Whatever Happened to After 5 p.m. and The Seventh Day?

By Trevicia Williams, M.A., Ph.D. Candidate

It’s Sunday morning, but it feels like Monday already. The competition is fierce, and, to be ahead, you’ve got to get the next lead, have an edge on your competitor, be at the next meeting, check and respond to emails, be mom, wife, sister, daughter and a host of other roles be super woman if you will! The boundaries between work and family roles are so blurred they look like a solid yellow line on a one-way street. That’s got to be pretty blurred! But, whatever happened to the evening or day of rest?

Taking steps to reduce stress can greatly improve your quality of life as well as balance across work-life roles. Stress is often described as the result of demands exceeding resources. Stress was once associated with men, the primary financial support of the family, who experienced significant stress balancing the struggle up the corporate ladder with the responsibility of providing for his family. Today, women share this everincreasing stress-load as the world presents them with multiple opportunities for success and wealth. The way women respond to stressors and the environment they create has the potential for enhancing their competitiveness and success leverage. Peak performance is a benefit of well managed stress.

Equally important to women’s worklife balance quest is the need to develop a support system. Not all support systems are created equally though! The key for working women, whether they are entrepreneurs or have a corporate job, is the need to surround themselves with people who will insist that they take time out for themselves. A vital part of a woman’s support system is her social capital. Having loving and supportive friends who are able to not only see that time for self is needed, but gently help by suggesting outlets for balance can be crucial to the success of a work-life balance mission.

Back to the basics! Our world has become so chaotic, with more options than Bell South’s automated customer service. However, keeping things simple can help eliminate the sense of being overwhelmed. One of the areas important to work-life balance is the ability to simplify your life and focus on what you care about.

An example that comes to mind is a woman who was challenged by the work-life balance mission. She worked 50-60 hours a week leaving very little time for her family. After coaching her, she discovered ways to simplify her life and create time for her family. One of the ways that she accomplished this was by taking advantage of the flex-work option that her company offered. She blocked out 3 hours for her daughter which meant that from the time that she picked her up from daycare to the time that she tucked her away for bed (5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.) she gave her undivided attention. With her handy laptop, she still got her work done; however, it was after her daughter was asleep. A similar strategy works for entrepreneurs as well!

Professionals with and without children may have similar concerns when it comes to work-life balance. Some professionals don't have children, but have caring responsibilities. Caring for a loved one other than children requires similar balancing strategies. So, how does one manage having multiple roles, being success driven and caring responsibilities?

Ways to find work and family balance:

1. Since technology has almost taking time out!

2. With so many places to be and things to do it's a challenge not to overly extend one’s self. It's okay to let someone know that you will not be able to attend an event or participate on a particular occasion. Being upfront is better than disappointing someone.

3. Work can be invigorating, and, at times exhilarating. Why? Because it's challenging! Find things outside of work that motivate you, e.g., painting or crafts, and indulge yourself!

Trevicia Williams, M.A., is President and Founder of InnerG, Institute for Life’s Performances, a personal, professional and business growth and development company. She is also a human performance specialist, and organizational psychology doctoral candidate. Ms. Williams helps individuals and businesses optimize their potentials through training and development, motivation, inspiration, seminars and conferences. Contact Trevicia Williams for your complimentary 2007success profile at 407.245.7314 or visit www.innergilp.com.