Jennifer* has been achieving work-life integration since before we were all talking as much about it. I met Jennifer shortly before she left a corporate job in order to go out on her own. It was a gutsy move. At a time when lots of us were focused on serving the corporate lattice, Jennifer started her own venture.

Get the Ratio Right

Jennifer defines work-life integration as blending. For her it’s about the right ratios at the right times. The right mix of work compared with everything else has shifted over the years as she’s had kids, as they’ve grown through stages, and as her own life evolves. She likes the idea that “you can have it all, just not all at once”** because it speaks to the idea of dialing up and down depending on where you are in your career and your life.

Be Aware

Jennifer says that for leaders, it’s all about awareness. Leaders can help employees achieve work-life integration by being aware. The leader who avoids calling an impromptu meeting at 4:45pm for the mom or dad who has to leave at 5:55pm to do the daycare dash is an important part of successful work-life integration. Jennifer worked with leaders many years ago who implemented dedicated mothers’ rooms based on her recommendation. They were willing to listen, understand, and make changes in the facility to support moms. Jennifer spoke up, took the initiative when she saw a need, and united other moms in the effort. In the process, she helped lots of women beyond herself.

From Jennifer’s story, we learn that our own self-awareness is important as well. Jennifer recently realized that she was spending more time on her tablet than she preferred. She took an innovative approach. After identifying the habit she wanted to break (time on her tablet), she determined her triggers and the places in her home where she was taking that time. She posted little signs in those zones that said “Is this the best use of your time?” The signs reminded her of her patterns and she was able to break them in favor of spending more time with her family instead.

Finding the Mute Button

Over the years, Jennifer figured out how to blend her family and her professional activities. She used to participate on conference calls for the board of her alumni association. She would put the phone on mute when her son was a gurgling baby (this worked well, she says until she forgot to mute and was baby-talking with the other directors at the meeting). As the children grew up, she involved her family in setting up the room when she was responsible for training and development. At first, her son and daughter (now 14 and 11) would play in the room while she and her husband set up. Later, the kids would help set out pencils or roll chairs into the right spots for the table configuration. “It’s all about finding creative ways to blend work with family,” Jennifer says.

Manage the Boundary

For those who are self-employed, managing the spillover between work and life may be especially challenging. The passion and ideas for your work never stop and it can be tricky to turn off. What advice would Jennifer give others? Make time for yourself. Realize what you need to succeed and protect boundaries make this happen. No one is going to set your boundaries for you, so you have to be your own advocate.

 

*Jennifer Miller is a Leadership Development Consultant, Writer, Huffington Post Blogger, and Founder of the People Equation Press.

**Oprah said this.

 

Would you like to tell your story? If so, let me know by emailing me at tbrower108@gmail.com. Why? One of the foundations of Bringing Work to Life is abundance: the idea that it is possible to find fulfillment, have it all, and avoid the trade-offs between work and life. After all, work and life aren’t separate things to be placed in containers, but part of an integrated whole of a satisfying life. Another foundation of Bringing Work to Life is the idea of multiple right answers. As we’re all seeking ways to bring work to life – and bring life to work – we can learn from each other’s unique solutions and stories. I’d love to learn about your story! 

Tracy Brower is the author of Bring Work to Life by Bringing Life to Work: A Guide for Leaders and Organizations.