Work-Life Balance: Taking the Time for Loved Ones
Posted on April 27, 2009
Work-Life Balance: Take the time for loved ones.
By Kristi Daniels
Work-Life Balance Examiner
A key challenge for anyone trying to balance work and personal life is making - and taking - the time to spend with loved ones.
Whether you are single or married with children, each of us desires fulfilling relationships with the important people in our lives. And when you're working 10+ hour days, it's easy to fall into the work, work, work zone and completely neglect your personal relationships.
Learn to head off relationship killers such as apathy, a lack of passion and disconnectedness, by being fully engaged in your connections with others. Make the time, take the time and spend quality hours with your loved ones. Here are some suggestions to consider:
Schedule specific times of the day or week to spend with family and friends. Treat your date night, family night or friends' night out just as you would an office appointment. Set a start and finish time and don't be late! Get creative and put a little thought into your plans. Try doing something out of the ordinary - pick a new cuisine or a card game or a new activity.
Learn to leave work at the office. It's not so easy to compartmentalize our lives. When we've had a stressful day at the office, we bring it home. When we have a fight with our spouse, we bring it to work.
Instead of compartmentalizing, try a technique to release your thoughts, emotions and stress. The Sedona Method suggests asking yourself the following questions. Notice the instant "release."
"What emotions or thoughts am I feeling?" Accept that you are feeling them.
Ask yourself, "Could I let them go?"
"Would I let them go?"
"When?"
Repeat these four questions as often as needed, until you begin to feel the release.
Be fully present in all of your interactions with family and loved ones. Nothing says I'm not really paying attention to you like a blank stare or when you are multi-tasking or when your mind is back at the office. Take the time to be fully here for your loved ones. Take a deep breath and focus on the conversation. Be curious. Make the most out of your quality time together.
Ask for what you need. Perhaps you need 10 minutes to vent to your spouse each day after work. Ask for a listening ear and keep your commitment to limit the talk to 10 minutes. Create rituals to help you leave the office with a clear mind and return home to your family in a good mood. Perhaps you need to ask your loved ones to greet you with a smile when you walk in the door. What do you need at the end of every day to transition from work mode to life mode? Identify your needs and ask for them.
By Kristi Daniels
Work-Life Balance Examiner
A key challenge for anyone trying to balance work and personal life is making - and taking - the time to spend with loved ones.
Whether you are single or married with children, each of us desires fulfilling relationships with the important people in our lives. And when you're working 10+ hour days, it's easy to fall into the work, work, work zone and completely neglect your personal relationships.
Learn to head off relationship killers such as apathy, a lack of passion and disconnectedness, by being fully engaged in your connections with others. Make the time, take the time and spend quality hours with your loved ones. Here are some suggestions to consider:
Schedule specific times of the day or week to spend with family and friends. Treat your date night, family night or friends' night out just as you would an office appointment. Set a start and finish time and don't be late! Get creative and put a little thought into your plans. Try doing something out of the ordinary - pick a new cuisine or a card game or a new activity.
Learn to leave work at the office. It's not so easy to compartmentalize our lives. When we've had a stressful day at the office, we bring it home. When we have a fight with our spouse, we bring it to work.
Instead of compartmentalizing, try a technique to release your thoughts, emotions and stress. The Sedona Method suggests asking yourself the following questions. Notice the instant "release."
"What emotions or thoughts am I feeling?" Accept that you are feeling them.
Ask yourself, "Could I let them go?"
"Would I let them go?"
"When?"
Repeat these four questions as often as needed, until you begin to feel the release.
Be fully present in all of your interactions with family and loved ones. Nothing says I'm not really paying attention to you like a blank stare or when you are multi-tasking or when your mind is back at the office. Take the time to be fully here for your loved ones. Take a deep breath and focus on the conversation. Be curious. Make the most out of your quality time together.
Ask for what you need. Perhaps you need 10 minutes to vent to your spouse each day after work. Ask for a listening ear and keep your commitment to limit the talk to 10 minutes. Create rituals to help you leave the office with a clear mind and return home to your family in a good mood. Perhaps you need to ask your loved ones to greet you with a smile when you walk in the door. What do you need at the end of every day to transition from work mode to life mode? Identify your needs and ask for them.
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