Dr. Emily HunterThe Feminine Mystique October 25, 2013

Work and Family: Finding Your Own Balance

PURPOSE

• Discuss why women struggle to find balance

• Empower women to set your own goals for balancing work and family• Judge success for yourself and your family

• Provide specific tactics to manage your work-family boundaries

WHERE ARE WE NOW?

WHERE ARE WE NOW?

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Average Hours Spent in Daily Activities in 2012

MenWomen

Hou

rs p

er d

ay

SEEKING BALANCE

FamilyWork WorkWork-Life

Merge

ENRICHMENT

• Enrichment contributes to: • Positive mood• Lower distress• Higher job and family satisfaction• Better work performance• Increased perceptions of promotability by a supervisor • Improved health and well-being

• Employed women have:• Greater financial security• More stable marriages• Increased life satisfaction

DIFFERENT PREFERENCES

Work FamilyWork

Segmenters

Integrators

FINDING BALANCE

• Leverage technology• Make specific requests about how to contact you

• Block out time• Time to complete work without interruption or time for

family• Set clear expectations for all involved• Can also “bank” time for later to maintain equilibrium

• Invoke triage when necessary• Quick diagnosis based on your pre-defined priorities

FINDING BALANCE

• Find respite• Take breaks as needed• Do activities you prefer

• Negotiate without fear• Work schedule flexibility• Leaves of absence• Time blocks

• Need more women servant leaders and mentors• Lift up female coworkers and aid their development

CONCLUSION

• Many women today face the challenge of balance

• But working and raising a family can enrich one another

• Determine your preferences and seek out tactics to find your best balance• Free yourself from comparisons!