Balancing Work and Family
Introduction: A famous quote reads, “Work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls—family, health, friends, and integrity—are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked or perhaps even shattered.” This quote rightly highlights the importance of balancing work and the other aspects of life in a careful manner and everyone would agree, that the most important ball amongst them all is family. Family is whom we go to when we achieve something in our lives and the one that offers solace during turbulent times, and something as precious as this must be consiously taken care of.
Table of Contents
Famous Anecdote
To begin with, one of the anecdotes of co-founder of Netflix, Marc Randolph, clearly highlights the ways and the benefits of work and family balance. For over 30 years, Randolph has had a strict rule of leaving work by 5 PM on Tuesdays to spend time with his wife. He says that he doesn’t schedule meetings, conference calls, or last-minute requests on Tuesdays. He also says that any crises must be wrapped up by 5 PM. Randolph says that this ritual has helped him put his work into perspective and stay sane. He also says that it has helped him be present for his family and pursue his other passions.
Essential Life Skills
Learning from the experienced, following are some of the essential life skills that will help us improve our ability to balance our work and family lives.
Time Management:
All of us have got only twenty four hours in a day and so many tasks to be accomplished, and inorder to complete them effectively, the skill of time management becomes a neccesity. Especially in the recent times, where many employees are working from home, the line between working hours and family time is getting diminished. Designating specific working hours and carving out quality time for family activities,
helps in ensuring that both the areas receive the attention that they need. Use tools like calendars and to-do lists to keep track of tasks and deadlines, but remain flexible to accommodate unexpected changes. Regular assessment of schedules and adjustments are necessary to maintain harmony between professional responsibilities and personal commitments.
Task Management:
This begins by creating a comprehensive list of tasks that involve both work and family areas. Priortizing the tasks based on urgency and importance, and breaking them into small manageable tasks is the next step. Planners or task management apps can help in tracking the progress and deadlines of the tasks in hand.
In the office area, delegation of tasks whenever possible and clear communication with the team, will help in the smooth flow of work. Regular assesment of the family and work priorities is required as they tend to change with time and will help in proper planning before hand. Effective communication with the family is also required to ensure that the expectations are clear and achievable.
Setting Boundaries:
The research from Harvard Business Review found that 70% of employees who set clear boundaries between work and personal life reported higher satisfaction with their family life. We must clearly differentiate between work and family and not let one hinder the other. It can be as simple as having strict time log-off or complex as not thinking about work at the dinner table with family.
Additionally, the art of saying ‘No’ has to be mastered, it is to be understood that it’s okay to decline requests or opportunities that don’t align with your timelines or values. Practice assertiveness without guilt, and remember that declining is a way to preserve one’s time and energy for what truly matters. By mastering this skill, one can maintain balance and focus on your most important commitments. Recently, the Australian Government passed the law giving employees the right to disconnect after working hours, supporting the idealogy of differentiation between work and family life.
Creative Time or Playful Time:
Whether you are a parent with kids or an adult navigating through life, creative space to pursue one’s passions is crucial. Parents can take time to spend playful time with their children in the form of painting, singing, dancing or playing games which will strengthen the bond between them. Taking time out to spend some quality and peaceful moments with one’s parents is also necessary to keep the relationships healthy.
Mindfulness:
While the above activities, share information on the importance of division of time and activities between family and work, the core skill that makes a huge difference is the mindfulness of the person. The ability to be present in the moment when they are with family without worrying about work and vice-versa needs to be developed to enjoy every moment and make the most of it. Meditation, walking and gratitude sessions can help in sharpening the same.
Communication with the Employer:
Apart from the above, clear communication with the employer about the specific needs of the employee, especially for maternity/paternity leaves and feedbacks about work-life balance may be done to aid the employees.
Benefits of a Balanced Life
A balanced life brings joy to a person in many ways, such as:
- Proper balance between the two areas of life, reduces the stress levels and promotes a positive state of mind.
- The studies have shown that when personal life is going good, employees are more productive in the office. A report by The Center for Creative Leadership Report in 2020, found that leaders who managed to maintain a balance between work and family responsibilities were 25% more effective in their roles and reported higher productivity levels compared to those who did not.
- Overall, the well-being and health graph of the employees sees a positive spike when they have time for self-care and exercise.
Conclusion
Successfully balancing work and family allows for us to have a more integrated life, where personal and professional aspects complement each other rather than compete.
