Balancing Work and Life

For the most part, after 35 years in the workforce, I am able to say I have a pretty good work-life balance. First of all, it has been a process and didn't start out easy. With time life has become much more simple. Children growing up and living on their own has definitely simplified life. I remember back when my children were little and trying to balance getting them to school on time, work responsibilities, after-school activities, and a husband was difficult. At this stage in my life, things are much more relaxed and simple. After twenty years of

working 7 minutes from my home, I took a job working an hour's drive from home. At first, I wasn't sure how this would affect my mental health. I have found that I enjoy both my hour drive to work and my hour drive home and have found this to be the most beneficial part of my day. I mentally prepare for the day ahead on my way to work. I use this time to self-reflect and for prayer. I also have a dear friend from college that also drives to work at the same time and I sometimes call to discuss problems or just life. I am able to plan my day and mentally prepare for a busy day. Each afternoon on my drive, I take care of returning calls both personal and business and I talk to my children and grandchildren, whom all live out of state on the phone. Every other day, I have a 90-minute planning session at school and I find having this time to totally focus on school helps me to stay organized with grades and lesson planning. Every other day I have a 90-minute planning right after lunch. I use this time to focus on the school spay/neuter clinic and work with the shelter. I used this time to make sure students are completing the task to be ready for surgery days, to order supplies and drugs, and to discuss specific animals at the shelter. Early on in my marriage my husband and I agreed that we would set guidelines to help us manage our family time. First, we said that Sunday morning and Wednesday evening would always be devoted to church and our church family and that Sunday afternoons would be for resting and family time. We have stood firm on these boundaries and have been better for it. We both know that these are times we just do not compromise on and over the years everyone else has figured this out too. Another important management tool I have used is to set a firm schedule for going to bed. I stop taking phone calls and messages at 8 pm and will be getting ready for bed by 9 pm. Being raised on a farm, the animals' health always took priority over anything else. So to say I have missed church, work, or school to assist a ewe at her first lambing is true. Those emergencies were the only ones that took precedence over church, family time, or work. So, I do think work-life balance is attainable but just know it didn't start out easy. My advice would be to set a few boundaries and stick to those. Know that emergencies will always crop up and be forgiving when they do. The only advice I would have about communicating those boundaries is to state the things that are non-negotiable from the very beginning if possible. Also, I wouldn't have an overabundance of them. When you take the job - say working on Sundays is non-negotiable except in the most extreme emergencies - give clear examples. If you are working, set a time to talk with your employers about new boundaries. Explain it is for your mental health and why it is important- (for your children, your husband, or aging parents). I have never had anyone whom I discussed these boundaries with give me any trouble. I would also provide an alternative to working on Sundays. For example - Working on Sundays is not an option but just know that I am willing to come in on Saturdays or stay late throughout the week as needed. That just shows that you are a team player and willing to do your part in other ways. You can't have boundaries about everything or your co-workers will start to resent you for it. That is no fun! I lived that once and ended up leaving a job that I loved.

In my current job, my principal had a strict rule of not wearing leggings to school. I am very short and wear dresses most of the time. I have trouble finding pants short enough for me. I went to her and explained why leggings were a big deal to me. She is over 6 ft tall and has never had issues finding pants that were short enough. The problem had never occurred to her. She was understanding and said girl put those leggings on and get to school. So mostly, it is about open communication.