VIII.15.2024 - Work/Life Balance in North America
Work-Life Balance in North America
Anyone who has worked in Canada or the United States has likely experienced the stress of unrealistic job demands that negatively impacts work/life balance. Successful professionals are competitive, and they typically go above and beyond the requirements of their role. And it is something I recommend to my clients who are taking on a new position — maximizing performance during the 90-day-probation-period can be key to positive perceptions and ongoing success. The challenge is that once we set that expectation it can become the baseline performance standard for that individual making it difficult to set healthy boundaries to sustain balance in their lives.
Is there a way to optimize professional performance in the workplace while maintaining balance that will contribute to wellness and keep burnout at bay? Absolutely! This article will provide you with tools to keep you balanced, productive, and healthy.
Maintaining work-life balance is contingent on open communication that helps to align your needs with the organization. Early in my career, there was an Administrator on our team who was widely known for saying yes to every request. Anna could be counted on to get things done, and she often exceeded the expectations of our team and the firm’s C-suite. What people didn’t see was Anna’s growing resentment and irritability even though she set the expectations herself every time she said “yes” to a new task. Her people-pleasing approach was not sustainable, and she had to take sick leave to recover.
Professionals who are eager to succeed while they overload themselves with work end up eroding their personal time with work-related tasks (we are working on the assumption that competency is not an issue). This is not a sustainable situation and will be evident in personal relationship friction, emotional health challenges and, eventually, deteriorating work performance.
If you recognize yourself in this story, there is a way to achieve the balance that you are seeking between your life at work and your personal life — you can be healthy and productive in both situations. First, keep a journal to monitor how you are using your time — personally and professionally — during a minimum of 3-4 weeks. Track your time for each activity and task by naming it, capture the duration, and note how you are feeling on completion (including sleep). This baseline of data will identify your current work/personal reality. If you don’t like what you see, it’s time to pivot to an approach that helps you achieve a healthy balance between your work and personal life. And discuss your new approach you’re your manager. If you are self-employed, post your new work-life time structure in a prominent place as a reminder and stick to it without making excuses — it’s your life.
When working in a Toronto Bay Street firm, I witnessed an interaction between two employees. The Executive Administrator’s ability to remain agreeable and helpful with her Manager while setting the boundaries she needed was impressive. Here is how the conversation went:
Manager: “We are going to be hosting a client event next month in the large boardroom. 70 clients have been invited. Please put together a menu and quote for catering no later than end-of-week. You can present it for approval at the Monday morning staff meeting before making the arrangements.”
EA: “I can absolutely put this together for you. I am working on another project for another Manager that will be wrapped up in a few days. Do you mind if I shift your timelines slightly and have the information ready for you by the end-of-next-week. I can present at the staff meeting the following Monday. That will give me enough time to make the arrangements as you requested.”
Manager: “Hmm. Sure. I suppose that would be fine. Thank you for your help!”
The reason this interaction flowed seamlessly is because the EA not only agreed to tackle the task, but she provided solutions that were workable while altering the timeline to keep herself balanced and her Manager happy.
Maintaining and sustaining work-life balance is something that only you can manage in every situation — personal and professional — because, in the end, it is your health and happiness that is at stake.