Opinions on work-life balance differ. While some women leaders believe that work and life are intertwined rather than separate, others demarcate one from the other. Burning the candle at both ends or finding less personal time doubtlessly needs tackling as they can affect your physical health, not to mention your relationships.
A balanced outlook would be to make adjustments and get the support that allows some ‘me time’ and/or family time without sacrificing your output at work. The beliefs of famous women leaders on navigating work and life can help you understand what ‘balance’ means to you and how you can achieve and champion it.
Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki ensures a strict separation of work and personal life
Have you ever taken a work call while you’re out to lunch with your family? You may need to consider your work-life boundaries. Most of us understand the importance of setting boundaries but struggle to maintain them. Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki suggests (and practices) prioritization and strict rules on work-life separation to achieve a balanced lifestyle.
Wojcicki and her husband ensure they’re home for dinner with their kids almost every night and don’t check email between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. as it makes disconnecting from devices harder. Unplugging, she says, allows her to become more productive, and working 24/7 is not a metric of success and, if anything, makes it difficult to come up with new ideas. Wojcicki does what needs to get done at work and refreshes her mind so that she can approach problems better.
Self-care and support are Oprah Winfrey’s mantra to maintain a healthy work-life balance
Media mogul Oprah Winfrey has a demanding schedule, but she hasn’t let it get in the way of her well-being and personal ambitions. Winfrey is an advocate of prioritizing self-care and making time for daily meditation, which helps her manage stress effectively. She also surrounds herself with an inner circle of people who provide her with practical and emotional support. By investing in meaningful relationships and nurturing connections, she has built a strong support system that keeps her well-being in check.
Practicing self-care helps calm a brain that can sometimes get too overactive from managing people, deadlines, and issues. Something simple as a hot bath or a walk in the park or neighborhood can calm your mind or penetrate the fogginess after an especially tiring day. Meditation, yoga (or aerobics if you aren’t too tired), or longer sleep can help you center and maintain equilibrium. For some, self-care is spiritual, like connecting with nature or engaging with their spiritual community. Self-care can be social, such as spending time with your kids, pets, or friends, or mental, such as engaging in a hobby.
Family support goes a long way toward dealing with work stress and focusing on achieving other priorities in life. However, organizations also have a role to play. Flexible working hours and dependent childcare support give women more control over planning their days and weeks and help mums more easily fulfill their duties.
Find the opportunity to do the important things, advises Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors
GM CEO Mary Barra has highlighted the importance of work-life balance in achieving a happy and, therefore, more productive workforce as one of her management initiatives. She models the behaviors she hopes employees will follow, which include taking time for the important things. Barra has said that while she may make time to see her daughter’s game, she will catch up on work later in the night. By stating such priorities explicitly at meetings, she makes it OK for everyone to acknowledge their obligations outside of their work.
As women rise through the ranks, they must often maintain oversight, be in the know, and, on occasion, take quick action or issue a timely directive. Digital devices have made it easier than ever to keep in touch with work and family. A healthy habit is not to be on devices when spending time with family and to use them afterward to check email or attend to a work issue. If this isn’t possible, identify moments to disconnect and be fully present in order to have meaningful conversations.
Tory Burch believes in work-life integration
The Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of the eponymous brand Tory Burch LLC is a proponent of work-life integration and says that great managers set up supportive work-life systems and processes. She argues that managers should emphasize quality over quantity in the workplace. According to her, judging and compensating employees by the amount of time they spend behind their desks instead of the value they provide leads to rewarding the wrong behaviors.
By focusing on results rather than the time employees spend working, Burch has built a successful business while creating a supportive work culture. On the topic of women entering the workforce, Burch believes it’s a personal choice and women should work if they choose to, adding that being a mom can be equally challenging.
Burch created a brand centered around empowering women. Her personal motto, which includes taking time for herself and practicing self-care, reflects her brand values. For Burch, relaxation and self-care mean being present and appreciative, meditating, walking her dogs, reading, and listening to music. Women get so busy with their careers and kids that they sometimes forget about themselves, which is something they must address, says Burch.
Biocon’s Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw swears by prioritization
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is the founder of the $4 billion-dollar Indian biopharmaceutical giant Biocon. The 67-year-old started her company after failing to secure work as a master brewer in Indian companies due to her female identity and the prevalent belief that the role was more suited to a man. She turned to other opportunities, starting her company from the garage of her house in the Indian city of Bangalore.
A highly respected and admired businessperson today, Mazumdar-Shaw says women are faced with multi-tasking and must, therefore, prioritize. She organizes her daily activities from most to least important and bases her time on those priorities. When her late husband was receiving treatment for cancer two years ago, Mazumdar-Shaw made hospital visits her biggest priority and attended to other priorities later.
Mazumdar-Shaw is a proponent of employee mental well-being and fostering a culture where people can openly talk about mental health issues without feeling stigmatized. She has said that mental breakdowns are often the results of built-up stress that people tend to ignore until they no longer can. Struggling to manage work and life can lead to stress, and a lack of discipline is a contributing factor. Mazumdar-Shaw follows a disciplined lifestyle revolving around a daily routine that includes yoga and exercise, which allows her to maintain her physical and mental well-being and lead a balanced life.
Where there is a will, there is a way
Women’s contributions to household income have grown in recent years, but they still do more housework and caregiving than men. Single mums face their own challenges in maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Some expert-suggested means of overcoming the odds include:
Share responsibilities and duties with family
For new parents, a common way to achieve balance during their kids’ early years is to take turns every other year, where one will concentrate more on work while the other takes more time off to stay with the kids. It’s easier when a spouse can work from home on most days. Single mums can seek help from their parents, siblings, or close friends to prioritize time across their personal and professional roles and responsibilities.
Consider hiring a nanny or using a daycare service
If your office does not offer on-site daycare, consider an accredited daycare. If these aren’t options, try a nanny to see how things work out. You will have an idea of what is ideal for your situation and can then determine the next steps.
Ask the tough questions at work
Once you have a job offer, be upfront about your family priorities. Organizations will allow some measure of flexibility if it does not have any bearing on work. Pick a company whose culture you feel comfortable with and which is a place that respects individuals and shares the same values as you.
Avoid making decisions prematurely
It’s difficult to know how much time you will want to devote to your personal life. Ask other people and figure out your options. Often, you can negotiate after you have a child.
If you want to have kids, take the time to have them
Sadly, pregnant women are often denied promotions and deemed liabilities or burdens based on their decision to have a baby. Having a child is no doubt a major decision, but it should be a standalone one. Female leaders advise working women who want to be mums to take time to have children. Trying to fit multiple priorities can be counter-productive, causing you stress and anxiety.
No one is important enough (outside of your family)
Integrate self-care into your daily routine and stay rooted in your emotions by utilizing your free time doing what you like and enjoy.