The demands of work and life often consume most if not all of our time and energy. Many of us are left with little or no room for leisure, relaxation, and personal fulfillment. And that’s got to change. We need to learn how to find balance across all the demands of life – while still carving out a piece of our time for that which brings us joy.
A New Take on Work-Life Balance
It’s time for a new take on the way we talk about work-life balance. And time for us to take action to restore true balance in our lives. Because it’s not just work that drains us. The “life” part ALSO includes a lot of things that are actually work. Parenting. Caregiving. Financial stress. Managing a busy household.
Today, we explore the importance of maintaining equilibrium. We include insights for those struggling with typical “work-life balance”. And we also address the unique challenges faced by specific groups including full-time parents and caregivers.
Last, we provide strategies that can help all of us learn how to find balance and improve our overall well-being.
Why Work-Life Balance is an Outdated Term
Work and life are supposed to represent two major dimensions of our lives, each serving distinct purposes and fulfilling different needs.
Work is associated with productivity, achievement, and financial stability. Life is supposed to encompass everything else, including leisure, creativity, relaxation, and personal growth.
But the truth is that life includes many things that are as draining (or more draining) than our jobs. And all of them tend to use up all of our available bandwidth outside work.
We need to create a third slice in what has until now been a pie with only two pieces.
We need a piece of pie that is devoted to joy, including recreation and fulfillment.
Finding balance among all of these elements (not just “work” and “life”) is what we need to maintain our overall physical and mental well-being.
And it’s also a key factor in cultivating happiness.
Recognizing the significance of attaining equilibrium and of establishing a devoted slice of joy is a major step toward achieving a healthy balance.
Learn More About How to Prioritize Self-Care and Play
How to Find Balance: Why It’s So Powerful
Finding balance is vital to mental, emotional, and physical health.
Excessive focus on the tasks included in both work and life without time for leisure and recreation can lead to burnout, stress, and diminished happiness and joy.
Prioritizing joy at the expense of “work” and “life” can result in financial instability, lack of productivity, and unfulfilled potential.
Striking a balance among all parts is necessary for us to lead an enriching, fulfilling, healthy life.
Learn More about the Anatomy of Well-Being
How to Find Balance: The Challenge for Full-Time Parents
When we talk about work-life balance, the unique challenges faced by full-time parents are often overlooked.
While the term typically conjures images of juggling career demands with personal time, the reality for full-time parents is different.
Balancing the demands of parenting, household management, and personal well-being can be emotionally and physically taxing.
This can lead to parental burnout, resentment, and exhaustion.
While most of us are alert for signs of burnout in our workforce, it is rarely acknowledged that full-time parents are vulnerable to burnout and subsequent “performance issues”, too.
The duties of full-time parents are especially important and vital. It’s essential to acknowledge and address their specific needs.
They also must learn to delegate effectively and prioritize their own well-being without guilt to perform well in their most essential role.
And they must also recognize the need for that elusive slice of joy to stay healthy and well – and realize it’s critical to do what is necessary to make room for it in their lives.
Learn More About How to Preserve Boundaries as a Full-Time Parent
Finding Balance for Caregivers
Caregivers also face a significant challenge in finding balance between caregiving responsibilities and their own needs.
Providing care for an aging parent, a child with special needs, or a family member with a chronic illness, can be especially demanding.
It can also be especially difficult for those in this situation to maintain healthy boundaries.
How to Find Balance as a Caregiver to Aging Parents
The constant pressure to prioritize the needs of loved ones can leave caregivers feeling depleted and neglected.
Finding a balance between caregiving duties and personal well-being is challenging.
It requires intentional effort, self-compassion, and a recognition of the importance of self-care in sustaining the caregiver’s mental, emotional, and physical health.
Find More Resources for Parents of Children with Special Needs
How to Find Balance: The Challenge for Working Students
The unique challenge faced by full-time students who also work is also often disregarded.
Striking a balance between school and work can be a demanding feat. Yet the concept of work-life balance tends to primarily focus on the professional sphere.
Full-time students who also work must navigate the pressures of academic achievement while fulfilling work obligations. It can be difficult to meet the competing requirements of these two demanding endeavors, especially if they also have family obligations.
While there is an intrinsic value to continuing education, it’s definitely not the same thing as a slice of joy.
