Work/Home Life Balance…..Can this be Achieved?

According to Linda Duxbury of Carlton University the issue facing many North American Corporations is their inability to deal with staff’s desire to find more balance in their lives. Duxbury has done extensive research looking at the effects on the bottom-line for businesses and it is reaching the "several billions dollar" mark. When we don’t address the issue of life balance, our staff will arbitrarily take time off via mental health days, unplanned vacation days, and stress leave. All issues significantly affecting your organizations outcomes.



Take a look at the following list of questions and just notice what comes up for you. Have your employees answer the same. If you or your staff answers yes to more than 2 of the following statements, then I venture to guess that balance, or more specifically, the lack of balance in yours and their life is an issue.



Yes or No?



1. I frequently miss my children's special events because of my work schedule.

2. I often volunteer for stuff and then have to pull out, because I’m overloaded.

3. I feel guilty about many things in my life.

4. I can't remember the last time I slept-in and I judge others who brag about doing it.

5. I don't have a sense of purpose for my life or where to even start looking for one.

6. I don't have time to exercise.

7. I don’t feel comfortable in my own skin.

8. My responsibilities to work, children, community and partner all compete for my attention.

9. I rarely have fun, and resent people who are always laughing.

10. I feel I am wasting time if I'm not accomplishing something.

11. I've lost touch with my friends.

12. I find myself putting so much stuff on my "busy plate" just so I have an out/reason to not have to do most of it. (but I look good while saying yes!)

13. I am experiencing low level resent towards my job, as it’s (the job) getting in the way of my LIFE.



Well truthfully is there is NO such thing as work/home life balance! Life is never 50/50 anything. However the key to trying to achieve some balance in life is when you make most to all of your decisions based on YOUR value system.



At your next meeting have you and your team complete a Value Summary.



Value Summary



1. Write out 10 areas in your life that you hold a ton of value in.

2. Look at your top 10 values and determine the top 5.



For the next week, try and encourage your team make their decisions at work and home based on and around their top values.



You see, when we make decisions outside of our value system, you will tend to feel out of sorts, a bit off perhaps. Your gut or intuition is unsettled. It’s that simple and that challenging. So just give it a try for 7 days and see how you and your team feel. When everyone is finding more balance life at work and home improve. When "life it good" for your team chances are you and your business are much more successful.