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Achieving Work-life Balance
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After you think through your feelings about work, consider the other important aspects of your life. How do you balance family, finances, hobbies/interests, community, fitness and spirituality? If these areas are developed, the more likely you are to be successful in your quest for a fulfilling work life. An awareness of your passions outside of work can greatly inform a career change.
Consider these issues:
Who are the significant people in your life? If there aren't any, would you like to change that? Describe your vision for a happy "family" life. This means different things to different people.
Establishing and pursuing financial goals are important for everyone, however, they are especially important if you are unhappy in your job.
An active savings and investment plan can allow you to generate and pursue creative options or alter your course.
Having a clear view of what you like to do in your free time, including vacations, can help you articulate your work/life goals.
What do you do contribute to your community? If you are not actively involved in your community, why not? How can you become more involved?
Where does fitness fit into your life? Do you have a fitness plan?
This means something different to everyone and it is very personal. However, it is an important factor to consider.
Having a balance across these dimensions can be a wonderful antidote to work-related stress. Are you on a trajectory with these critical elements that make you feel good? If not, try identifying steps you can take to do something about it. Try to envision how you would like things to be, then develop a strategy for achieving these goals.
Lynn Friedman, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist/psychoanalyst and work-life consultant in full-time, private practice near the Bethesda metro. She is on the adjunct faculty in the Organizational Development-Human Resource program at Johns Hopkins. More of her work can be found on http:/
