Presidents Message - February 2011

THE PRESIDENT'S message

Members,

Several years ago, during an interview with president-elect candidates, a delegate asked my opponent and me how we maintained balance in our lives and how being successful in the election might influence that balance. Both of us indicated that we had considered this issue seriously before consenting to run for office and that we believed we had well-established strategies to rely on should we be successful. Later, during a conversation with a delegate, I shared that my husband and I held sacred two weeks in August when we escaped to a cabin on a lake in Ontario where phones were a premium, and television was non-existent. Rather, we spent our time reading, swimming, strolling the back roads or simply enjoying the scenery. I thanked her for asking the question, as answering it made me aware of the critical nature of this practice.

As I reflect on that conversation, as well as recent conversations, I am conscious that maintaining balance between our personal and professional lives continues to be problematic, as we work more, have increasing family demands and deal with innovative technologies that keep us constantly connected (Bakal, Pappas, Smith, & Stern, 2003). Thus, maintaining life balance is the focus of this column.

What do people mean when they talk about balancing personal and work life? Weinstein (2009) states, “A balanced life means having optimal time to give to their families, their work, their communities, and their extracurricular and spiritual activities” (p. XIV). Said another way, work/life balance means that demands between one’s personal life and one’s work life are equal (Lockwood, 2003). While these definitions sound rather easy, the reality is that achieving balance requires conscious attention, commitment and work.

Why should we want to maintain balance? There are personal and professional ramifications of maintaining balance. Lockwood (2003), discussing the positive benefits of employers who initiated work/life programs, suggests that work/life balance enhances worker retention; decreases absenteeism, health-care costs and stress-related illnesses; and increases motivation and productivity. Weinstein (2009) highlights benefits such as better health, simplified life, enhanced concentration and better relationships.

What can we do to maintain balance? There are several activities that can help you on your quest for balance. Consider the following:

Establish what is important to you. In other words, clarify your values. Uscher (2011) stresses that energies should be directed toward that over which you have control. Weinstein (2009) challenges the reader to determine life’s purpose, stressing that doing so lays the foundation for how one proceeds in life. Doing so can help you set home and work priorities that are reasonable and that can be shared with employers and family (Waldron, 2009).
Learn to say no. While we all experience some degree of guilt when we say no, doing so frees up time to address those activities you have established as important (Usher, 2011; Waldron, 2009; Weinstein, 2009).
Manage your time. Consider how you deal with chores and errands. Perhaps distributing them over the course of the week is better, as doing so would give you more latitude on your days off.
Build in some downtime so that you can enjoy friends and family. For example, I look forward to Friday evenings spent with a group of colleagues from work. We laugh, argue and generally decompress from the week’s events. It’s a great way to start the weekend and is guarded and valued time.
Stop doing things that drain your energy. Ask how much time you spend on a social networking site or playing a computer game. Set up a schedule for the frequency with which you will check your personal e-mail messages while at work and your work e-mails on the weekend.
Build in time to exercise (Hawksley, 2007; Usher, 2011). The benefits outweigh the time commitment involved, as exercise can increase productivity and efficiency.
Take time to relax. Perhaps you relax by meditating (Weinstein, 2009) or by taking a walk or listening to music. These activities help restore your energy and balance.
Don’t forget the benefits of humor. Try to incorporate laughter into your work and personal life.

There are many other strategies one can employ to maintain balance. However, they only work if you employ them. I wish you much success, and I look forward to hearing from you and about how you have established and maintained balance in your life.

Wishing you well!

Karen H. Morin
RN, DSN, ANEF
Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International
2009-2011 President

References:

Bakal, M., Pappas, M., Smith, A. P., & Stern, M. (2003). A balancing act: Managing your personal and professional life-Part I. Nursing Economic$, 21, 288-290, 295.

Hawksley, B. (2007). Work-related stress, work/life balance and personal life coaching. British Journal of Community Nursing, 12, 34-36.

Lockwood, N. R. (2003). Work/life balance: Challenges and solutions. HR Magazine, June. Retrieved from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3495/is_6_48/ai_102946878/

Uscher, J. (2011). 5 tips for better work-life balance. Retrieved from
http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/5-strategies-for-life-balance

Waldon, G. (2009). Balancing work & life. How agencies can create a worker-friendly environment. Children’s Voice, 18(6), 24-27.

Weinstein, S. M. (2009). B is for balance. Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International.