The term "work-life balance" likely induces certain feelings when you hear it. Perhaps it reminds you of a job or position that was particularly draining. Or maybe you were one of the lucky ones that was able to experience a small semblance of stability between these roles. Achieving optimal work-life balance is something many struggle with, especially in our capitalistic society. In an individualistic society such as ours that values productivity and success and that admonishes "downtime", it is no wonder that the concept of work-life balance seems to frustratingly out of reach. We have been conditioned since day one that the perfect employee leaves their personal life at home. But -- is that truly even possible?
The idea that we can essentially "split" ourselves up into a work-self and a personal-self has led us to dissociation, burnout, and in some extreme cases -- suicide. How many of us have braved the work day by "faking it til we made it"? I know I have. It is why I left the corporate sector in 2013 and never looked back. We need only to take a look at the post-COVID conditions of the labor force to understand just how important work-life balance is to the populous today. Many of us witnessed the companies we worked with suddenly develop the ability to offer flex or remote work which had once been an incapability. Further, the new generation of employees is taking a step back and reassessing their priorities and how professional success fits into them. There is a greater emphasis now on the whole self that has not been seen as prevalent in previous generations. Watching their parents and/or older siblings "killing themselves at work" has prompted a dynamic shift when it comes to work. No longer are they sitting idly by while employers wave their "red flags" of high-turnover, micromanaging, and unlivable wages . This is especially true when you consider the working parent, especially women.
The paradigm has shifted when it comes to working parents (thankfully) but the fact remains that women still continue to hold down the fort at home. We have always worn many hats that we, unfortunately cannot just put down and forget about. I, myself, wear the hat of mother, wife, coach, student, and business owner among others. As such, establishing boundaries between the expectations of all of these "hats" is key. While I am not perfect by any means, taking time to rest and relax, and prioritize self-care is paramount to me. The same can be said in scheduling quality spouse, mother-son, and family time. I am an advocate of unplugging during "off hours" and vacation. Further, I make it a point to remind myself and my wife about utilizing the benefits we have, especially vacation/sick days and keeping "off days" off. As I get closer to graduating and pursuing my resilience coaching, and helping my wife with her business, I remain dedicated to ensuring that we continue to move in ways that align with us so that we can enjoy all the many hats we wear in peace and harmony.
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