Work/Life Balance

Can You Achieve A Work/Life Balance?

By Tom Ladendecker

Speaking at Georgia Tech's 172nd commencement address in September 1996, Brian G. Dyson, then Coca-Cola Enterprises president and CEO, said, "Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air….

You name them—work, family, health, friends, and spirit—and you're keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls—family, health, friends, and spirit— are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged, or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life."

Work/Life Balance, Is It Feasible? 

Trying to get ahead, you want that corner office, want to be a partner or CFO. How do you achieve your professional goals while maintaining a strong personal life? A 2003study by the Families and Work Institute found executives who worked just five fewer hours a week were happier and more productive than others who worked longer hours. Can you have it all? Is it possible?

The answer is yes and no. Perhaps you can have it all but maybe you need to adjust your timetable. Maybe you need to rethink what is most important to you. Everyone has different levels of needs, wants and desires. As you move through life your specific situation may change. The key is to determine what your needs are, what your priorities truly are and how you can achieve them. 

We make decisions all the time that affect our work/life balance. Do you accept that big assignment or do you coach your daughter’s softball team?    Do you leave work a little early to catch your son’s basketball game or do you stay late to “catch up”?

Where To Start 

Take an inventory of what is truly important in your life. Weight each item by its level of importance. Be honest! This is your list and its results can be a guide to your future. Sort the list. What items are at the top? These are the most important things in your life. How much time do you spend each day working on the top items? Remember you said these are the most important!

Choose one area that you are dissatisfied with and would like to see some immediate improvement in. Take a couple minutes and write down in detail what balance would look like for you in that area. Now develop an action plan. How are you going to increase the time spent on your top item? Make a commitment to yourself, and inform your spouse and employer of your plan. 

For example, maybe you want to spend more time with your family. Why not meet with them and decide one day per week where everyone is available. Put down in your calendar a meeting “Dinner with family”. Now plan to leave work “on time” and actually sit down with your family for dinner. After dinner play a board game or cards. Now that wasn’t so hard was it? The trick is to stick with it. Don’t make excuses; don’t fall back into that pattern of “too busy” or “next week”. Really commit to it every week, think of it as your most important appointment for the week.

Prioritize

Finally, put the top five items on your list in your day planner. Look at them each day to remind you what your priorities are. Try to tackle the next item on your list, and so forth. You’ll find you don’t have to sacrifice your family for a career, or your career for your family. At the end of the day, you will find you are more satisfied, healthier, happier, and more productive in both your personal life and career.