Given the current situation, it seems like most of us will be stuck in our homes for a little longer. This thins the boundary between work and play, challenging us with a new goal. This is to strive to have work-life balance and minimize work-life conflict.
Another challenge for these trying times is the importance of learning how to integrate. For the longest time, we have been living such fragmented lives that push us to keep our different priorities in neatly organized boxes. This time, we have to be able to make our roles fit into a coherent whole. This calls us to make connections with our family because they, instead of colleagues, are who will be with us at home.
Let your child understand your current work set-up. Be open to your children. Allow them to understand that work dynamics have also changed. Most of our lives will be spent digitally so they, too, should be able to recognize Mommy and Daddy’s work time from bonding time. Our lives are simply different during this pandemic, so also take the time to consider the following:
Slow down: How do you treat yourself when you aren’t able to finish every single task in your to-do list? I hope you merit the same level of kindness and understanding that you try to give other people. Take the time to appreciate the process no matter how grueling. You’ll be surprised by how much there is to appreciate.
Self-care: What have you done for yourself? Free yourself from the mindset that you are too busy to spend time loving your own body. Caring for yourself will better enable you to look after your loved ones. It is a win-win situation!
Schedule: Manage your time well and get rid of the notion that you cannot say no. Learn your personal parameters. How far can you go in extending all your “yeses”? How far can you go with your “no”?
Say no: Don’t require yourself to do it all. Don’t take on all the burden and the load. Delegate and share. You don’t have to be responsible for everything.
Simplify your lifestyle: We are humans and we are programmed for single-tasking. Do things one at a time. Stop trying to juggle so many tasks at once.
Set boundaries: You don’t need to bend yourself every time. Set and respect time limits. If you wish to begin work at 8 in the morning, then so be it. Fight the urge to answer calls or scroll through your email before this time. If you wish to go to bed at 9 pm at night, then quit working by then. Don’t be a slave to your schedule. Don’t spread yourself too thin.
Sensing and breathing: Drink your coffee. Take sips. Savor. Indulge in your senses. Do things that bring you joy. Do things that tickle your senses and make you appreciate life a little bit more. Stop rushing. Stop and smell the flowers.
Self-talk: The world is harsh enough. Everything outside is difficult. The world sometimes feels like it’s on your shoulders. So be your own cheerleader and not another nagging voice. Be okay with telling yourself, “This may not be the best day but it’s okay!” Aim for progress and not perfection.
Share the load: Share chores with your family. Quit wanting to do everything by yourself. Become a better team player because by doing so, you’re loving yourself better and fostering better relations with family by also giving them a sense of responsibility. Say no to a few and say yes to you!
Managing work-life conflict takes a good amount of self-reflection, restraint from over-functioning, and a lot of self-love. Like most things, it starts with us. The faster we learn how to love ourselves and recognize our personal needs, the better do we also understand those of other people. If we manage to balance our work and life, we minimize conflict in our lives and maximize the benefit that this new chapter of life brings. – WITH PAU DE VERA
Image by Anrita1705 from Pixabay