“Balance is not better time management, but better boundary management. Balance means making choices and enjoying those choices’’. – Betsy Jacobson
Family or Work? – It’s a dilemma that most of us are set with…torn between the endearing love for family and fierce determination to succeed in profession. While it’s difficult to weigh one against the other, best way is to balance it out, thereby creating a very cordial environment. It’s alike a See-Saw, balancing with fun.
Normal social construct is that spending more time at office portrays a person’s ambition. Being driven by this paradigm tends to take a toll on the concept of balance.
Work – life balance is very vital so that one is not compromised for the other. While we are driven by family values, credit has to be given to the fact that Career is built through years of hard work and unyielding efforts. Both play an important role in our lives. Some tips to balance both:
- Prioritize your day and plan accordingly: If you need to leave early or will be delayed coming home, set the right expectations with your family members. Check if your better half can come in early if you are held up at work.
- The Art of saying NO: There is little need to take up every assignment that comes your way. Weigh the opportunity and judge how it will help you grow professionally. If it doesn’t add any value, let it go.
- Delegate: Whether at work or home, learn to delegate. Spend that time with people who matter in your lives.
- Take Rejuvenation breaks: Once in a quarter, try to take a week off and disconnect from work. Go on a trip with your family. It will give you the much needed vigour and replenish with better impetus at work upon return.
- Seek help: Talk to your co-worker or superior and explain how their interference will even things out, not just for you, but for the business as well. Likewise, working in tandem with your spouse and allocating time effectively will build better bonds at home.
- Wherever you are, give it your ALL: Whether it is at work or home, don’t regret or feel guilty. Instead, focus and give it your 100%, complete your task faster and head onto the other.
It’s a blessing to have a satisfying job and come back home to a happy family. If bestowed with both, it becomes your ardent responsibility to strike a balance and ensure both exist in sync. For centuries, Women have mastered the art of multi-tasking & balancing and we are no exception to that.
You may also want to read other articles written by the same author: ‘Stop limiting yourself‘, ‘Doing what you love – hobbies and passion to opportunity‘, ‘ Maximise your productivity to unleash your potential‘, ‘Be your own boss‘, ‘Broaden your intellectual horizon‘, ‘Career metamorphosis – Epert to beginner’.
About the author:
Nithya Jagadish – A commerce graduate with an overall experience of 10 years in the Corporate Industry. Having handled diversified assignments at HSBC and Hewlett Packard, I decided to take a break for a while. Now, a doting mother of a one year old child, I spend my day reading, apprising on my topics of interest and baby-sitting. I strongly believe in living life to the fullest and making the most of each beautiful day.
(The author is a guest blogger at Her Second Innings. The opinions expressed are those of the author.)
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