Capital Region | Capital Health | Winter 2019

Work and family balance quiz Do you successfully allocate time in your day to do the things you want to do with your family? ☐ ☐ YES NO Can you participate in meaningful activities with family without talking about work? ☐ ☐ YES NO Do you participate in family activities without the gnawing feeling of so much work being left undone? ☐ ☐ YES NO 6 Capital Region Medical Center We all must allocate 24 hours a day to the activities of life. How well we balance responsibilities with doing things we truly enjoy directly affects our quality of life and is part of managing stress. Are you satisfied with your balance of time between work and family? If you answered “no,” you are not alone. Achieving balance with work and family is an ongoing process of juggling responsibilities at work and the needs of family members. These needs change over time. The key to success is stepping back and periodically analyzing how things are going. You can then decide if changes are needed. The result will be enjoying your life more and being in harmony with the things you value most. Take the quiz at right to evaluate your work and family balance. If you answer “no” to any question, check out the 10 steps below to help find more balance with work and family in your life. 10 steps toward balance with work and family 1. See work and family balance as a conscious decision. Work and family don’t “balance” automatically. It’s an ongoing process. Understanding this can reduce frustration and help you gain control. 2. Write down family goals. Family needs change over time. Opportunities to build a tree house for the kids or participate in a new family pastime don’t last forever. Decide what is important, write it down, set a date and make it happen. 3. Stick to your values. Sometimes it’s tough to choose between a family activity and a work activity. Knowing where you stand on your values can make tough choices easier. 4. Recognize that imbalance is sometimes inevitable. It’s important to recognize that jobs and responsibilities are important and sometimes take priority. 5. Revisit your schedule. When your schedule changes, new opportunities may become available to participate in family activities. Take advantage! 6. Recognize the benefits of balance. Balancing work and family has payoffs for children, home relationships and everyone’s future happiness. 7. Manage distractions and procrastination. Working long hours causes stress that sometimes finds relief in workplace distractions and procrastination. If you are at the office for 12 hours, do you really work only 10? If you are searching for more family time, it might be found here. 8. Discuss expectations and responsibilities. When one family member is taking on too many responsibilities at home, resentments can build. HEALTHY LIVING How to balance work and family