Work-Life Balance? 6 Ways to Feel Free
Every CPA desires to find that ever-elusive work-life balance. Here’s how to start.
By Renee Beckman, CPA | Digital Exclusive - 2018
What’s interesting is the fact that work-life balance tends to mean different things to different people. Working less than 60 hours a week would be a start! But for the more self- and family-focused, we might be talking flexible work hours, telecommuting opportunities, more vacation time, professional sabbaticals, allocating normal business hours to personal things, such as taking kids to after-school activities, and being given time to volunteer.
In the past, the issue of work-life balance was centered on working parents who were viewed as having two full-time jobs, one at the office and the other at home. Today, however, regardless of age, gender or parental status, employees want work-life balance—period.
So, how do you get it? Honestly, it comes down to better time management.
1. Plan. As the old adage goes, “Fail to plan, plan to fail.” Write a to-do list, putting the most important tasks at the top. Keep a schedule of your daily activities to minimize conflicts and last-minute rushes that can keep you at the office. Try blocking out time on your Outlook calendar. And remember, all work and no play … well, you know. Pick one day a week when you leave the office on time and spend the rest of the day recharging your batteries—pursue a hobby, work on a personal project or schedule time with someone important in your life.
2. Prioritize. Prioritizing ensures you spend your time and energy on the tasks that are truly important. However, your priorities may not be what others in the organization think they should be, so take some time to align goals. Pick only three main tasks to be accomplished every day and I guarantee you’ll end up feeling less overwhelmed and more productive.
3. Drop time-stealers. How many times a week does a colleague corner you for some gossip? How long do you spend on social media? Take back control of how you spend your time.
4. Turn off email. Email is a necessary evil in today’s business world, but if you don’t manage it effectively, you’ll spend your whole day clicking ‘Send.’ You could argue that I should have included email in tip No. 3, but I think it deserves a category all its own. Manage email like you would any other project. Don’t allow yourself to be distracted because a juicy email floats in and teases you for attention. Do yourself a favor and turn off your email until you’re ready to tackle it.
5. Say "no" to non-essentials. Assess your goals and your schedule before agreeing to take on additional work. Whether it’s a coworker asking you to spearhead an extra project or your child’s teacher asking you to organize a class party, remember it’s OK to respectfully say no.
6. Delegate. My business partner and I often talk about delegation. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, assess what you can downshift to someone with more time on their hands. Devote your attention to the things you’re an expert in and delegate the rest. The same goes for at home. Got a teenager at home? Ask them to paint the house, cut the grass, organize closets, or do some spring cleaning.
Theorists surmise that technology is the main driver behind the work-life imbalance epidemic. Being ‘always on’ certainly has its downsides, but we’re also being pushed to do more with less for the sake of profits. There’s no argument that as working professionals we need to take control of what we can—our time.
Renee Beckman, CPA is the founder and CEO of Limitless Search Inc., a specialized accounting and finance executive search, contract resources, and corporate recruiting consulting firm.