Let’s be clear – balancing work and life is near impossible! But you can successfully integrate the two and experience a healthier, happier, more productive life.
Work-life balance is about reaching an optimal state where everything is in perfect equilibrium. “As a working woman, this sort of balance is next to impossible,” says Phillipa Geard, Founder and CEO of RecruitMyMom. She says, “Work-life integration lends itself to a more harmonious, inclusive, and flexible lifestyle, which is essential for a woman, and is more attainable than the concept of continuous work-life. Work is part of life, and so one has integrate work into a lifestyle that suits the individual.”
Working women feel overwhelmed when their work lives spill over into their personal lives. Striving to advance their careers, maintain a household, sustain a social life, stay fit, eat healthy, and get enough sleep. Working women with children must manage school runs, extra-murals, playdates, and school projects. The list is endless for working women, and the lack of time is overwhelming.
A study reveals that women in both developed and developing countries, who carry most of the responsibility for running a household and caring for children and the elderly, undertake an average of 2 and 3.4 times more unpaid labour per day than men.
The belief that women need to manage the household comes from a deeply rooted misconception of women’s responsibilities; it has been quietly woven into our daily lives. A lot of the duties expected of women are invisible – meal planning, children’s schedules, or factors involving the home – and are referred to as a mental load. The time this mental load takes up often goes unnoticed by economic indicators. Time poverty, fueled by visible and invisible responsibilities, drive women out of the workplace and to employment with fewer responsibilities and therefore a lower salary.
The burning question: How can women successfully integrate their work and personal lives?
Say no more often.
Women find themselves overcommitting as a consequence of the strains of both their careers and their domestic responsibilities. It’s important to know when your plate is full; taking on extra work or commitments will make you feel stressed and hinder your performance.
It’s essential to be clear with everyone about your boundaries. If your workload is at maximum capacity, politely decline to take on another project. Turn down social events that will prove to be more taxing than enjoyable – you don’t need to give a reason, and don’t feel guilty.
Prioritise self-care.
Our busy modern lives often lead us to neglect self-care. But with today’s everyday stressors, making time for oneself is not a luxury; but a necessity. It allows you to relax and revitalise while gaining fresh perspectives. It could be a walk in the evening after work, stepping away from your desk during work to enjoy your lunch or a long soak in the bath with a good book in the evening. Listen to yourself, take care of yourself, and foster personal development.
Self-care promotes your mental and physical health, aiding your overall productivity and cognitive function while preventing burnout.
Ask for flexibility.
Some workplaces still follow a strict 8-to-5 schedule, but life’s realities, especially for women, call for a more flexible work approach.
Be bold and ask your employer about your flexibility needs. If you have children, it may require you to work from home sometimes, or you have so much to do that you would prefer to miss the hour-long commute and use it constructively instead.
Employers are often open to offering these options because they know that happy, less stressed employees are also more productive.
It’s ok to ask for help.
Women often come under pressure from society to believe they should be able to ‘do it all,’ yet this is neither realistic nor healthy.
It’s ok to ask for help, whether asking your partner to share household responsibilities or approaching your employer about allocating tasks or projects when your workload is too great. You are not failing because of this; you are prioritising your wellbeing so you can be as efficient as possible, while producing high outcomes.
If you have children, enlist them to undertake age-appropriate chores. This will lighten your load and teach your children valuable life skills that will encourage independence and responsibility.
Build networks.
Women experience a profound sense of shared understanding and solidarity when they can connect with other women. Joining a network of working women, clubs or online community platforms gives you the chance to connect, discuss shared challenges, and exchange knowledge. Connecting with like-minded women or women experiencing the same challenges in work or life is invaluable. You will feel supported, motivated, and encouraged.
Remember, striking a perfect balance between your work and life is impossible; what is possible is integrating your career into your life. The ideal integration for you may differ significantly from that of other women, and that is perfectly fine.
“Some days I am a better boss than I am a mom, or a better wife than I am a boss, and all my roles are important to me. I had to learn to stop trying to be perfect at everything, and do my best at integrating all my responsibilities into a day”, says Geard.
You might not achieve perfect work-life integration on your first attempt; it will require trial and error, but you will find your rhythm. Women who achieve successful integration, as defined by them, achieve a better mental state, healthier body and are more present and engaged – ultimately, living a more fulfilling life.
Work is part of life. You cannot separate work from your life. Achieving success in one does not require you to sacrifice the other. Instead, finding a way to integrate work into your life in a way that fulfils you is the ultimate success.
