How to Find the ‘Win-Win Solution’ in Work and Life
I come to Cerritos, Mexico, to reconnect and remind myself that there is more to life than running from one meeting to another or answering email after email. Re-grounding is what I need from time to time. To get back to me, clear the mind, stop the noise, make room for my personal life – and rest. I haven’t always done this. Before, I would go at a pace that would swallow me up – and eventually spit me out, exhausted and feeling untethered. But I’ve changed that and reached a balance between the two parts of my life. Yes, this visit will include working during the week, but the evenings and weekends are free for me, to take runs, go to art walks with my family, and get a break from the ‘to-do’s’ of work.
So, why did I open my email on a Sunday morning? Ugh. I was quickly reminded that working on the weekend is absolutely a norm back in the United States. As I read through the list of email subject lines, I glanced at the beach to see families in Mexico enjoying Sunday as a day for ‘la familia.’ I then wondered: How did we, as Americans, as corporate workers, get to this place of stress and always being ‘on?’ A place where we promote work-life balance but don’t always practice it. Where we implement wellness programs and talk about the importance of ‘checking in’ on our employees, yet don’t make changes to the systemic issues, the deeper parts that keep all of us from achieving this balance. Then, I decided to put my energy into a better question: How do we begin to change this?
Here’s a start, with a simple message from my reflections on 20+ years of professional experience: Nothing is going to change on its own. But as individuals, we can do a lot. Here are a few suggestions to get to that ‘win-win solution’ to balance your work and your personal life – modeled on a homegrown lesson from my book.
If you’re the people leader:
Create realistic expectations for yourself and your employees. Yes, there is work to do, but we all need a break to be able to think, strategize, and ‘do’ at our highest level.
Ask those you manage for ideas on efficiencies around their jobs. Help create ways for everyone to do their best work, meet deadlines, and have time off.
Implement collective ideas that benefit everyone – to build a work culture that encourages and supports getting the job done (and well) with getting time off (for real).
If you’re not yet a people leader:
Brainstorm and implement ways to manage the work expectations and take time for yourself – and communicate with your leader about it.
Talk to your leader around shortening required meetings. Sometimes what needs to be shared and said can be done in 30 minutes instead of 60. Do your part to ensure this timeframe can be met, by being prepared and present. Encourage your teammates to do the same.
Strategize around turning off your email over the weekend – and what it will take during the week to achieve this. Create this boundary, so you don’t get swallowed up. It’s not a requirement to work all the time to produce great work. I promise.
Experiment and test out some of these ways to bring more balance to your life. And let your “lack of working” signal to others that the weekend is time for you, your family, your friends, your dog, your nap, whatever it may be. And then? Enjoy.
Want to hear some innovative and successful ideas for working hard, but in just 32 hours per week? Listen to this interview with Wildbit CEO Natalie Nagele. It’s a whole new way to think about productivity – and work-life balance. https://wildbit-1.wistia.com/medias/bnpfwoydim