Casual Friday: Five myths about work/life balance

Here are five myths about work/life balance that may be preventing you from finding it:

Myth #1: Your work and your life must be kept completely separate
Financial advisors struggle to find work/life balance, Chadnick says, because they think of one as completely separate from the other. Instead, consider what you can do at work that will make you feel invigorated and restored.

For example, going out for lunch or a coffee with a colleague, she says, can make the workday fun and give you a sense of balance.

Myth #2: Work/life balance is static
Equilibrium between your work and your private life isn’t something you create once and keep forever. What you need to feel balanced can change throughout the year, so you should be adaptable.

During busy periods, such as RRSP season, you may need to do small things to restore your sense of equilibrium, Chadnick says. In the slower, summer period, you might participate in more activities outside the office.

For instance, she says, during the summer you might choose to go jogging or to the gym every day for an hour. During a busy time of year, you might achieve the same benefit by spending only 30 minutes at the gym three times a week.

Myth #3: You’ll find it later
Sometimes, Chadnick says, advisors make the mistake of thinking about work/life balance as a destination, rather than a habit.

For instance, you might say: “I’ll feel balanced in my work and life once I finish this project.”

Some people just assume they’ll find balance even later, such as during retirement.

Instead, Chadnick suggests, ask yourself what you can do to feel energized and restored today. That might simply mean going for a walk or meeting a friend for lunch.

Myth #4: You can’t find balance if you’re busy
A full schedule is not necessarily an unbalanced one.

You can maintain a hectic schedule, Chadnick says, and still feel balanced personally and professionally, as long as you are involved in activities that are engaging.

For example, your leisure activities might include volunteer work and working out at the gym, she says. Or, you might occasionally work late in order to make personal time during the day.

To do that, you need to know what you can and cannot handle. For example, will you feel balanced if you have to volunteer three times a week and go to the gym? Or will you require more downtime without any commitments?

Myth #5: Finding work/life balance is easy
Achieve a feeling of balance is no easy task. It is a skill that must be practiced.

Don’t wait for work/life balance to find you. You must check in with yourself throughout the year to see how you’re feeling and what you can do to make yourself feel energized, engaged and inspired.