Realistic Work Life Balance Tips for High Achieving Women

Discussions about work-life balance have shifted from a focus on balance to more talk about work-life integration or just LIFE BALANCE. Whatever you call it, we know many of us especially high achieving and ambitious women are searching for a way to better harmonize our personal and professional roles.

According to a study by the American Psychological Association, more than half of all employees say that job demands sometimes interfere with their personal responsibilities. We collected these quick tips for better work-life balance from various high achieving career women and entrepreneurs. Please try these suggestions and let us know if they are helpful. We would love to hear about your own tips too.

Real Life Tips

1.     Define what balance means to you. We all define of success differently. Focus on what makes you happy and productive. Consider whether you may be projecting your own assumptions when you see other’s lifestyle 

2.     What are your boundaries? It can be disruptive to consistently take business calls and continue to work long after office hours. This is a source of burnout and stress for many of us. So, clarify for yourself what type and amount of work you can live with on a consistent basis and what is more for emergency or one-off type situations. Document your top three concerns and remedies. Practice and negotiate an arrangement with your leader that is comfortable for both of you. Most leaders will not overtly tell you to stay away from your family consistently to deliver work

3.     Think long term. There are always trade-offs. Assess whether frequent overtime or spending more hours with your family will make you happier when you look back on what you did with your life. What truly brings you joy? Would you wish you “worked more” or “spent more time” on the people and activities important to you?

4.     Check in often and update your plans. Your answers may change as you go through life. Check in frequently to stay on track. You may be eager to gain new experiences when you first graduate from school and this may change mid-career. As you approach retirement, you may want to volunteer more in your community or just focus on a hobby or grandkids or even travel. So, check in with yourself often

5.     Give yourself credit. It’s common to feel guilty about working too little or too much. Focus on doing the best you can in the moment. Celebrate your successes- even if it is just for putting your phone away for a few hours.

6.     Stay flexible. Financial constraints and other factors may influence your decisions. Work with whatever circumstances you face while you try to improve them.

Tips on Time Management

1.     Be realistic. Establish your top priorities and stick to them. If you’re struggling with your to do list each day, you probably need to cut back on the less important tasks.

2.     Get organized. You can accomplish more when you have solid systems in place. Look for ways to run your errands more efficiently and keep your surroundings free of clutter.

3.     Limit distractions. Maybe you lose track of time watching TV or talking on the phone. Reclaim those wasted hours.

4.     Schedule downtime. Your mind and body need adequate rest. Take a warm bath or meditate daily.

Additional Suggestions

1.     Recognize individual differences. Some people are content viewing their job as just a paycheck, and others blend their paid work with the rest of their life. Any combination is okay as long as you find fulfillment.

2.     Ask for support. Help from family and friends or paid services can help you to focus on your strongest areas. Ask your children to take on more chores or consider hiring a house cleaner. Use the extra free time to pursue a promotion or start a vegetable garden.

3.     Reach out to others. Look for ways you can provide the same kind of assistance to those around you. Team up with a coworker so you can cover each other’s work on sick days or vacations rather than creating a backlog for when you return.

4.     Take care of yourself. Keeping yourself fit enables you to contribute at home and at the office. Eat a nutritious diet, exercise regularly, manage stress, and stick to a regular sleep schedule.

5.     Be yourself at work. As much as possible, reveal your authentic self at work. It will liberate others to do the same. You’ll also be more likely to form true friendships with your colleagues, which will make your days more pleasant.

It is a huge responsibility trying to coordinate all the facets of our lives. Clearly defining what success looks like for you and what it means for how you align your personal and professional responsibilities is an extremely critical first step.

Please share your own tips with us in the comments.