Archive for May 26th, 2008

When Juli and I started Voco, we knew that work-life balance needed to be a top priority.  It’s hard to serve your clients with the passion and attention to detail they deserve when you are working 90-hour weeks.  It’s also hard to just step away from the computer, especially when you work at home or at odd hours.

I’m still in the process of achieving the perfect balance, but I think I’m well on my way. Here are seven of the top ways I’ve managed to achieve a relatively sane work-life balance:

1.  Intention, intention, intention: Balance can’t be achieved without getting clear on what you want, how it looks, and why you’re pursuing it in the first place.

2.  Cultivate healthy boundaries: This has become my mantra in both personal and work arenas.  I serve myself and my clients better when I have distinct boundaries as to time, scope of project, and ways in which I am contacted.  This means milestones, deadlines, and clear expectations.

3.  Enforce: It’s not fun to draw a line in the sand.  After all, nobody likes to break out of the “nice guy” mold, even when it means sticking up for yourself.  Still, boundaries are useless without diligent and kind enforcement.

4.  Play: One of the many reasons I quit my corporate job was because there was no sense of passion, fun, or levity.  If I recreate that in my own company, I’m defeating the whole purpose.  I take regular breaks to play, read gossip rags, and joke with my business partner.  This is a non-negotiable part of my job.

5.  Forgive yourself: I joke that I’m a recovering striver.  Years at a top-tier women’s college and with top-tier ambitions will do that to you.  Unfortunately, my perfectionist and people-pleasing tendencies won me a big fat case of anxiety, anger, and self-flagellation.  Today, I try to forgive myself for the long to-do list and my many failures in business.  Work without guilt is one step closer to being in balance.

6.  Disconnect: Everyone has their guilty pleasure.  For me, it’s an afternoon or evening away from the computer with one of my favorite books from childhood.  Add a hot bath, some tea, and the sounds of my partner puttering around the house, and you have a less stressed Erin.  Taking a break from the wired life can seem counter-intuitive when you want to get stuff done, but I’ve found that in the long run it leads to more energy when it’s time to get real.

7.  Re-evaluate and don’t be afraid to tweak: I like to check in with myself when I’m stressed and re-prioritize my to-dos.  I ask myself questions like why does this feel icky?  Is this really necessary?  What can I delegate?  What can I change?  We are all works in progress.  Constant vigilance and some gentle changes can help to keep work-life balance on track.