Work-Life Balance•What it is•What it is not•How to have more

Presented by Jenny FleetwoodWork-Life Balance Coordinator

University Human Resources

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Today’s ObjectivesToday’s Objectives

1. Explore Work-life Balance

2. Assess your personal balance

3. Look at ways to make small but effective change

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Work-life Balance or Work-Family ConflictWork-life Balance or Work-Family Conflict - Work–life balance is a concept including proper

prioritizing between "work" (career and ambition) and "lifestyle“(health, pleasure, leisure,family and spiritual development/meditation)

– “A form of interrole conflict in which the role pressures from the work and family domains are mutually incompatible in some respect. That is, participation in the work (family) role is made more difficult by virtue of participation in the family (work) role (Greenhaus & Beutell, 1985, p. 7).

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Work-life Balance – What it is notWork-life Balance – What it is not

Work-life balance does not mean that there must be equal balance across all aspects of an individual’s life

The optimum work-life balance will not remain static but will vary over time

The best work-life balance will be different for each person. There is no one size fits all in work-life balance

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Work-life Balance – Why are we talking about this??Work-life Balance – Why are we talking about this??

– 60s-70s – WLB was mainly considered an issue for working mothers, trying to balance the demands of their jobs with raising children

– 80s – Structural changes took place. For example, policies and procedures, along with benefits were added/changed to support WLB. Maternity leave, EAP’s, flextime, etc. Also in the 80s, men began concerns around their own work-life

– 90s – Really solidified WLB as an issue that was vital for everyone (men, women, singles, couples, parents, non-parents, etc.) Also generational studies began to show how employees were making choices about their jobs based on cultures of companies and their own work-life issues

– 21st Century – More challenging than ever – work load predicts other stressors

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Work-Life Balance – Why are we talking about this??Work-Life Balance – Why are we talking about this??

• 72% of absenteeism is due to childcare related issues (US. Dept of Labor)

• 40% of people caring for elders also have child care responsibilities (Labor Project for Working Families, 2000)

• Of married couples with children, both are employed full time 59% of the time(US Bureau of Labor Statistics , 2013)

• Almost two-thirds of American women (62 percent) with a birth in the last year were in the labor force in 2008 (http://www.census.gov/)

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Where are you?Where are you?

Assess and learn• Quiz• Wheel

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Your wheel “results”Your wheel “results”

Identify the two areas that you’re most satisfied.

Identify the two areas that you’re least satisfied.

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Reflect on the two areas in which you are most satisfied….Reflect on the two areas in which you are most satisfied….

What do you need do to achieve a higher level of satisfaction in those areas?

What would change for you if you became dissatisfied in those areas?

Think of a moment in your life when you felt completely balanced. What exactly was happening? What were you doing and how were others involved? How did you feel?

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Your responses: Your responses:

What do you need to say no to in order to achieve more balance?

What do you need to say yes to in order to achieve more balance?

What will happen if you don’t say yes or not to these things?

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Symptoms of Unbalance…Symptoms of Unbalance…

Physical: – Headaches, upset stomach, sleep

disturbances, changes in appetite, muscle tension, fatigue, heart palpitations

Emotional:– Depression, anxiety, irritability, difficulty

making decisions, angry outbursts, resentment, feelings of powerlessness

Personal:– Lost time with friends and loved ones, job

burnout, isolation – stopping social activities, relationship loss/difficulties, self medicating

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What are YOUR Barriers to Balance??What are YOUR Barriers to Balance??

1. Time

2. I should…

3. Feeling guilty

4. Climbing the “ladder”

5. Failure to set limits

6. Can’t say no

7. Comparing

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Strategies to Improve BalanceStrategies to Improve BalanceUnderstand some things are beyond your control to change

Take action to reduce or remove the stressor

Break problems down into smaller more manageable pieces

Take a time management course

Replace negative relationships with positive ones

Adopt self – care practices

Develop outside activities – hobbies, social events, education, etc

Seek advice from others

Commit to the notion that managing stress is a permanent and ongoing activity

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Strategies to Improve Balance Strategies to Improve Balance

Learn to say noLeave work at workTrack your time Identify options at work and take advantage of themBolster your support system or ASK FOR HELPKnow when to seek professional help (Contact IUEAP)

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Beliefs that keep us stuck Beliefs that keep us stuck

Suffering from stress is a weaknessKeeping stress to yourself is the best approachOther people or situations are to blame for your stress and imbalanceCutting back or eliminating social, sporting, or personal interests will restore balanceBelieving that there is a single solution

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Back to basicsBack to basics

BreatheWalk, moveEat, drink, sleepPlan an unplanned dayDo the unexpectedConnect with someone you wouldn’tConnect with someone important to youPlay

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Ask for what you needLaugh, giggle, chuckle, chortleEnlist a balance team (massage therapist, manicurist, spa, friend)Leave townElectronic fastSlow downRemember what is importantDisregard what is unimportantUse your influence

Review…Review…WLB is your definition of how to be a harmoniously integrated whole

It’s an issue today because of how the nature of work and family have changed over time

You and your WLB will not be perfect, it’s a constant dance and takes work

Only you can set your priorities and boundaries to shape your life

Re-evaluate often

Pay attention to your indicators of stress (symptoms of unbalance)

Know your own barriers to balance – your unique tendencies (e.g. guilt)

Do something different

Ask for help

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RememberRemember

• IU offers resources, your community offers resources to help.

• You have to ask for help.

• You have to make changes.

• No one can do it for you.

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Ask for help!Ask for help!

Jenny Fleetwood

jerfleet@iu.edu

hr.iu.edu/worklife

812.855.7903

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