Handling career and family in the digital age comes with new challenges. There are prevailing notions that there is never enough time, things aren't always done to our liking, and we have the intense pressure to do it all. Forget unplugging we are hard-wired now.
And add to that working-parent guilt. I strive to be the best at work and at home, but finding the time to complete everything can result in the dreaded homing from work. The opposite of working from home, this phenomenon seen in 93% of todays professionals, according to research from Captivate Network means completing personal tasks on the employers dime. I know, because not only do I witness it in my team, I also fall into this trap.
To get it all done without impacting company time, here are six vital tips Ive learned from firsthand experience:
1) Harmonize. Balance was a hard word for me to accept, because I enjoy testing limits, exceeding expectations and success. When I started at ACI in 2001, they practiced workplace yoga breaks, which seemed inefficient to me as a salesperson. But fast-forward to today, and I am a regular attendee of the employer-sponsored yoga classes appreciating the exercise and focus it produces. Rather than thinking of work and health being two sides of an equation, allow them to coexist when the opportunity provides itself.
2) Find acceptance. Trying to fit everything in at any cost is not fun. I will always try my best, but that does not mean doing everything. It can be more satisfying to focus on top priorities and let some items go.
3) Be present. I may only have time to attend half of my sons soccer games, but I am present engaged rather than chained to my smartphone or tablet.
4) Organize. Scheduling time to organize tasks can be the least fun part of the job, but is frankly the most important. I utilize family scheduling apps such as Cozi to keep my crew on the same page.
5) Utilize benefits. ACI offers a concierge program for employee and family members. I am a frequent caller, utilizing services to provide me with resources and referrals. Talk to your supervisor or HR department about what benefits, like employee assistance programs, are offered at your workplace.
6) Keep it simple. Stay focused, and acknowledge when you need a sense of completion. There are times that I need to just finish smaller open items in order to feel the sense of accomplishment and lighten my load.
Krehbiel is chief integrated marketing officer at ACI Specialty Benefits.
