National Work Life Week

Since 2010, National Work Life Week campaigns for employers and employees to consider how to find more balance between their home and work, paying attention to personal wellbeing.  This years’ focus on the 6^th to 10^th October, looks at how we can Flex for All, and how flexible working isn’t just a nice to have, but essential as many of us juggle work, family and community commitments.

Finding balance is something that more and more people are striving for, including me. The concept of life being a seesaw can add excitement at first, but after a while it can make us feel quite queasy and unduly stressed.  Yet the key to finding balance is not perfect equilibrium, but which key areas of our life need more attention.

The starting point to uncovering what balance actually means to you.  For some, it can relate to having more time, improved energy, higher-degrees of happiness, or even less stress.  Once you have clarity on what balance means, you can start to measure are you in balance or not.

A tried and tested coaching favourite is the Wheel of Life.

Step 1
Draw a cross, then cross through again creating 8 equal segments.  Take the word or statement that you want to find more balance in.

Step 2

Now think which areas of your life and / or work do you want to measure it against.  Add these titles to the 8 segments. For instance, you might want to focus on a Personal Balance Wheel of: Money, Career, Health and Fitness, Fun and Recreation, Family and Friends, Personal Development, Partner and Love, Spiritualty.  Or you might want a Professional Balance Wheel of: Career, Potential, Leadership, Working Relationships, Legacy, CPD, Results, Wellbeing.   You can change any of these segment headings to fit into what is important for you.

Step 3

Now give yourself a score from 0 to 10.   This will show which areas are feeling in balance, and which are needing a bit more attention.

Step 4

Think about the evidence, the facts of the situation that make you feel either in or out of balance, and capture your thoughts in each of the segments.

Step 5

Choose one area that you want to improve.  It doesn’t have to be lowest score, but rather the one you believe will have the biggest impact for you. James Clear author of ‘Atomic Habits’ suggests implementing 1% change  – so tiny not huge changes.   And consider, what’s within your power to change.  Give yourself a clear action with a deadline and consider who can support you.

Coaching follows the ACA rule of awareness, choice and action.  Being aware is the starting point to change, then being motivated to consider new choices available, before moving into action.

We are never going to find our lives in perfect balance, yet, what we can strive for is less seesawing of the highs and lows in the key segments of our life.  With greater awareness we can find our own balance, based on what is most important to us and what we are willing and able to do.

We can all become our own life coach and create more balance in our lives, the Wheel of Life will help you stop wobbling and find ways to feel in balance.  And, if you do want a helping hand to help you find balance, then get in touch and ask how we can support your teams to put their life into new and healthier perspectives and balance.