The other day, my eyes were really heavy while driving…like I could have fallen asleep right at that moment if there were a bed handy. The only problem is? I was on my way to work! Is work/life balance possible? I think so! Here are some of my thoughts on work/life balance, which is a hot button topic these days.
5 problems and 5 solutions to the work/life balance conundrum
I have a good friend, let’s call her Patricia, who is always lamenting why her career isn’t where she wants it to be. She’s got a lot going for her…smart, beautiful, well-liked by others. But if you hang out with her, she’s talking to you, texting people on her phone, listening to a webinar…all while trying to figure out what’s happening on Dr. Phil. Besides feeling a little slighted that you can’t be the focus of her attention, you can understand why she’s not where she wants to be. She’s all over the place all the time! If you know a Patricia (or if you happen to be a Patricia), you should read You Think You Can But You Can’t: On The Evils Of Multitasking. It gives five ways to combat technology and regain control of your life. Speaking of technology…
So what do you have? A work cell phone? A personal cell phone? And iPad? An iPod? A notebook? A laptop? And are they all sitting on your desk surrounding you? Coaching is stressful…our jobs are a bit ridiculous when you really sit down and think about it. So we’ve got to be intentional about creating time for ourselves and for our family and friends. Step Away From The Computer: Why Unplugging Will Keep You Sane talks about some ways we can decrease our stress and create some great relationships as a result. Speaking of making time for ourselves…
The issue of work/life balance is a hot topic amongst employers all over. In my mind, true balance isn’t an option while I’m in season (I’m a Division III coach, we don’t get “help” with stuff), but I look at the year as a whole and strive for balance over the long haul. I believe there are some things I can do for myself and others that will make each part of my life more enjoyable, in season or not. The Great American Hoax: Work/Life Balance gives us four things we can do in order to achieve balance. Speaking of making my life more enjoyable…
Do you think that sleep is more important than food? If you asked me that question, I’d probably say, “it depends on what the food is!”, but check out What’s The 1 Thing You Need To Be Exceptional?. I learned that lack of sleep lowers our ability to function so much so that Amnesty International has deemed sleep deprivation as torture. Lack of sleep is so entrenched in the coaching culture that we accept it as normal. But is it? Check out this post to find out what burning the candle at both ends can do to us. Speaking of not getting enough sleep…
5 Signs You’re Burned Out…And How To Turn It Around gives us five examples of what burnout looks like, but also three ways to beat it. I think it’s always a good idea to take an honest look at how we’re going about our business and figure out how long we can operate like that without losing our love of the game. The coaching profession is inherently tough, let’s do what we can to insure that we last as long as we can! Speaking of lasting in the profession…
Women are able to lead Fortune 500 companies, but it’s still a commonly held belief in athletics that once a female coach gets married and has kids, that that’ll be the death of her career. A great article, found on Harvard Business Review’s website, asserts that women must choose “a partner in part on the basis of whether that individual will be supportive of their power quest.” In this case, the power quest is being successful in athletics…which is possible for the woman who has a supportive home base. Read 3 Ways To Keep Females In Coaching and Athletics Administration to find out more.
Hopefully that will get us all thinking about how we can balance our multiple responsibilities in a healthier way.