Similar to full-time parents and caregivers, it’s key for full-time students who also work (and full-time workers who also go to school) to recognize and address this.
To harmonize academic, professional, and personal lives, they must recognize the importance of prioritizing their mental and physical well-being along with their diverse responsibilities. In short, they, too must do what’s necessary to find time for joy.
How to Find Balance: General Strategies
Fortunately, there are many strategies that can help us all not only manage work-life balance, but also make room for that elusive slice of joy we all crave and require to stay healthy.
Examples include:
- Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries between work, “life-work” and personal time to prevent all forms of work from encroaching on moments meant for relaxation and enjoyment. Create designated hours for rest and joy. Take measures to disconnect from work-related and “life-work” tasks during leisure time.
- Prioritize Self-Care: Make self-care a priority. Nurture your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Exercise regularly. Practice mindfulness or meditation. Get adequate rest to recharge and rejuvenate.
- Schedule Time for Fun: Incorporate play and leisure into your routine to infuse joy and creativity into your life. Pursue a hobby. Spend time outdoors. Attend social gatherings. Reserve time for that which brings you happiness and fulfillment.
- Practice Mindfulness: Cultivate mindfulness and presence in all elements of life and work. Fully engage in the present moment to derive deeper satisfaction from your experiences. Pay attention to your thoughts and emotions and look out for your digital well-being. Strive to find balance and contentment.
- Seek Support: Reach out to friends, family, or a professional counselor for support and guidance. Surround yourself with a supportive network that encourages your well-being and holds you accountable for prioritizing self-care.
How to Find Balance: Strategies for Parents and Caregivers
For full-time parents and caregivers, achieving balance, setting boundaries and prioritizing self-care can be especially difficult. As a result, it is even more essential for those in this situation to formally set aside dedicated moments for joy and self-care.
That means scheduling downtime, along with all those school appointments or doctor visits. And it’s not merely about finding the time to get adequate sleep (although that’s a priority, too).
It’s about spending time enjoying life and finding joy and fulfillment outside of the time we care for others.
For example, dedicated downtime may be used to pursue a hobby. Or it can include time spent in quiet and solitude. Or meeting with friends, family, or a support group.
Too often, caregivers allow responsibilities to overtake their personal needs. It is critical for them to accept that none of us can “pour from an empty cup”. Delegating tasks and asking for help is a key part of a winning strategy.
Cultivating a mindset that values self-care as a fundamental aspect of caregiving can help parents and caregivers recognize their own worth and well-being.
This will ultimately enable them to provide better care and support to their loved ones.
Modelling these behaviors can also help others to adopt similar attitudes. Partners, spouses and children will all be healthier if they follow this example.
Anyone, including full-time parents and caregivers can strive towards a more balanced life, if they make a commitment to do what is necessary and honor it.
In doing so, they improve their ability to care for others while they also restore their own mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
How to Find Balance and Happiness
When we find balance, we pave the way for greater happiness, fulfillment, and well-being.
We enhance our quality of life by making time for joy along with our professional pursuits and personal responsibilities. It also nurtures our creativity, resilience, and sense of purpose.
As we strive to achieve balance, we begin to unlock a more meaningful, satisfying, and healthy life.
The first step is to recognize the importance of finding balance. The second critical step is to make a committed effort to prioritize joy and self-care without guilt or compromise. Begin to give yourself the care you give to others so freely. A healthier, more peaceful and fulfilling life awaits.
Thank you as always for reading.
If you haven’t yet subscribed, please visit KindCompassCoach and enter your email address so you never miss a post.
As Amazon Associates, we may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) for items purchased through links in this post.
Joan Senio is the founder of KindCompassCoach. Joan’s career includes clinical healthcare plus 20+ years as an executive in a nationwide health care system and 15 years as a consultant. The common threads throughout Joan’s personal and professional life are a commitment to non-profit organizations, mental health, compassionate coaching, professional development and servant leadership. Joan has had the privilege of mentoring early and mid-career professionals as well as current and future executives and leaders. She is a member of the International Organization of Life Coaches, serves as a thought-leader for KuelLife.com and is also a regular contributor to PsychReg and Sixty and Me. You can read more about Joan here: Joan Senio.
Discover more from KINDCOMPASSCOACH
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
One Response
I definitely feel it when things are out of balance in my life. I think making sure we regain it and keep working at it is so very important. Thanks for this post!