Martha Dunagin Saunders is a Professor at the University of West Florida, wife, and mother to seven children. In the following article, Martha Saunders discusses the importance of balancing education, work, and family life.
For many Americans, there’s no such thing as clocking out of work.
They may leave a workplace or shut down a work computer, but they often never completely disconnect. Work emails are constantly checked. Work deadlines are on one’s mind when preparing dinner their family.
While most Americans know that maintaining a work-life balance is important,
36% say difficulty balancing personal obligations with work adds to work stress.
Work-life imbalance can lead to everything from strained family relationships to poor mental health. Roughly a quarter of surveyed employees say their employers offer absolutely no support in attempts to balance work responsibilities with family needs.
Martha Saunders of the University of West Florida explains that yet, there are a few common traits shared by those who strike a successful balance between work and family life.
Martha Saunders Paints a Full Picture of the Problem
Responsibilities. Stress. Burnout.
Balancing work and family life is never easy. In fact, it’s often more challenging than not. But It’s not impossible to manage, especially if one takes a deep look within.
Feelings are hard to describe. “Problems,” “stress” and “issues” are all vague. While many working parents can easily say they are stressed, it’s sometimes difficult to pinpoint the exact sources of the stress.
Martha Saunders of the University of West Florida says that self-reflection is a good place to start. Think about what worries are tied to work and which are tied to family. Are there certain thoughts that cloud over work hours or when one is home with family? Are there unique circumstances at work and at home that are creating obstacles to establishing a happy balance between the two?
No two circumstances will be the same. Some people have feelings of resentment, guilt, or hopelessness. Some are angry or physically challenged. Some may determine that they simply don’t have an outlet for their difficult emotions.
Martha Dunagin Saunders says that whatever the case, having a full understanding of one’s obstacles and emotions goes a long way to figuring out the best way to reach a good work-life balance.
Establish Better Time Management
If a person has important work duties and a large family to support, practicing good time management isn’t just a plus — it’s a necessity. For many, that begins with a well-kept calendar outlining work and family events and updated tasks.
Other productive time management strategies include writing to-do lists, prioritizing tasks, establishing a routine, and having a deep understanding of what leads to personal distractions.
Martha Dunagin Saunders also notes that important decisions often need to be made, including limiting work meetings or cutting back work hours if one’s family is not getting the attention they deserve. It may also mean refraining from unproductive multitasking.
Tap into Strengths
Being successful at work requires a unique set of traits and skills, such as being organized, resilience, teamwork, and creativity. Working parents usually
require the same skills to avoid stress, so tapping into those work skills at home is often an overlooked but great approach.
Creative thinking is often key. If work requires last-minute all-night project management or travel, parents can use the same creative thinking to find childcare. Effective workers are unafraid of challenges and know how to make things work. So do parents.
Embrace Self-Care
Martha Dunagin Saunders explains that those with solid work ethics and who prioritize parenting often put the needs and wants of others before themselves. Properly caring for one’s own mental health is an essential part of finding a work-life balance. Sleep and downtime should both be priorities as well as getting regular exercise and eating well.
Other effective strategies include staying connected with friends and family and focusing on positive thoughts and voicing gratitude. When one takes good care of themselves, realistic goals can be set for in and out of the workplace.
Learn When to Disconnect
A work-life imbalance typically occurs when one lets work take precedence over needs in one’s personal life. When a large family is involved, a work schedule should be kept separate from one’s personal schedule.
Martha Dunagin Saunders says that a balanced life comes with learning when to disconnect from work — turning off emails, ignoring phone calls from work, committing to personal projects or downtime, and dedicating full attention to family as soon as one leaves the workplace.
If one works from home, consider having a dedicated separate office space in the home so that when you end the workday, you can close the door to an office instead of just remaining in the living room or kitchen.
