stress…in your life

work-life balance

Work-Life “Challenge”

Feeling overloaded with both work Feeling overloaded with both work and family responsibilities is a bigand family responsibilities is a bigstressor for many.stressor for many.

Finding a balance between “paid work” Finding a balance between “paid work” and a personal life has become a and a personal life has become a significant issue for 50% of the laboursignificant issue for 50% of the labourforce, both women and men.force, both women and men.

Employers Agree

In a recent study, nearly 75% of In a recent study, nearly 75% of employersemployers surveyed reported that surveyed reported that employee stress was at least partly employee stress was at least partly related to blending work and personal related to blending work and personal responsibilities.responsibilities.

Does This Story Sound Familiar?

I like my job. I like my job.

There is just no such thing as There is just no such thing as “personal time” in my life!“personal time” in my life!

I have a wonderful family and I have a wonderful family and supportive spouse. But, it feels like supportive spouse. But, it feels like I am stretched to the limit!I am stretched to the limit!

It seems that I never have enough It seems that I never have enough hours in the day to get my work done hours in the day to get my work done and still have time for my family and still have time for my family and friends. and friends.

Don’tDon’t

we allwe all

wishwish we had more we had more

time!time!

Suggestions

Unfortunately, there are still only Unfortunately, there are still only 24 hours in a day!24 hours in a day!

But, there are some things that you But, there are some things that you have some control over to help put have some control over to help put more balance in your life.more balance in your life.

Consider some of the following Consider some of the following suggestions:suggestions:

Suggestions

• It may be the only time that you have to It may be the only time that you have to yourself all day.yourself all day.

1. Use your commute time wisely.

• Try to think of it as a “gift” to yourself.Try to think of it as a “gift” to yourself.

• Use the time to unwind and make the Use the time to unwind and make the mental transition from home to work, mental transition from home to work, and from work to home.and from work to home.

• Listen to relaxing music or audio books.Listen to relaxing music or audio books.

Suggestions

• Make a list of priorities for home and Make a list of priorities for home and a list for work.a list for work.

2. Set priorities…and stick to them.

• Little stuff can eat away at your whole Little stuff can eat away at your whole day before you even notice.day before you even notice.

• You’ll have less stress if you get the You’ll have less stress if you get the important things done first.important things done first.

Suggestions

• Keep a chores list on the fridge for the Keep a chores list on the fridge for the whole family with names assigned.whole family with names assigned.

3. Share the workload at home.

• Try to make meal preparation fun; Try to make meal preparation fun; include your children and turn on some include your children and turn on some

lively music - dance and sing together.lively music - dance and sing together.

• Hire a reliable teenager from your Hire a reliable teenager from your neighbourhood to “take some of the neighbourhood to “take some of the edge off” of doing some household edge off” of doing some household chores (folding laundry, raking leaves, chores (folding laundry, raking leaves,

doing dishes, etc.)doing dishes, etc.)

Suggestions

• Each week plan 2-3 meals. This will Each week plan 2-3 meals. This will save much time and grief when it save much time and grief when it comes to preparing a meal at the end comes to preparing a meal at the end of the work day!of the work day!

4. Plan meals ahead.

• Keep your cupboards, fridge and freezer Keep your cupboards, fridge and freezer well-stocked with meal supplies for well-stocked with meal supplies for

those frenzied or “grab and go” meals.those frenzied or “grab and go” meals.

• Remember, even take-out or drive-thru Remember, even take-out or drive-thru meals take time, often as much time as meals take time, often as much time as making a quick meal at home.making a quick meal at home.

Suggestions

• Find activities that you can do as a Find activities that you can do as a family. Include physical activities like family. Include physical activities like skating and rollerblading, cycling or skating and rollerblading, cycling or going on hikes.going on hikes.

5. Set time aside for fun and relaxation.

• Plan regular “dates” with your spouse Plan regular “dates” with your spouse or partner. Spend time together by or partner. Spend time together by

doing something you both enjoy like doing something you both enjoy like going out for dinner or taking a walk going out for dinner or taking a walk in in the park or on a walking trail.the park or on a walking trail.

• Don’t forget to include some Don’t forget to include some ““personal time” for your own personal time” for your own hobbies or activities.hobbies or activities.

Suggestions

• If you are the employee, speak out when If you are the employee, speak out when you are overloaded. Ask for help or you are overloaded. Ask for help or

negotiate more realistic expectations.negotiate more realistic expectations.

6. Monitor your workload.

• If you are the supervisor, learn how to If you are the supervisor, learn how to delegate more effectively. Don’t try to delegate more effectively. Don’t try to do the work of your employees.do the work of your employees.

Self-Learning Quiz

Work-life balance issues have become Work-life balance issues have become a significant problem for both men a significant problem for both men and women. (true or false)and women. (true or false)

Questions

Setting priorities will allow you to get Setting priorities will allow you to get all of the things done that you want in all of the things done that you want in a day. (true or false)a day. (true or false)

Identify at least 2 ways that you can Identify at least 2 ways that you can share the workload at home.share the workload at home.

?

Answers for Self-Learning Quiz

TrueTrue

In the past, finding a balance between In the past, finding a balance between work and personal life was more of work and personal life was more of an issue for women. However, in the an issue for women. However, in the last 5-10 years, men are increasingly last 5-10 years, men are increasingly being challenged to find a work-life being challenged to find a work-life balance in their lives.balance in their lives.

AQ1: Work-life balance issues have become

a significant problem for both men and women. (true or false)

Answers for Self-Learning Quiz

FalseFalse

Setting priorities will help you get Setting priorities will help you get the most important things done in the most important things done in a day but you probably won’t be a day but you probably won’t be able to get everything done that able to get everything done that you want to. That would probably you want to. That would probably take a miracle for most of us!take a miracle for most of us!

Q2: Setting priorities will allow you to get all of the things done that you want in a day. (true or false) A

Answers for Self-Learning Quiz

Keep a chores list on the fridge for Keep a chores list on the fridge for the whole family. Make sure that the whole family. Make sure that names are assigned to each task.names are assigned to each task.

Q3: Identify at least 2 ways that you can share the workload at home.

Try to make meal preparation fun; Try to make meal preparation fun; include your children and turn on include your children and turn on some lively music - dance and sing some lively music - dance and sing around the kitchen as you prepare around the kitchen as you prepare your meals.your meals.

Hire a reliable teenager from your Hire a reliable teenager from your neighbourhood to “take some of the neighbourhood to “take some of the edge off” of doing some household edge off” of doing some household chores.chores.

A

For more information on For more information on Stress Management, contact the Stress Management, contact the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Windsor-Essex County Health Unit 258-2146 x 3100. Ask for the latest 258-2146 x 3100. Ask for the latest brochure and newsletter from brochure and newsletter from Live Better. Live Longer.Live Better. Live Longer. Workplace Workplace Health Promotion Program.Health Promotion Program.

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