The Career Report
	Volume 1 - Issue 11 - October, 2007
Our Readers on Work-Life Balance Last month, we asked you to send in your tips for achieving work-life balance, and here's just a few of the tips we received: Nancy S.: Don't try to be everything to everyone. Do what you do well. Dan S.: Vacation often, share your work, and get done what needs to be done. Also from Dan S.: Be where you are! Sheri W.: Turn off your cell and accomplish more. Phillip B.: Decide what you want out of life for yourself and your family.  From that destination, work backward to determine what kind of job you need, what area you need to live in, etc., and pursue work, not as an end unto itself, but as a means toward that personal end.  So often we do things because work is at the center of our lives and everything else revolves around work parameters.  In summary, decide what you want out of life and use work as a tool to get there.  This also ensures that you’re not so emotionally attached to the ups and downs that inevitably come with work because your identity is not wrapped up in a job, but in something much more important (family, faith, etc.).       - Sign up for the Career Report For comments, questions or future topic suggestions, contact askmelinda@thepittmangroup.com - Search Jobs - Post Resume - Contact Us Know someone who could benefit from the information in the article? Please forward this report to them.	Embarking Upon Your Work-Life Balance ‘Journey’ Part II (By Melinda Pittman) In last month’s issue, we delved into the issue of work-life balance and discussed how difficult that balance is to define and quantify.  However, we did reach the conclusion that it’s an individualized process, meaning that achieving a healthy work-life balance 1. doesn’t happen overnight, and 2. depends upon a person’s unique perspective and view of the world. In this issue, we’re taking things one step further.  We’re going to break work-life balance into its different areas and explore ideas, flexible techniques, and big-picture strategy for achieving a healthy balance. What are we balancing? The term “balance” denotes that there are two things being balanced.  The first step of the process is to identify what those two things are.  At first glance, you would think they’re “work” and “life,” but it’s not nearly that simple.  Why?  Because what you’re trying to balance pertains to both of them, not one or the other.  After all, a person could work eight hours a day, sleep eight hours a day, and have eight hours free, and still be miserable.  Work-life balance is not an exact science. Here’s what I mean.  On the surface, the term “work-life balance” implies that work is all bad and that what you do when you’re not working is all good.  That, to say the least, is an inaccurate implication.  There are many people who like their job and what they do for a living.  So if that’s the case, what exactly are we balancing here? In essence, you’re balancing your achievement against your enjoyment, and you’re doing it when you’re at work and also when you’re not at work.  This is why so many people misunderstand work-life balance and why it’s so difficult to achieve for any length of time.  Keep in mind once again that this is an individualized process.  As a result, what one person considers enjoyment another person may not, and what somebody considers achievement might not be the case for someone else.  So really, the only person who can ultimately determine if you have a healthy work-life balance is . . . you! Let’s look at a few scenarios as a way of illustration.  A person may actually find enjoyment through achievement.  For that person, working 60 hours a week might not bother them.  In fact, they probably don’t believe their work-life balance is out of whack at all.  That same person, if put in a situation where they’re only working 20 hours a week, might be unhappy, even with all of that free time on their hands. And just because you’re engaging in leisure activities or spending time with your family doesn’t mean you’re not trying to achieve something.  You may be trying to grow your relationship with your spouse or children.  Perhaps you’re attempting to reach a goal you’ve set for yourself in the gym.  Maybe you want to watch a game in every Major League Baseball park. Here’s what it all boils down to.  You should stop focusing on how much time you spend at work and how much you spend at home or elsewhere.  Instead, focus on what you need to do in order to create the proper balance of achievement and enjoyment, both at work and at home.  More importantly, if you feel as though there’s an imbalance somewhere, work to address it. Breaking things down And how, you might ask, should you address it?  By breaking down your life into its four major components and then applying the ideas we’ve been discussing to those areas.  By asking yourself specific, targeted questions, you can more effectively find the formula you need to build a work-life balance that will not only be better for you, but also better for everyone who’s important to you. Work - First and foremost, do you have a job that you truly like and enjoy?  If not, you should consider a change.  People who dislike their jobs are more at risk for having a disproportionate work-life balance. Family - Your family has needs that directly affect the dynamics of your work-life balance.  What are their needs and wants?  They should be taken into consideration when attempting to achieve a healthy balance. Friends - How important is it for you to spend time with your friends?  How often do you want to spend time with them? Self - What makes you the most happy?  What combination of work-life activities brings you both the greatest sense of achievement and the biggest measure of enjoyment? This last question may be the most important, because achieving a work-life balance is more than just a process, it’s a journey, and a long one, at that.  People’s lives are constantly changing, meaning that the circumstances of their life are in flux, as well.  You could have a healthy balance one year, but have one that’s out of whack the next, even though you’re doing the same things.  By identifying and re-evaluating the changing circumstances of your life, you can more effectively maintain a healthy balance and do it more consistently.  But remember—you must be willing to adapt and to react to what life throws at you, and you have to engage in some trial-and-error in order to discover the combination that works best for you. There is much more that I could write about work-life balance, and there are many other aspects that could be addressed.  But if you don’t have the proper perspective and the proper mindset, then it would all be for naught.  Remember that achieving a healthy work-life balance is both an individual process and a life-long journey.  If you do, you’ll increase the chances that you’re happy, no matter where you are or where you might be going. If you have any questions about this topic, or about any other aspect of your career, please feel free to send me an email at melinda@thepittmangroup.com. BioScience | Informatics | Information Technology
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