InTouch – Help Achieving Work-Life Balance
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Halloween is behind us, and before you know it, we’ll be in the thick of the holidays. This time of year often winds up being a mix of exciting and exhausting. The challenge of getting everything done is never-ending, but it gets kicked up a notch during the holiday season. So it seemed like a good time to talk about work-life balance.
The first thing I’ll acknowledge on the topic is – it’s easier said than done. You work at the County, so I know you have a demanding job. Expectations for the organization start with me, and yes, they are high. Then outside of work, most of you have full plates. Kids, aging parents, significant others need your attention. You have commitments to community and social organizations. Sinks to scrub and yards to weed. Passions to pursue.
There’s no simple, or single, way to make it all work. Each of us has unique circumstances. But we can all learn from each other. At one of my meetings, I asked several colleagues to share their strategies for achieving work-life balance, and I want to pass along some of their experiences.
David Estrella, our housing director, said he sets aside “sacred time” with his family. Friday night and Sunday morning are reserved to spend with his children. He said he’s also been spending more time walking and feels great as a result.
“It doesn’t have to be heavy-duty gym work but enough time to burn off the stress of the day,” David said.
I think that’s a great lesson. We see many people doing marathons and other extreme activities – and hey, if you’re one of them, more power to you – but for most of us, the important thing is some kind of regular routine. Aim to complete, not compete.
Debbie Patag, from the Probation department, suggests if people are constantly scheduling you for meetings to block out time on your calendar for emails and projects, so those are not getting pushed into off-hours. That said, she did start a brief – 15 minutes – meeting each day with her staff, which she says really helps communications flow and makes for a stronger team.
My budget ace, Ebony Shelton, works hard at balancing numbers. She says balancing her time takes a lot of effort and focus as well. These are her top strategies.
Be present by finding joy in routine everyday tasks.
Ask for help before I need it.
Schedule time for fun and hobbies.
There it is again – schedules. I know life’s daily curve balls can make it hard to stick to one. But that’s going to be one of your best starting points. The things that fulfill your personal need for growth, inspiration or stress relief deserve dedicated space on your calendar. Hoping there will be time left over when everything else is done often doesn’t work out well.
Talk to people you know about what works for them, then adapt as needed to your own situation.
Also, the County has several resources that can help you juggle the many demands on your time.
Our Human Resources department puts on a training series called All About You, and it includes a class called Work-Life Balance. One activity has you identify your priorities and compare that to how you actually spend your time. The class introduces techniques on removing distractions and simplifying your day.
The series is offered in March and July, but if a department has enough people interested, you can request it anytime (you can contact Jessica Carlson in HR). Our Employee Wellness Program has a number of stress relief options as well.
Don’t forget our Employee Assistance Program. It’s not just for times of crisis. It has webinars and articles on numerous topics. Work-life balance specifically, but related topics like time management and making time for yourself. You’ll find many resources to help with the things that make work-life balance a challenge, like child care, caregiving, financial planning, and much more. There’s even a piece on minimizing holiday stress.
Which brings us back to the present. In coming weeks, if you have to choose between adding another perfect touch and simply spending time with loved ones, I’ll always argue for the latter. That time is the best gift we have to share with each other. I wish you the best in finding the kind of balance that’s right for you, during the holiday season and throughout the year.