According to Marcia Wieder, a leading expert on visionary thinking, ‘One of the most frequent, burning questions I get asked by my clients is how to effectively balance their career and family…Our home and work worlds are constantly changing and colliding, expanding and contracting – as does the tide. You can, however, put systems in place to help organise your career and bring more harmony to your home while still taking amazing care of your family so that everyone is happy (including you).’
Restoring a work-life balance begins with organisation. While you may already have a calendar at work for meetings, projects and deadlines, having one at home can help you keep family wellness in place. Have a calendar or white board visible to your entire family, so that everyone can fill in important dates, grocery lists, doctor appointments, etc. This will make it easier to plan your day at work.
However, you need to be realistic about what you and your family can expect. You may want a high-flying career, time together as a family, time for just you and your spouse, good diet and exercise, a spotless house and personal time, but something’s got to give. Tell yourself it’s ok if the laundry piles up for a few days or the oil doesn’t get changed at 3,000 miles. Just because something doesn’t get done, it doesn’t mean your world has fallen apart.
Yet, when you’re setting your goals, you should think long and hard about your priorities. With your work and home calendars sorted, you may want to use those spare blocks of time here and there for finishing reports or getting ahead of the game, but remember that corporate wellness also means knowing when to stop working. If you have a space on the calendar when you’re all free, even if it’s for 20 minutes, do something as a family such as making food together or going for a walk. If the kids are at a party or sleepover, take that time to recharge your batteries or nourish your relationship. Whether you simply have a bath or go out for dinner, those moments can make it far easier to go to work the next day.
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