Working women are being set up to fail. ‘Work-life balance’ doesn’t exist and far too many of us feel frustrated, overwhelmed, guilty and tired of trying to find it.
I recently spoke on an expert panel for HR leaders about how to improve workplace wellness. I applauded the progress that organisations have made in recent years to support employee well-being but said that, when comes to balancing the 8 key areas of life, flexible working and a subsidised gym or yoga in the office, doesn’t cut it for senior female talent anymore.
As a Life Balance Coach, I know this as I see many female leaders and entrepreneurs craving the elusive ‘work-life balance’, feeling unfulfilled by and unhappy with how they spend their waking hours.
Let’s bust some myths you may have heard yourself or a woman you know say…
Myth #1: I’ll never have the balance I want
Balance isn’t something you have. It’s something you create. Like that promotion, successful business or pert bum, it requires effort if you want it enough. You need to get clear on what exactly it is you want and what you already have.
Myth #2: My employer doesn’t give me a good work-life balance
Who knows what your ideal life balance looks like? Who is responsible for your happiness? Your average 9-5 job accounts for 25%-40% of your week. That’s a lot of time to begrudgingly hand over every week so, if this is how you feel, it’s time to shift your focus, speak up or move on out.
Myth #3: I don’t know how to find balance
Before setting off on a journey to a new or far-flung place, what would you do? You’d use a tool to get you there – a compass, map or GPS. With that you’d apply three pieces of information: your current location, final destination and preferred route or vehicle.
For parts 1 and 2 of this, my life balance assessment tool (click here to download) can help. Use it to rate each life area from 1 to 10 – where 10 is extremely happy with and 1 is extremely unhappy with. Then consider what you’d like those numbers to be.
Where coaching comes in is part 3 – uncovering why you have a preferred route or vehicle, where road blocks will be; and when to accelerate versus slow down or stop – all supporting you towards your destination.
So, with these common myths busted, you’re now ready to start creating your own holistic life balance. Say goodbye to pitting work against life. Choose the road to balance and not burn out.
Bon voyage!
Why not also read Leaving Work at Work and How To Do It or How To Turbocharge Your Happiness.
Bio
Kim Sprague is a Coach on a mission to help busy working women and entrepreneurs to create more balance in their life and business.
Kim left an 11 year career as a Corporate Communications & PR Head, after training to become a Yoga Teacher in 2016 and later as a Coach with the Mindful Talent Coaching Academy.
Go to Kim’s website for more information.
Ah… working to achieve work-life balance. An age old problem! Thanks for the tips.
I especially appreciated your focus on finding a company that shares your values: that’s a really good point. It’s a relationship. Thanks for the link to the PDF to do some self eval, too!
Of course, it’d be nice if we could all just leave our jobs! 🙂
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