Beyond "Work-Life Balance"

As midlife women, we've been conditioned to seek the elusive "work-life balance." But this notion is outdated and fails to capture our multidimensional realities.

Our lives interweave varied roles - as leaders, mothers, caregivers, partners, and more. The metaphor of "balance" suggests a scale weighing two distinct parts. The phrase 'work-life balance' makes it sound like there's ' work' and then 'everything else' in our lives.?

That life consists of only two components.

It's like saying life is only black and white when it has many colors. Our experiences are far richer and more complex.

Our lives encompass many interwoven facets: our careers, family roles, relationships, health, finances, community involvement, personal growth, and more. We may be business owners, mothers, caregivers, partners, friends, volunteers, and much more.

Rather than balance, we need harmony - where each sphere complements the others like notes in a beautiful melody. We can thoughtfully orchestrate days that allow us to show up fully in every realm aligned with our core values.

Unfair Expectations

Society still imposes outdated expectations on midlife women seeking balance, such as:

- Being available 24/7 for work matters, even with caretaking duties

- Never saying no to additional responsibilities

- Putting job before personal life always

These norms ignore our realities. We may need to leave work for family needs or attend a school event over office time.

Meeting every expectation perfectly is unrealistic. Progress, not perfection, is the goal.

Thriving on our terms is the real success.

Overcoming Outdated Myths

Seeking reinvented equilibrium can feel daunting amidst pressures from societal myths, like:

Myth: "If I focus on balance, I'll have to scale back my career goals."

Reality: Intentional balance boosts efficiency, creativity, and focus. You can thrive career-wise without sacrifice.

Myth: "Seeking balance means I'm not serious about my work."

Reality: Going for a more balanced life demonstrates maturity, and self-awareness, and enables sustained excellence.

Myth: "I don't have time for self-care with my workload."

Reality: You can't pour from an empty cup. Small intentional self-care moments boost the capacity to meet demands.

Crafting Harmony

Here are strategies to reinvent work-life balance on your terms:

Manage transitions by protecting your time for recharging and organizing tasks through activities like exercise or hobbies.

Honor your needs through creative expression [art, writing, music...gotta love those coloring books!], celebrating achievements in all spheres, and reframing beliefs around success.

Practice understanding by having open conversations about shifting priorities and connecting with people you know, like, and trust.

Build resilience through mindfulness, breaking goals into smaller steps, and focusing on the present.

Your Time is Now

The new year offers a chance to hit refresh and thoughtfully design the life you love. Set up a call to discuss my exclusive Next Steps for 2024 to make next year your most transformative year yet.

With personalized 1-on-1 mentorship, I'll guide you to clearly define your big goals for next year and build an actionable plan. You'll gain the mindset, courage, and tools needed to step fully into your potential.

The timing couldn't be better to define your trajectory for next year and beyond. Are you ready? Go to HERE .