commitments at work and family today?
Figuring answers to these questions will help you prioritize, make adjustments and make you realize what you are not prepared to do.
For example: If I have to drop my daughter to school, but I have a meeting plus need to buy some urgent groceries, I plan my route accordingly or buy groceries from a place near to my meeting spot.
Related Article: Bouncing back after Maternity
3.) Realize your time-wasters
Did you know that distractions at the workplace can cost you more than 2.5 hours a day? If you want to be focused and productive, it’s essential to keep chatty colleagues, social media surfing, and other distractions at bay. Accept that, every choice you make will have its own consequences. Your awareness and acceptance will make it easier for you to decide.
For example: If I plan for one hour to complete a work assignment, I stop at that one hour and don’t spend extra time trying to make it perfect or negotiate with myself. The same applies to clean my house.
Talk about it
Try to be honest and transparent with your seniors and colleagues. Keep them informed, they can help. Let’s say you can’t reach the office on time because you have to take your kid to doctor, they can help you out by keeping your work hours flexible for the day. Do not hesitate to ask for help, remember everyone at work are aiming for the same balance just like you, even your boss.
4.) Divide and Conquer
Decide what you must do yourself and what others can take care of. Seek help from colleagues, spouse, and family members. You and your spouse can divide home tasks in such a way that either of you doesn’t find it overwhelming to do it after a long day at the office. Please note: Your spouse helping you at home, is not a favour. It is their responsibility too.
5.) Make some time for yourself
Making out some time to do things you actually love is the secret to maintain efficiency and productivity. It is okay to think about yourself and pamper yourself. It can be going for movies, watching your favourite series or reading a book, travelling or just doing nothing at all. If you are happy and at peace, then taking care of work and family becomes easier.
Though in this century women are choosing to have everything – a happy family and successful career, still most women feel the pressure to do what is expected of them. This leads them to strive for being super wives, supermoms, and career women.
Instead of thinking of work-life balance – focus on maximizing what you love, both at family and work. It will reduce the burnout rate, make you happier and help you become 60% more efficient and productive at work and home.
