Work and Family Life Balance: Women of Today Talk on Their Stronghold Approaches
Currently, achieving a healthy work-life balance is proving difficult due to the ‘modern-day’ mystique that women have to fulfil. Women in today’s world are expected to do their jobs, look after their families and children and also interest themselves in all their hobbies. All these limitations can lead to self-induced pressure which can lead to eventual exhaustion. For most, the notion of finding the perfect equilibrium between one’s professional and private life has always been incomplete, but for the majority of individuals, the idea of work-life harmony is more reasonable and feasible. Work-life harmony is achieving the idea of uniting one’s career and their personal life in such a manner that one finds contentment and personal satisfaction instead of chasing an illusion of balance.
In order to achieve work-life harmony, it’s important to change our perspective. While women of the current era balance work and personal life, they should strive for harmony rather than viewing these two spheres as a constant source of struggle. While work-life harmony should lead to the achievement of linear goals, it is however a move away from the idea that life is a sequence of tasks that can be done in silos. It’s about finding creative ways to combine your personal and professional goals and determine how they can be achieved together without undermining your boundaries. And with the understanding of this reality, women surely will have more options of creating their success.
One phrase I have heard a lot in life is “time is of the essence”, and I believe it is a truism. In particular, effective time management turns out to be one of the critical factors in creating work-life balance. Women often have a difficult time management challenge. The self-made women are aware of the value of time and hence never squander it. The first step is to set out which of their tasks and responsibilities are of high importance. This involves such an assessment and ranking of priorities – whether it is the career growth, children or hobbies. After such an evaluation of the priorities, the allocation of time is more effective because no area of life is ignored. To assist in the process of time planning, it is common to use management tools: planners, digital calendars, task management applications etc. These tools have the potential to assist women in avoiding unnecessary distractions and staying focused on the core responsibilities and deliverables in their lives.
Sharing duties is yet another key approach for achieving work-life balance. A lot of women find it difficult to let go of the notion that everything has to be completed, both in the home and the workplace. High-achieving women, however, accept that they cannot do it all. Distributing duties can provide the time and space required to pay attention to the most pressing needs either at work or home. At the workplace, this might entail allocating certain projects to trusted coworkers, or enlisting assistance whenever needed. In the home, sharing housework over family members or employing professionals can ease some of the burden. There is nothing wrong with assigning tasks, to the contrary it is a listening view, it should be and is an empowering strategy enabling women to utilize their strengths and adequately plan their time movements.
It is vital for the work-life balance to set specific boundaries. The world we live in is always ‘on’ and thus there is an urge to respond to emails or attend social events even when exhausted. Nonetheless, women who thrive in work life balance understand that boundaries exist for a reason. There is a necessity to learn the art of saying no, safeguarding one’s own time and ensuring that the divide between work and home is coherent. For instance, setting up a workspace at home, limiting after work contact or scheduling ‘me time’ in the day are good examples of boundary setting. These boundaries should be well defined to colleagues, family or friends who ought to know better.
Physical activities and maintaining emotional equilibrium are strong facets of work-life balance. In contemporary society, women cannot do well in their professional or personal endeavors without prioritizing their health. Getting enough sleep, engaging in regular physical exercises, consuming healthy food and minimizing stress are irreplaceable practices in retaining stamina and concentration. It is evident to many women that incorporating wellness like meditation, yoga or breathing exercises into their everyday life helps with managing stress. What is more, regular exercises have a positive influence on general health as well as on anxiety management and productivity. Self-care practices should not be considered egocentric: on the contrary, taking time for oneself is essential as it allows women to be at their best in every endeavor of life.
Work-life harmony allows an individual to be engaged in the present. Striving women are always conscious of their current location and the activities they are engaged in. Being at work, with family or pursuing a personal activity are roles in which women refrain from multi-tasking and rather immerse themselves in a single task and cherish the moment while developing a strong connection with the environment. Since they help lessen the sense of anxiety triggered by so many demands at once, mindfulness techniques like deep breathing or mindful walking also help establish presence. And when women are focused on their work instead of their attention being fractured, they tend to be more productive, happier, and less anxious.
Flexibility is also another skill desired for work-life balance. Remaining flexible is critical for work-life balance. Many professional women with advanced careers willingly work remotely, share jobs, or work on part-time basis due to other restrictions in their lives. This approach allows women to combine all their obligations with less tension associated with stringent guidelines. Furthermore, being flexible in the family or social life reduces conflicts and guilt feelings, as one does not have to stick to social commitments if important ones arise.
In order to achieve harmony between work and personal life, one cannot ignore the need to develop social ties. Strong emotional bonds including those with family members, friends and life partners improve the sense that a person is needed and is well. In the case when women effective in managing their lives achieve requisite balance, they consciously attempt to connect with those who matter in their lives. For instance, it could serve family well to reserve some date nights, family lunches, or even weekend trips together in order to maintain their intimacy. Women derive comfort and balance from being with family which in turn reminds them what is fundamental.
In work-life balance, self-acceptance and being self-compassionate seems to be at the very core. Women do feel high levels of guilt when they are unable to complete many of their responsibilities as they set themselves high goals. Having said this, women who are skillful at balancing work and other commitments know that no one is perfect. They are people-first always as self-enhancement and self-criticism is not an option for them, instead they practice self-kindness claiming that they are indeed doing a lot and it is absolutely fine to require aid or to rest. Such traits allow women to manage stress and mitigate the risk of developing burnout syndrome, and coexist with failures that are inherently human.
With respect to career and family commitments, work-life balance is a process that is ever-evolving and continuous rather than something that is static. It needs periodic assessment of oneself, being adaptable, and being able to evolve with changing circumstances. The essence is to recognize and keep track of the determining factors, make the alterations if it’s necessary, and don’t spend resources in struggling to achieve something that is of little importance. Women embracing work-life balance acknowledge that they are not obsessed with achieving excellence in every area but in creating a more sustainable existence in which work and personal life are integrated and satisfied. To sum up, work-life balance is a realistic and important aim for the contemporary woman. Effective time management, boundary setting, self-care, mindfulness, flexibility, relationship building and self-kindness are all strategies that women can use to construct a life that is productive and satisfying. Work-life balance relates to the integration of one’s professional and private life in a manner that supports their general welfare while enabling them to succeed in life in all respects. It is a journey of lifelong development, change, and nurturing that culminates in a life that is deeper and more meaningful.
