Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Family-Work Equilibrium


Maintaining equilibrium between family and work is critical because these two are opposing influences in life.  Permanent equilibrium is not possible in a short term; it is a continuous process persuaded by ever changing demands of work and family life.  Financial goals, gender responsibilities, lack of time, cultural and family background tends to sway away the equilibrium and one has to work on a tailor-fit solution based on their needs, goals and priorities.



The first step is that one has to be very professional in the work they do.  Starting work a little early will help prioritize the day’s work and deliver it in time.   Never bring family work or worries to the office because a clear mind is mandatory to excel at work.  Prioritizing work at office makes the chance of taking work back home very lean which provides invaluable after-work time to be spent with the family. 

The second step is to prioritize all family responsibilities and make use of the weekends and holidays fulfilling them.  Marriage and parenthood has to be planned.  Sharing of housework and child care among partners is vital for working couples.  Decisions are to be made jointly by the couples to avoid any future confusion.  Equal value has to be given to career goals of both.  Having a weekly schedule is very essential to plan and prioritize the weeks’ work.

Finally, never restrict the way of life too much.  Take a break and go out for a movie, dinner, or a windy drive.  Make sure these breaks do not collapse the equilibrium (a little shaking is fine – it happens).  It is hard to maintain the equilibrium but one will come up with efficient strategies once they start working on it.