Wednesday I got the “dreaded” phone call from my daughter’s daycare. Parents with children can probably relate, the call that informs you that your daughter has a fever and must be picked up immediately and cannot return until she has not had a fever for 24 hours. This phone call always equals frustration and anxiety for me because what it literally translates to is: plan on leaving work early, plan on not being at work tomorrow and possibly the day after, decide if your child must see the doctor and/or find a sitter for the times that you have a previous engagement that you cannot get out of that is occurring in less than 24 hours. Now I know I might have a mild form of obsessive-compulsive behavior, because I like to plan. I specifically like to know how much time I have available to complete my tasks and projects. When that time is snatched away in a manner that is beyond my control, I enter Camp Unhappy.
That evening, after spending my afternoon in Camp Unhappy, I reflected on how I got there and why. Frankly, the result of my reflection is I was disgusted with myself. I was upset because I had to leave work to take care of my baby girl, my bundle of joy that is sick and needs her Mommy. Why did this upset me? Because it disrupted my plans?
The following day I was at the only previous engagement that I needed to be at while my sick little girl was with her Lola (aka Grandma), and I got into a conversation with an individual about generations. Now, conversations about generations are typically a norm for me since it’s been a hot topic lately. Yet this conversation somehow shifted to work-life balance. The individual I was discussing with stated how she respected a particular generation’s views of work-life balance. In particular their ability to let it go… leave work at work and come home and truly “be” with their family. Not just physically home while mentally still working. I believe that there are no coincidences and things happen for a reason, people are placed in your path and say things at specific times for a reason. It’s up to us to be open and ready minded to learn the lesson.
This moment, quite frankly was a slap in the face for me. One large reason I started my business was to have the freedom to create an organization I believe in 100%. Putting family first is a value I instilled within my organization. Here we are a week away from my Grand Opening and I’m already slipping.
Now I ask you, what is your work-life balance situation like? Does it need an adjustment? Perhaps not a major adjustment, just a minor one like mine.
Work-life balance is such a buzzword right now, yet we need to figure out what that means for each of us individually. What I need in my life to maintain my work-life balance is different than what you need. Regardless of what you need, it’s important to get a pulse on what it looks like.
Ask yourself: is there a balance? Is the balance I have the one I am seeking or wanting? How does my current balance align with my priorities?
Sincerely,
