Need to improve your work life balance? - Shivani

Many women I have coached believe that work life balance is a difficult task and that they have to make big life changes or sacrifice their success. In my experience, achieving work life balance is about taking small actions. I suggest we change the phrase to ‘Life-Work’ balance so that we get the order right. Life must come before work otherwise in the long run you may burn out.
Having work-life balance is like being fit. If you don’t exercise regularly, it is difficult to run a marathon and if you did, you may get sick. To get your balance right, you need to practice it each day.  It does not always work, but the aim is to try.
Here are 3 simple tips  that can help you achieve your desired life-work balance:

Tip 1: Ask for help
Women often complain they don’t get much help at home. The coaching question I ask in response is ‘’how much help do you ask for from your partner, flat mate ,children or work colleagues and if you don’t, is it because you like being the martyr?’’
This is challenging, as at times (me included) we want to be the martyr. Ask for help and create jobs for each person in the household.  It may take a few weeks for family members to change and form a new habit but be patient and don’t do it for them in the meantime.  

Tip 2: Apply the 3D rule
If you love what you do, does that mean working 70 to 80 hour weeks is good for you and your business?  The short answer is no.  

Truly successful people say that to stay passionate, we must conserve our energy and for that we need balance in our life.  

I have experienced ‘burnt out’ in a previous corporate role.  I was working 80 hour weeks, on planes Monday to Friday and having to work on weekends.  This was manageable initially as I loved my job, but I noticed over a course of three months, my productivity dropped during the week as I knew I had the weekend to rely on my overload. And I developed a habit of working weekends.

Achieving work life balance does not have to mean spending less time in paid work. Better time management and goal setting as well as outsourcing domestic chores to other family members or professionals are some ways to get more out of each day.

I apply a 3D rule. Ask yourself if you can DELETE a task. If not, can you DELEGATE it? If not, DO it!

Tip 3: Make taking time out for meditation daily
As our scientists are trying to understand impacts of stress, my understanding is that stress is cumulative.  This means that if you work long hours each week and think that you can ‘de-stress’ with a 2 week holiday in Fiji, think again!

A full mind leads to a full life. We need to empty our mind to make life simpler in our busy world.  Designating as little as 10 minutes a day to relax and empty your mind can bring you peace, clarity and more productivity in both your professional and personal life.  
Meditation has many advantages – it is the perfect way to relax, empty your mind, can lower blood pressure and heart rate as well as improve stress management.

I have met many people who want to meditate but don’t know how; want a non religious experience and don’t want it to take too long.  I have recorded a CD to meet these needs ‘Meditation for Busy People’ with some simple meditation tracks to help busy people relax. Each track is 5-8 minutes in length and my aim is to reduce your stress levels.     

In this fast-paced world getting work-life balance right is not always easy but is can be done once you make the choice to do so.

About Shivani:

Shivani was a senior manager for a large multinational company and unhappy in many aspects of her life, including her work-life balance. She made some decisions and took actions to move from corporate executive to the owner of her own successful business. Shivani is now a business dynamo with heart, vision, values and passion.

Passion@People is a thriving company specialising in the coaching of executives, small business and women.

Shivani is the author of Passion @ Work, business coach, international speaker, Fairfax small business columnist as well as the presenter of Risking It All a series about small business on SBS Television which attracted almost 2 million viewers.

To purchase Shivani's book or tapes, visit: http://www.shivani.com.au/online-shop/Products.aspx

For a limited time only 'Meditation for Busy People' ($24.95) is available together with 'Passion @ Work' ($36.95) for only $45 (including postage and handling). Saving you almost $17!