Is work interfering with your personal life?  Are family issues creeping into your work day?  Today’s workers are increasingly faced with the dilemma of balancing their professional and personal commitments.   The line between work and personal time is often blurry.  New technologies (such as cell phones, e-mail, laptop computers) allow better accessibility outside of normal work hours; most tasks previously dedicated to the office can now be done outside the office walls.  One in 5 workers report that they engage in work activities while on vacation.

Organizations are charged with doing more in less time with fewer people which increases the pressure on their employees.  The 40-hour work week may not be adequate for accomplishing all the required tasks.  A recent survey by Robert Half International suggests that the benefit employees value the most is a flexible schedule allowing them opportunities to better meet demands. 

Work-life balance involves aligning your work and life roles with your priorities and values.  This balance is individual and is rarely a 50/50 split.  Try these suggestions for achieving a better balance in your life:

• Consider your options  Attempt to negotiate a different work schedule with your current employer.  A compressed schedule or part-time hours may free up valuable time.  A new position may be a better alternative; consider pursing a career that is more flexible and less stressful.

• Budget your time  Schedule personal and business commitments on the same calendar to avoid overbooking.  Allow time between meetings and at the end of the day to recharge.  Plan your time off the same way you plan your work week; schedule fun!

• Get focused  Control the interruptions and distractions.  Schedule blocks of time to work on projects when you are not to be disturbed by co-workers.  Make your time away from the office free from the demands of work. 

• Set priorities  Differentiate between work that is high priority and low value.  Develop a list of tasks that must be accomplished each day.  Set aside time for unexpected events.  Delegate responsibilities when you can instead of trying to do everything yourself. 

A healthy balance will create more satisfaction and success.  It is possible to reach your professional goals without sacrificing your personal life.  Balancing work and family is about having and doing the most you can – and enjoying yourself in the process. 

A recent CareerBuilder.com national consumer employment survey reveals nearly four out of five U.S. workers (84 percent) are not currently in their dream job. Police and firefighters reported the highest incident of feeling they have their dream jobs (35%). They are followed closely by teachers (32%), real estate professionals (28%) and engineers (25%).  Those in travel and nurses also ranked near the top at 22 percent and 18 percent respectively.  Those sectors with the least number of workers feeling they have their dream jobs include accommodations/food services (9%), manufacturing (9%) and retail (10%).  Do you need help in pursuing your Dream Job? The Career Exploration Office can help.  Contact us at 614-292-3503, 292-8493 or careerexploration@osu.edu.

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Career Exploration Office, 152 Mount Hall, 1050 Carmack Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1002
(614) 292-8493 or (614) 292-3503, www.careers.ohiostatealumni.org, e-mail: careerexploration@osu.edu.