7. Wheel Of Life Please plot on a scale of 1- 10 where 1 is dissatisfied and where 10 is completely satisfied www.transitionslifecoaching.co.uk/resources.php
8. How Do Others Do It? 10 10 Nine-day fortnight 18 17 Annualised hours 26 14 Term-time-only working 20 21 Working from home 34 23 Job sharing 52 49 Variable working hours (coming in/leaving late or early) 71 38 Working part-time (602) (591) Base: All full/part-time workers Female % Male % Gender
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13. What are the benefits for the SI Team if we all have good work-life balance?
Slow Down. Life is simply too short, so don't let things pass you in a blur. Take steps to stop and enjoy the things and people around you. Schedule more time between meetings; don't make plans for every evening or weekend, and find some ways to distance yourself from the things that are causing you the most stress. Learn to Better Manage Your Time. Avoid Procrastination. For many people, most of the stress they feel comes from simply being disorganized -- and procrastinating. Learn to set more realistic goals and deadlines -- and then stick to them. You'll find that not only are you less stressed, but your work will be better. Take Charge. Set Priorities. Sometimes it's easier for us to allow ourselves to feel overwhelmed rather than taking charge and developing a prioritized list of things that need to get done. You need to buck the trend. Develop a list. Set priorities. And then enjoy the satisfaction of crossing things off your list. Let Things Go. (Don't Sweat the Small Stuff.) It's simpler said than done, but learn to let things go once in a while. So what if the dishes don't washed everyday or that the house doesn't get vacuumed every week. Learn to recognize the things that don't really have much impact in your life and allow yourself to let them go -- and then not beat yourself up for doing so. Focus on outcomes. Measure your performance by what you achieve – don’t stay late for the sake of it. “It could be that you can do [your work] in 35 hours and your colleague takes 50, ” says Flade. “It’s the quality of the work that counts.” Overell: “Graduates are often pushed very hard and it’s intoxicating to be in that elite group. But retain a sense of perspective.” Sharpen your skills. “Take advantage of every training opportunity – you’ll improve your skills and find ways to become more efficient,” Williams says.
Share the Load. Even though we may sometimes feel we're the only ones capable of doing something, it's usually not the case. Get your partner or other family members to help you with all your personal/family responsibilities. Taking care of the household, children, or parents should not be the responsibility of just one person. Say “no” positively. “If you take on too much, [then] you can’t deliver on it well, it eats away at you and you let people down,” Flade says. “Saying ‘no’ is better for your clients, colleagues, and family.” Overell agrees. “Everyone has the urge to please, especially younger workers. But you get more respect by saying ‘no’ than saying ‘yes’.”
Explore Your Options. Get Help. If you are feeling overwhelmed with your family responsibilities, please get help if you can afford it. Find a sitter for your children, explore options for aging parents, and seek counselling for yourself. In many cases, you have options, but you need to take the time to find them. Look after yourself. Sleep and diet are often the first casualties when work becomes too much. “Consistently working long hours is not good for you,” Overall says. “Stress can lead to mental health problems and heart disease.” Don’t neglect your friends. Working relationships can lead to lasting friendships, but more often than not they fade when people move on. “It’s very easy to let workmates become proxy for friends and family,” Overall says. “But it’s a superficial network and needs to be checked.” Talk to someone. If you’re feeling stressed, say something early, Williams advises. “Don’t wait until you’re cracking up and your work is hopelessly behind.” Usually your line manager is the best person to approach, he says. Take time out. “Some people go to the gym at lunchtime, others go out for a walk,” Williams says. “A break will make you more productive and prevent that 3 o’clock output slump.” Work is not the enemy. “Work can be a huge source of wellbeing,” says Flade, who puts in 60-hour weeks but refuses to own a BlackBerry and never works at weekends. “There’s a huge difference between being busy and being stressed,” Williams says.