Work / Life Balance

This week, we take a break from looking at career advancement and we focus on the "life" side of the work/life balance equation.  While everyone has a different idea of what their non-work life should look like, ensuring that you have adequate time to spend on it will actually help your career.  If work consumes all of your waking hours, no matter how much you enjoy it, you'll eventually face exhaustion and burn-out.

Your health.  When you're exhausted and your body is run down, you're more susceptible to illness or other conditions that could impact your ability to perform your job.  Be sure to get adequate rest and proper nutrition.  If you are feeling overwhelmed or stressed, look for ways to take a mental break.

Your family.  There's been a meme going around recently that more or less says "the only people who will remember that you worked late are your family".  While family may be WHY we work, most people don't perform work that is so important that we shouldn't prioritize family.  Does this mean that we need to spend as many hours with the family as we do on work?  No.  But it does mean that you should consider the impact to the family when spending extra hours on work.

Relaxation and fun.  Everyone should have some sort of escape that allows them to take a mental break from their job.  The lists of possible activities is long, but just being able to change your focus away from work gives you a reprieve and allow your subconscious time to grind on any issues that you're facing.

Health, family, and fun are the components of a balanced life.  But how do you ensure that you have time to spend on them?

Compartmentalize.  The number one technique is to find a way to separate work from home.  If you commute to work, use the transition to switch between home and work modes.  If you work from home, try to isolate the area where you perform work and close it off as you end your day.  If you receive notifications such as on your mobile device, try to turn them off or limit how often you review them.  If necessary, create a schedule and make clear the lines between work and "life".

Understand that your work is not *THAT* important.  For most people, the output of their work is either directly or indirectly to generate money for the company they work for.  If your project is late it isn't life or death and just results in less money for the company.  When work is placing demands on you, try to negotiate how those demands are fulfilled.  Can you work those overtime hours from home after your kids go to bed?  Can you get extra time off at the completion of the project?

Focus on quality.  In any given work day, you only have 24 hours.  If 8 hours are spent sleeping and 8 hours are spend working, that only leaves 8 hours left for commuting and eating and errands and "life".  That's not going to be very much time that you have to spend on either your family or your hobbies.  With what time you have, make sure you spend it well.

Communicate.  When the life side of your equation involves other people, check in with them often.  Make sure they have a say in how work encroaches on THEIR time.  When the work side of the equation is making additional demands, let them know when you have family commitments or what it "costs" in terms of your family relationships.

It is possible to have a successful career and a healthy balanced life.  So, this week, my call to action for you is to go out and have fun.  Don't think about work.  Be all in.  If you have a family, include them.  If you can afford to take a day or two off.