Photo by suttonhoo
In the spirit of keeping ourselves informed and gaining new perspectives, here are some more results from the survey we conducted about work-life balance prior to launching this blog. As described in the first summary of results, one thing that particularly stood out to us was that, despite the many challenges balancing roles presents, we keep at it. The benefits apparently outweigh the costs. But how do we do it? Here are some of the things we found:
:: When the juggle of work and life roles seems overwhelming, we tend to rely on support from friends, a spouse/partner, and extended family the most. God/church/religious faith, self-reflection (e.g., meditation, prayer, journaling), exercise, and hobbies/self-care were used less frequently than the individuals noted above, but were mentioned as also being important. And lastly, children, pets, and co-workers were indicated to be the least relied upon resources. What was especially interesting to me was that out of all the survey respondents, only 2% mentioned co-workers as a support resource. Why are we not using work-related resources for support? What else are we potentially missing?
:: A question related to expectations about balancing work and life roles and how those expectations are realized revealed three categories of responses: (1) “It is harder than expected”; (2) “It is better than expected,” and (3) “I had no expectations prior to taking on multiple roles.”
- Those in category 1 identified struggles related to limited time (not a surprise to any of us in the juggle, I’m sure!), fatigue, and guilt about not being able to give 100% to all roles. In addition, several respondents indicated that their expectations about how much support they would receive, especially from a spouse or partner, were not realized. Perhaps asking for help is a difficulty that many of us face.
- Those in category 2 gave a lot of examples of foregoing perfection and maintaining flexibility in order to find balance. Several respondents said that they have had to give up things in order to make their lives work, but they stressed the belief that if they were able to give it up, it must not have been a priority in the first place. Sometimes constraints on our time and resources force us to make choices and re-focus on those things that are most important to us. In addition, many people indicated that they believe they are better at one role or another because of their multiple involvements. Again, the enrichment of the various activities and responsibilities stood out.
- The 3rd category of responses suggested that perhaps the lack of expectations was also related to a lack of planning. For some, that has apparently led to a sense of imbalance. For others, a sense that the flexibility of life and changes inherent in living it means that expectations are of little use. Perhaps a balance (pardon the pun!) between the two views is the most helpful. Maybe some planning and expectations about how to handle life’s responsibilities can provide a sense of control and balance… while on the flip-side, maintaining flexibility within those expectations in order to adapt to changes allows one to feel balanced even when things are not working out as planned. Afterall, changes to our original plan can be a very good thing!
:: When we asked about what readers of :simple:balance: would like to learn more about, it was apparent from many respondents that gathering multiple viewpoints and hearing from individuals with different life situations would be most beneficial. We are attempting to provide that via various guest writers about many different topics. But we realize that it would also be beneficial to you readers to hear from each other. So, take this opportunity to share some of your insights and post some of your own questions. Join us on the journey of seeking answers to finding simple balance.
:: When the juggle of work and life roles seems overwhelming, we tend to rely on support from friends, a spouse/partner, and extended family the most. God/church/religious faith, self-reflection (e.g., meditation, prayer, journaling), exercise, and hobbies/self-care were used less frequently than the individuals noted above, but were mentioned as also being important. And lastly, children, pets, and co-workers were indicated to be the least relied upon resources. What was especially interesting to me was that out of all the survey respondents, only 2% mentioned co-workers as a support resource. Why are we not using work-related resources for support? What else are we potentially missing?
:: A question related to expectations about balancing work and life roles and how those expectations are realized revealed three categories of responses: (1) “It is harder than expected”; (2) “It is better than expected,” and (3) “I had no expectations prior to taking on multiple roles.”
- Those in category 1 identified struggles related to limited time (not a surprise to any of us in the juggle, I’m sure!), fatigue, and guilt about not being able to give 100% to all roles. In addition, several respondents indicated that their expectations about how much support they would receive, especially from a spouse or partner, were not realized. Perhaps asking for help is a difficulty that many of us face.
- Those in category 2 gave a lot of examples of foregoing perfection and maintaining flexibility in order to find balance. Several respondents said that they have had to give up things in order to make their lives work, but they stressed the belief that if they were able to give it up, it must not have been a priority in the first place. Sometimes constraints on our time and resources force us to make choices and re-focus on those things that are most important to us. In addition, many people indicated that they believe they are better at one role or another because of their multiple involvements. Again, the enrichment of the various activities and responsibilities stood out.
- The 3rd category of responses suggested that perhaps the lack of expectations was also related to a lack of planning. For some, that has apparently led to a sense of imbalance. For others, a sense that the flexibility of life and changes inherent in living it means that expectations are of little use. Perhaps a balance (pardon the pun!) between the two views is the most helpful. Maybe some planning and expectations about how to handle life’s responsibilities can provide a sense of control and balance… while on the flip-side, maintaining flexibility within those expectations in order to adapt to changes allows one to feel balanced even when things are not working out as planned. Afterall, changes to our original plan can be a very good thing!
:: When we asked about what readers of :simple:balance: would like to learn more about, it was apparent from many respondents that gathering multiple viewpoints and hearing from individuals with different life situations would be most beneficial. We are attempting to provide that via various guest writers about many different topics. But we realize that it would also be beneficial to you readers to hear from each other. So, take this opportunity to share some of your insights and post some of your own questions. Join us on the journey of seeking answers to finding simple balance.
Photo by Shira Golding
What do you think about the results summarized above?
Which category of responses to the question about expectations would you fall into? Why?
Do you use work-related resources for support? If so, how?
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