Part 1 of the “Work-Life Balance” Article Series
By Mindy Ward, ACN President
Work-life balance. We’ve all heard the phrase, but let’s face it, sometimes it is hard to do.
Early in our careers we hit the midnight oil to prove our value, our worth, and our dedication to the company. By mid-career, we find our stride and then bam—kids, civic duties or faith commitments sneak away our time. Late in our profession the next gen is on our heels forcing us to adapt, change and simply—do more. Oh, and lest we forget the changing world where news is on demand and the need to feed the digital beast is real.
So how can we find balance between career goals and life experiences?
Currently, I’m reading Christy Wright’s book Take Back Your Time-The Guilt-Free Guide to Life Balance. In it she writes, “Life balance is about doing the right things at the right time—and you get to decide what is right for you.” I took that to heart this year.
My new normal on the way to work-life balance starts with focus and involves actually using a planner.
Get a planner. I don’t care if it is on your computer or on paper, find one and commit to filling it out. It is amazing what you can get done when you simply write it down.
Limit daily tasks. I purposely have a planner that has just 7 “to do” lines. That is all. I insert the writing, editing, calls and meetings, but I make them specific. “Write beef feedlot story. Edit feedlot photos. etc.” Those planners with endless spaces stress me out and quite frankly are unrealistic. If I don’t fill them in, I feel I’m not doing enough. If I don’t get them all done, I feel guilty. So, find a planner that sets realistic, attainable task management.
Plan a week—or more. I fill out every line for the week, sometimes two weeks if I’m eager. This allows me to be more in control of my workload. I find myself breaking larger tasks into smaller ones. For instance, I may write the main story one day and then the sidebar the next. I get the job done in small bites, so not to put in longer hours.
Be flexible. If I complete all 7 tasks for the day, I can choose to work ahead on the next day’s items. If a meeting runs longer and I don’t complete a task, I move it to the next day. However, if you move an item that means you must either get rid of one or move it ahead as well. Don’t just add a line. It will throw off the balance.
Review and revise. Every night I take 5 minutes before bed to look at my calendar. I work out of my home, so it is easy. If you work at an office, look at your planner before you leave. Review the items listed and revise it if needed.
Don’t fret. A planner is not something to gauge if you “succeeded or failed” that week. It is merely a tool to help you navigate work, so it doesn’t overtake your life.
After years of being a workaholic, I feel I’m in the baby steps of navigating this thing called “a balanced life.” Thankfully, Wright offers me a little encouragement along the way. “Don’t let a bad day or a tough week make you believe that your entire life is out of balance. You may just need a long nap.”
Check back next week when I share how I manage my “office time” to improve my productivity and creativity. Later, I will offer up my favorite books on time management.
Feel free to drop me a line at [email protected] with your favorite books or time management tips.
Mindy Ward is the Senior Content Director with Farm Progress. She is also Editor of the Missouri Ruralist magazine.