When you ask women about their greatest achievement, many will tell you about the achievements of their family. Being a mother, wife, or daughter is a beautiful thing. It makes you feel truly proud and content with your role in this world. Women can also be incredibly generous; they will often tell you about the special women they have met along the way that changed their life for the better. Finally, many women will tell you about how they overcame adversity in order to reach their dreams.
Ask any woman what her number one goal in life is and you will most likely hear about her family and children. In fact, according to the 2017 Payscale.com Survey, being a mother was rated as the most satisfying career you can have, followed by being a physician. However, these days it is not just about having children and being a housewife. Women can now achieve a work-life balance that allows them to be both a great parent and a productive worker. This is possible because of today’s modern, interconnected world where opportunities exist for remote work and flexible schedules.
Here are five tips from Beth that will help you create an amazing work-life balance.
Prioritise Your Family
One of the biggest challenges that many working women face is finding time to be with their families, friends, and loved ones. Scheduling time off work can be difficult, especially since many companies do not provide any flexibility. Women must learn to prioritize their career and their personal goals over their desire to spend time with their family. Your family deserves your full attention and you must ensure that they receive it. Make time for your loved ones, be it a weekly dinner with your spouse or a children’s ballet recital. Ensure that you are there to support them and celebrate their achievements with them.
Even when you are spending time with your family, you must continue to work. Being a stay-at-home mother isn’t for everyone and having a flexible job allows you to be with your children when they need you. If possible, work from home or an alternative location so that you can be near your family without hurting your professional performance.
Take Advantage Of Technology
In the past, women were limited to certain career options due to societal and cultural factors. However, with the rise of technology, opportunities have increased significantly for women. There are now more options than ever before when it comes to work and life balance. Take advantage of this and find a job that allows you to work remotely or from home. If possible, look for jobs that have a flexible schedule so that you can fit them around your family’s needs. For instance, a lot of jobs nowadays demand only a few hours of work per day so that the employee can get the most out of it. If possible, consider some of these options so that you can have a better work-life balance.
Be Realistic About Your Expectations
If you are looking for a way to have a better work-life balance, then you must be realistic about your expectations. This goes for both genders but it is particularly relevant for women. Being realistic about your expectations will help you avoid disappointment and allow you to achieve your desired results. Set a goal for yourself that is within your reach and work your way towards it step by step. When you think about your family, work hard to ensure that you are not being unrealistic about your expectations. You will most likely feel guilty if you do not meet the high expectations that you have set for yourself but try to keep in mind that this is what keeps you motivated. Create a balance that you feel happy and satisfied with and do not expect that everything should be perfect all the time. There is no such thing as a perfect work-life balance and that is what makes it so valuable. Each woman must find what works best for her and her family.
Make Your Health A Priority
Another important factor that hurts your ability to have a good work-life balance is poor health. In general, females are more likely to be afflicted with some form of chronic illness than males. This means that they are more likely to be bedridden or have to take time off work regularly. To create and maintain a good work-life balance, you must make your health a priority. This could mean increasing the amount of vegetables and fruits that you eat, reducing the amount of fast food and fried foods that you consume, or getting regular physical therapy. Seek help from your physician or a therapist to identify and address any health issues that could be holding you back. Poor health brings with it a whole host of problems that can prevent you from having a good work-life balance. Ensure that you are investing in your health and taking care of yourself so that you can maintain a good work-life balance.
Make Sure You Are Spending Time In The Right Places
It is essential that you are spending time with the right people if you want to enjoy a good work-life balance. The people that you spend time with determine how you feel and behave. You can have all the opportunities in the world but if you are not with the right people, then these opportunities will never make a difference. Your family, friends, and coworkers are the most important people in your life and it is essential that you are making the right impression upon them. The places that you frequent will influence the way that you feel and the actions that you take. If possible, try to avoid making these places your regular hangouts. Instead, make sure that you are going to the places that you feel happy and motivated to be. If you cannot visit places and people that you normally associate with, then try to find new places and people that you feel comfortable with. A healthy relationship with yourself is a must if you want to have a good work-life balance. If possible, take an interest in something that you are passionate about and ensure that you are participating in activities that you enjoy. This will increase both your productivity and your quality of life.
Take Time Off When You Need It
Working hard is important but taking time off when you need it is even more important. Having a good work-life balance does not mean that you must work continuously. You need to take time off for yourself so that you can recharge and be able to come back stronger. However, taking time off means different things to different people. Some people need more time off than others so make sure that you are taking time off in a way that helps you recharge. Consider using the time off to accomplish whatever you need to take care of. You might want to take a vacation, spend time with your family, or go on a diet. Whatever it may be, make sure that you are doing it in a way that helps you recharge and come back stronger. Do not just take a vacation because your boss told you to or because it is the summertime. Find a reason why you need to take a break and use it as a springboard to inspire yourself to get back to work even harder.
Seek Help When You Need It
Last but not least, we have the matter of seeking help when you need it. Many people, both men and women, suffer from a bad work-life balance. Sometimes, this can even be a result of an injury or illness. If you are not sleeping well, eating healthy, and exercising regularly, then it could be due to depression. If you are looking for help, do not be shy to ask for it. There are many professionals in your area that can help. Visit your local library or bookstore to find books on the topic. Alternatively, you can look online for a professional who specializes in work-life balance. Do not be afraid to ask for help if you need it so that you can enjoy a good work-life balance and be able to take advantage of all the opportunities that life brings you. Make sure that you are not hiding yourself away from the people that you love. Instead, make sure that they know how important they are to you.
As you can see, there are many ways to have a good work-life balance. It just takes some effort and planning so that you can make sure that you are taking advantage of all the opportunities that life presents you. Be realistic about your expectations but try to remain positive. These tips from Beth should help you create an amazing work-life balance so that you can continue to help others as you have been helped yourself.