Jo Crumpton’s Guide To Achieving A Good Work Life Balance.

We hear a lot about the importance of achieving a good work/life balance.  Often it is a conversation directed at or about women in the workplace, but in reality, applies across the board.  COVID-19 and working from home has turned up the volume on the conversation as people have reassessed what really matters.

So, after x number of years in the professional workforce, I can assure you the need for balance is real.  Here are my top tips for achieving it:

1. Don’t have kids or elderly parents
2. Drink in moderation
3. Get 8 hours sleep per night
4. Don’t be ambitious or value “getting ahead”
5. Have a partner who does 50% of the work at home
6. Don’t be a single parent
7. Only work with colleagues who pull their weight

I am obviously just joking.  It is all the things above that add the colour to our lives.

Achieving a good work life balance is not a destination, a “job done” and move on. It is an ongoing process. As circumstances arise and change, you will have to adjust.  And sometimes things get out of balance.  If everything was always balanced and you always said “no” to a difficult work challenge or promotion, then life would be very “beige”. Taking on new things and stretching yourself is how you grow and learn.  Remember you just can’t stretch yourself all the time.

The biggest thing is to forgive yourself if you don’t always get it right! At certain times balance will be impossible to achieve – when you have deadlines, or a crisis at work, or when there something in your private life which needs your full attention.

Most of us can cope with some more intense periods as long as they do not go on indefinitely.

But it is during the stressful times that you will have to be more deliberate about your priorities.

Work out what are the non-negotiables for you, to keep you healthy and on track. Try to ensure you find a way to make those times happen – even in an abbreviated form – and let the less important things slide temporarily. Maybe it is daily exercise, or meditation, reading a book or spending time with friends.  Whatever it is, make it a priority, schedule the time.

Ask for help – explain to your partner/housemate/family/boss/colleagues/kids/your pet/the universe – that you are busy right now and ask could they give you extra help during that period. This may not work – but at least you have asked rather than just being irritable. And there is a chance that some of the burden can be taken care of by someone else.

For work and home jobs, define what the absolute deadlines are, and what can wait.

Give yourself little victories – finish tasks rather than trying to do a little bit of everything.  Enjoy the victories.

Being a bookkeeper, I have my own way of visualising my efforts at achieving the balance. This is not my original idea, but it works for me. I see the different parts of a balanced life as different “Accounts”. You need to put investments of time and effort into all these accounts, but you don’t have to invest the same amount in each one all the time.

My accounts are exercise, friends, healthy food, challenging & interesting job, family, intellectual activity, relaxation/change of scene.  So going for a walk with a friend ticks two boxes at once!

So, my real tips are simple:

• Schedule your time
• Create a productive workspace
• Try not to multi-task
• Make time for yourself
• Take care of your health
• Learn to say no

By Joanne Crumpton, Certified Bookkeeper and Business Manager