Balancing Work and Family

Feeling balanced is an inner state, not an external one, and it’s an ongoing process, rather than a destination. It is the experience of feeling calm, grounded, clear headed, and motivated. People can feel balanced in busy seasons and slow seasons.

The process of seeking balance is about paying attention to yourself, adjusting your expectations, and making changes to your boundaries, schedule, and goals when needed.

This worksheet is designed to help you assess your current work-life balance and plan for necessary changes.

Explore

Set aside time and space to pay attention to and explore your life. Practice curiosity toward what is occupying your time, thoughts, emotions, and energy.

Your body will let you know when you feel internally unbalanced. Here’s a list of common signs to look for:

• Sleep issues, Overeating, Less energy, Forgetful, Shortened temper, Less motivation
• Feelings of defensiveness when others talk about things they enjoy
• Can’t get over a cold or getting sick several times in a row
• Feelings of uneasiness/unsettledness, struggling to stay present with others

Examine

Dig deeper into areas of your life that feel tense, off balance, exhausting or heavy.

What areas of your life are you currently neglecting?

What relationships feel particularly draining or exhausting?

What part of your day is the hardest for you?

What are your top stressors in life right now?

Set Goals

Consider how you can make adjustments, say no, or reprioritize in different areas of your life to feel more balanced. Create SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound.

Plan Small Tasks

Break your goals down into actionable steps that are realistic and achievable. These are tasks that you can do today or in the next few days to start to make progress toward each of your goals.

Prepare and Support

It’s important to prepare yourself by identifying potential obstacles and inviting others to support your progress. One of the most effective ways to identify potential obstacles is to spend time visualizing yourself taking the necessary steps toward your goal and exploring what might stall or prevent each step.