Work-Life Balance What it is not

Work-Life Balance • What it is not • How to have more Presented by Jenny Fleetwood Work-Life Balance Coordinator University Human Resources

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Today’s Objectives 1. Explore Work-life Balance 2. Assess your personal balance 3. Look at ways to make small but effective change INDIANA UNIVERSITY 2

Work-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). INDIANA UNIVERSITY 3

Work-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 INDIANA UNIVERSITY 4

Work-life Balance – Why are we talking about this? ? – 60 s-70 s – WLB was mainly considered an issue for working mothers, trying to balance the demands of their jobs with raising children – 80 s – 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 80 s, men began concerns around their own work-life – 90 s – 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 employees were making choices about their jobs based on cultures of companies and their own work-life issues – 21 st Century – More challenging than ever – work load predicts other stressors 5 INDIANA UNIVERSITY

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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/) INDIANA UNIVERSITY 7

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Where are you? Assess and learn • Quiz • Wheel INDIANA UNIVERSITY 9

Your wheel “results” Identify the two areas that you’re most satisfied. Identify the two areas that you’re least satisfied. INDIANA UNIVERSITY 10

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? INDIANA UNIVERSITY 11

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? INDIANA UNIVERSITY 12

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, 13 INDIANA UNIVERSITY relationship loss/difficulties, self

What are YOUR Barriers to Balance? ? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Time I should… Feeling guilty Climbing the “ladder” Failure to set limits Can’t say no Comparing INDIANA UNIVERSITY 14

Strategies to Improve Balance Understand 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 INDIANA UNIVERSITY 15

Strategies to Improve Balance Learn to say no Leave work at work Track your time Identify options at work and take advantage of them Bolster your support system or ASK FOR HELP Know when to seek professional help (Contact IUEAP) INDIANA UNIVERSITY 16

Beliefs that keep us stuck Suffering from stress is a weakness Keeping stress to yourself is the best approach Other people or situations are to blame for your stress and imbalance Cutting back or eliminating social, sporting, or personal interests will restore balance Believing that there is a single solution INDIANA UNIVERSITY 17

Back to basics Breathe Walk, move Eat, drink, sleep Plan an unplanned day Do the unexpected Connect with someone you wouldn’t Connect with someone important to you Play Ask for what you need Laugh, giggle, chuckle, chortle Enlist a balance team (massage therapist, manicurist, spa, friend) Leave town Electronic fast Slow down Remember what is important Disregard what is unimportant Use your influence INDIANA UNIVERSITY 18

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 INDIANA UNIVERSITY 19

Remember • 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. INDIANA UNIVERSITY 20

Ask for help! Jenny Fleetwood jerfleet@iu. edu hr. iu. edu/worklife 812. 855. 7903 INDIANA UNIVERSITY 21