The importance of work-life balance

If you have been following the hashtag #WorkLifeBalance during October, you may have come across the fantastic National Work Life Week. It has been great seeing the conversations around the importance of work-life balance become prioritised, from the importance of clear and transparent policies to hard-hitting statistics about the needs of the workforce. Despite all of this, there is still an overarching call from certain parts of the working world to go back in time. To shift the scales back to working the 9-5 (or longer) in an office. The thing that we have all uncovered over the past decade is that work is not a place, it’s an action. Today I want to remind you of the importance of work-life balance.

 

It will come as no surprise that the conversation around balance is not limited to one week a year for me. Balance is a core component of the coaching work that I do, and so many conversations centre around what that actually looks like for people. 

When we consider working patterns and places, there is a desire to create a better balance. When we break down this need, it can vary. The clients and contacts I have worked with over the two decades of my career need elements including, childcare, finances, health, volunteering, caring responsibilities, and education, amongst others. However, the underlying similarity is being able to craft a life where the career supports their wellbeing, rather than hinder it.

 

With all this in mind, I wanted to reintroduce six blogs, published over the past year that I hope will help you reconsider what balance looks like for you. When you consider your next flexible working request, your next personal development meeting, or carve out time for yourself, maybe these will encourage you to take a different approach!

 

 

My thoughts on what it feels like to change your mind about balance. Your work-life balance needs can and will over the years based on your caring needs, your role, the sector you are in, your health, and (going by the past few years), some things none of us would expect. If you start your balance reflection process with the understanding it may change, it can help you be more agile and creative when crafting the balance that works for you. You can find out more about why it’s OK to change your mind about balance, in this blog post.

 

 

Uncover if you want a career, a job, or a calling, and how to develop your understanding of your work. A career to enjoy is personal; for one person it’s about moving through the rungs of a structured hierarchy, for others it’s about gaining deep knowledge and confidence, to become a “subject expert”. Both are valid and 100% supported by my Career and Return to Work Coaching approach. If this rings true with you, I wanted to share four questions that will help you understand more about what you want next for your career. Ultimately, a career to enjoy is personal; so, let’s uncover what you want now, to make plans. Read on here. 

 

Finally, the best way to start creating a balanced life is by tweaking and changing the things you can control. There may be times that the “work” element of life needs more negotiation and persuasion, and even in the most supportive of environments, you have at the behest of a range of people and policies. So, why not start with life, and what you can control?

The pressures of our professional lives can often be managed through established processes: systems, clear quality expectations, and, on occasion, delegating or accessing additional resources. However, when it comes to our personal lives, these structures are not always in place. On the other hand, some individuals can exercise control over their home life without considering how those skills can be applied in other settings. Regardless, whether you’re considering this from work, home, or combined perspective, one thing is clear: many of our responsibilities are routine, occurring regularly, be it daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly. However, the mental load accompanying these routines can be quite burdensome, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and tired! I hold your hand through a process to harness the power of routine in this blog.  

 

Finally, once you have an idea about WHAT you want for balance, then the next step is to work with the “powers that be” in the working environment. That may be a hybrid work set-up or something more structured through a formal flexible working request.  You may find that it actually is about more structured support (maybe through a coach). However, if you are at a bit of a crossroads about what you need next, let me share with you some decision-making support before I log off for the day.  

 

The creation of a work-life balance that works for you often means change; and let us be frank, change is tough. If you need help understanding which direction to go in first, then this recent blog on decision-making may hopefully reassure and encourage you to take the first step. You can read it here.  

 

 

 

Let me know what you think. What are your thoughts and plans around work-life balance? Come along to Creating Careers to Enjoy and share your plans and reflections.