The Nitty Gritty Details of Work/Life Integration
Setting realistic expectations for what work/life integration looks like is the first step, but the key to making it a reality is taking actionable steps towards the life you desire. If you’ve read all the articles under the sun about work/life balance and are still feeling helpless and unsure of how to practically make it your reality, keep reading.
The key to finding the right balance with work and play is accepting your current circumstances and being mindful of how you are going to achieve your goals.
Benjamin Franklin said it best: “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” What he meant by this is that success doesn't happen by accident. It takes careful planning—knowing where you are heading and how you will get there. If you don’t plan out how your work will get done, or when you’ll meet with your friends, it’s likely that one or both of those things won’t happen. And say you make it to dinner with your friends but have failed to plan out how to get all your work done; you’ll be stuck worrying about your unfinished work at dinner.
Planning ahead for how and when you will do things will allow you to be present in your current situation, either making you productive in work or present in play.
Once you have set realistic expectations and planned out how you will accomplish them, the next step is to be deliberate with your time. When you’re taking time off, be it a Sunday family day or a week-long vacation for your honeymoon, you need to be deliberate with your time and what you’re spending it on. Setting boundaries with your time will allow you to feel more confident in getting everything done while also having time to relax and be present.
In a previous article, “Prepping for vacation — Here’s what you need to know,” I outline five pre-vacation to-dos that can help ease the transition, ensuring everything is taken care of while you’re away.
If you prepped everything to the best of your ability, then you can set boundaries that are realistic yet still allow you to check in on work as needed. For example, you only answer emails in the evening, or you only check your phone twice a day. Maybe you agree to be responsive to emails on the weekend, but you won’t be editing any documents. The key is finding a balance that provides the peace of mind you need while also allowing you to be present where you are.
Work/life integration is something that requires practice, and it also is easier to do when you are at a firm that aligns with your personal and professional goals. If you are curious about what might be out there and are ready to try something new, let’s connect!
Connect with us today!
Email: Geoff@ggpaas.com
Phone: (917) 822-8479
Website: www.ggpaasrecruiting.com