Work/Life Balance
WORK & LIFE BALANCE
You hear about it all the time, but what does it really mean?
By Jennifer Quade, CPA
Most people invest in their health by going to the gym and getting an annual physical. They maintain an investment in vehicles by getting the oil changed and other regular maintenance. Companies prepare strategic plans and annual goals, which often trickle down to management and staff goals. But, how often do people do a “check up” on the vision for life? It sounds pretty heavy, but it is not as complicated as it seems.
When creating a vision for what you want your life to look like, first define your values. Values determine how you approach life’s challenges. There isn’t a wrong answer to this question. It is a very personal question that will differ for each person. That is what makes every person unique. Your values may include things such as honesty, integrity, fairness, creativity, diversity, growth, adventure, etc. Values are timeless. They apply to you while working a part-time job in college or when you become a partner in a CPA firm. They also cross all aspects of your life. They apply to you at work, home, and in the community.
Now begin assessing what the vision for your life will be. One way to approach this is to consider all the roles you play in life. Your roles may include manager, employee, entrepreneur, spouse, parent, brother, volunteer, neighbor, friend, runner, artist, etc. Roles go beyond titles, so consider all aspects of your life here. By analyzing the roles that you play in life (or roles you would like to establish), you can determine the areas of life that you value and want to focus on.
As you analyze your roles, take some time to envision the perfect life. That’s right, the perfect life. Is life perfect? No. Will it be perfect? No. But if it was, what would it look like? It does no good to start setting up barriers before you even begin the process of creating the vision of your life. Close your eyes and picture it. Who is in the picture? What do the surroundings look like? How do you feel as you live the perfect life?
Identify the key roles you want to focus on in the next year and put your vision on paper. As you look at your vision, what would you like to see done in the next year? If you envision yourself being a partner in a CPA firm, what can you do this year to get you closer? If you envision a close bond with your children, what things can you do to establish this? Make a list of all those things and then choose the ones that are most important to you. Prioritizing is the name of the game here. What are those things that will have the biggest impact and will be longlasting?
Implementing your life vision requires self management. This entails more than just time management techniques. Self management includes managing your energy. What are you focusing on while you are in the shower each morning or on your drive to work? Are you focused on your life vision and the goals you have established to get you there? To help you attain your goals, break down your goals into smaller pieces just as you would with a project at work. This may seem like a lot of work, but isn’t your happiness worth it?
Life change and life balance don’t just happen. They happen because you make it happen. You can have the happy, fulfilling life we deserve. Life balance starts with a vision. You create your own success in life, however you define it for yourself.
Jennifer Quade, CPA is a life/career coach and has worked in public accounting and in industry. She is currently a member of the MSCPA Work/Life Balance Committee. She can be reached at jquade@centurytel.net.
