Inspiring Workplaces: How to Work When Your Life is in the Balance

Published: Wed, 07/20/22

Inspiring Workplaces

ISSUE 930 - July 20, 2022


		How to Work When Your Life is in the Balance

	That elusive beast known as work/life balance is a challenge for, well, I'm guessing for most of humanity (curiously, my grand-dog Yoda seems to have no challenges associated with this whatsoever). Here are a few suggestions that might help. Don't be afraid to redefine what work/life balance looks like for you. No one has the same life as you, so figure out what works best for you! There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to life! Have realistic expectations. So much of our stress around work/life balance comes from unrealistic expectations of being able to do it all and have it all! Set hard boundaries and schedule the things that matter the most. Set a hard stop time for work at the end of every day. There's always more than can be done, but learn to walk away when you need to stop. Your health is too important. Talk to your boss about your challenges, expectations, and desired outcomes. Be innovative. Look for creative ways to partner with your boss, colleagues, and organization to make work, well, work for you! Talk to your family about your challenges, expectations, and desired outcomes too! Don't just have a 'to-do list': Create a 'don't-do list' to remind you of the things you can't afford to spend time on. Learn to say 'no' more often so you have time to say 'yes' to the things that really matter to you! If you don't have a dog or a grand-dog, find a nearby dog that you can borrow. Dogs really can do a remarkable job at keeping us grounded and balanced.

		Mike's Fun at Work Tip

Everyone talks a lot about what we expect from employees when it comes to creating a great customer experience, but what about our expectations for how our customers behave? I'm seeing more and more signs like this one at a restaurant: "We think our staff is pretty amazing. Don't kill their spirit with the use of negative or unkind words. If you think you can do better, we're accepting applications!" There's a cheeky quality to this sign, but creating a fun "Rules of the Road for Our Beloved Customers" or using some cheeky humor to send a message about what you expect from your customers and what you simply will not tolerate can be a great way to help your message stand out and serve as a reminder for everyone (employees included) to be on their best behavior. And it sends the message that you have your employees' backs!
		Deep Thought of the Week
"When you clean out a vacuum cleaner, you become a vacuum cleaner."

		Funny Business

As seen on a label for Top Gear t-shirts: These t-shirts were tested on animals. They did not fit.

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