Comments on: Does Work-Life Balance Exist?

By: modernmami

modernmami — Mon, 17 May 2010 03:20:04 +0000

I think that is more in-tune with what I try to do. I have days that I feel balanced because I accomplished things from all aspects of my life. Thanks for the link…will check it out.

By: modernmami

modernmami — Mon, 17 May 2010 02:20:04 +0000

I think that is more in-tune with what I try to do. I have days that I feel balanced because I accomplished things from all aspects of my life. Thanks for the link…will check it out.

By: Kendra

Kendra — Sun, 16 May 2010 22:27:31 +0000

I agree with some of the posts that the word 'balance' provides an equal equilibrium, like a perfectly balanced scale. Based on that, I don't think anyone can achieve a work life balance as there are either going to be things happening on the home front or work front that tip the scale in either direction a bit more. But if we expand our thinking to get our lives, many of which are way overbalanced to one side, usually work, to be closer to that midpoint, then I think it's possible. While many people don't think the idea is realistic because we don't feel we have much control over jobs these days, there are steps we can take. I don't have the money for a life coach, but Julie Cohen is a one I can work with through her book. http://www.7keystoworklifebalance.com/about
As a coach, she has worked with clients struggling with this issue and turned her successes into the book "Your Work, Your Life...Your Way." She admits that it is a journey, there isn't a point where you reach work-life balance and then all you have to do is maintain it. She says it's more about achieve moments or days of balance. If you define it as she does, then it doesn't seem like a myth.

By: modernmami

modernmami — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:25:06 +0000

That's why I think it's all up to how *you* define balance for yourself. As you said, it's about what symbols you attach to the words. And of course, neither is a perfect term and management will not buy-in to one any more than the other.

By: modernmami

modernmami — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:23:05 +0000

I think you have described it perfectly. It's great to hear the different ideas of what balance means to everyone!

By: modernmami

modernmami — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:05:10 +0000

It's true that there are always compromises when trying to do many things at once. And priorities are super important. That's what I think balance is about. Because what's important to you may not be to me and we might both feel balanced.

By: modernmami

modernmami — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:50:58 +0000

I think you're right. Many times we're rushing from one thing to another, that we don't even know if we really *want* to do them and if they are necessary for our balance. Or like you said, we don't even know what it will take for us to feel balanced. I'll check out the book. Thanks!

By: ACarlson

ACarlson — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:13:05 +0000

I think that work life balance does exist or at least it can. It's really all about setting your own personal boundaries and learning when to say no. I think so much of the time people are just so busy with the daily grind, they don't take the time to even really think what that balance means to them. I am part of a mother's personal renewal group in which we spent some time focusing/identifying top life priorities and learning to say no when requests take away from those life prioirities. You should check out the book www.reneetrudeau.com . The author has some great exercises that have really helped me.

By: spanglishbaby

spanglishbaby — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:40:05 +0000

I have to go with the Compro Balance idea. It is constantly a dance of compromises and finding a balance within that. It´s also important to be clear on what your priorities at each moment are and just how much you can honestly handle so you don´t feel miserable when things just don´t go as planned. Usually, they just don´t!

By: jeannemale

jeannemale — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:20:32 +0000

Work-life balance is possible. It isn't about spending equal amounts of time but rather about clarity around what is important to us. It's also about saying no to what we don't need (to buy) and also to what we don't want (to do). When my daughter was young and I was climbing the corporate ladder I had no work/life balance at all. I think I have finally achieved a pretty good balance but it's only because I have worked for myself for the past 13 years. I am far from the poster-person for balance because I may spend some days working long hours to meet a client deadline but other weekdays attending to family or household needs or even an occasional trip to the spa. For me the balance is in spending my time in a way that serves my family and clients without doing a disservice to myself…but that doesn't mean that my boss isn't a slave-driver.