Juggling your Career and Personal Life: The Meaning of Work-Life Balance

Admit it – we’ve all been there. The feeling of being torn apart by our responsibilities at work and finding time for ourselves and for our families. The hesitation in speaking up at work so that we are not considered “bossy”, the guilt that holds us back from asking for a higher raise, or even time off from work, and the doubt about whether we have done enough to be truly indispensable to our organizations.

However, as challenging as it may seem, a work-life balance is essential for a fulfilling career, and we cannot have one without the other. From deadlines, meetings and presentations to household chores, precious “me” time, and quality time with the family, here’s how we can make time for it all:

Love thy work: While this one seems obvious, many of us get stuck in a rut because we stop enjoying our work. When we fail to convince ourselves that the work we do is truly meaningful and purposeful, it becomes all the more difficult to experience a sense of satisfaction. It’s a sign that we need to switch it up – explore different responsibilities at the current role, switch to a different team or function within the organization, or maybe, even look for another job.

Get organized: Juggling many tasks at once can increase the likelihood of dropping the ball occasionally. It’s good to take the help of organizers and task managers like Evernote or Google Keep to note all to-do’s for a day or week to prevent getting overwhelmed and being all over the place. The satisfaction of crossing items off a list makes this all the more enjoyable!

It can take some time to get used to this, as Yaminie Patodia, Head – Agency Business (Revenue) at Hotstar, has realized. According to her, “Balance, to me, hasn't come on an everyday basis. It's what I think I achieve, retrospectively, over a longer period. At a time, I give my 100% to a project: whether that's something at work, kids at home or my health.  Also, seeking balance has made me far more efficient and better at prioritizing."

Always make room for some “me” time: Every weekend need not be spent the same way – whether it’s catching up on household chores, restocking the fridge or hanging out with friends. Find some time to pamper yourself too – book an appointment at the spa or the salon, curl up with a book, or go shopping alone. Spending time by yourself will help you collect your thoughts and quiet your mind.

Take it easy: Most of us women end up being our harshest judges. We’ll go easy on our friends, loved ones, and even people we don’t quite like. But when we look at ourselves, we can be quite cruel with highlighting our own flaws. It’s ok to not be perfect – even a diamond sparkles through its flaws. Even when things don’t go our way, it is important to remember our strengths and have faith in our abilities to succeed when we try again, instead of losing hope.

Namita Chitnis, Marketing Manager at Hopscotch.in, learned the importance of work-life balance over time, "A focused approach helps me to fulfil my work and family responsibilities simultaneously. When I am at work my priority is my work. I leave behind all personal worries. I complete important tasks at work and unimportant or lesser important tasks during travel. When I am at home, I am completely a family person."

We welcome your ideas on how you ensure a balance between your professional and personal lives. Let us know what works for you, so we can support more women maintain their confidence.