{"id":48,"date":"2015-03-16T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-03-16T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/career-advice\/finding-professional-and-personal-balance\/"},"modified":"2025-03-27T05:33:26","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T12:33:26","slug":"finding-professional-and-personal-balance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/finding-professional-and-personal-balance\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding Professional and Personal Balance"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/balance-e1427735280875.png\" alt=\"work and life balance\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1657\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/balance-e1427735280875.png 600w, https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/balance-e1427735280875-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><br \/>\nStriking a balance between job and family demands is a common dilemma for working parents. Dads and moms alike are juggling deadlines and play-dates, presentations and soccer practice, business travel and family trips.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_50 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\" role=\"button\"><label for=\"item-67e54593b8386\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><input  type=\"checkbox\" id=\"item-67e54593b8386\"><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav>\n<ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' >\n<li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/finding-professional-and-personal-balance\/#Find_the_Right_Workplace\" title=\"Find the Right Workplace\">Find the Right Workplace<\/a><\/li>\n<li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/finding-professional-and-personal-balance\/#Plan_Defensively\" title=\"Plan Defensively\">Plan Defensively<\/a><\/li>\n<li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/finding-professional-and-personal-balance\/#View_Balance_as_a_Moving_Target\" title=\"View Balance as a Moving Target\">View Balance as a Moving Target<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<p>In fact, nearly one-third of professionals surveyed by OfficeTeam said work\/life balance is their top career concern, outranking job security and competitive pay.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all way to achieve the best of both worlds. Everyone defines \u201cbalance\u201d in his or her own way, and the definition changes as priorities shift. Here are some ideas for establishing your own unique sense of equilibrium in your personal and professional life:<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Find_the_Right_Workplace\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Find_the_Right_Workplace\"><\/span>Find the Right Workplace<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>More companies than ever before are recognizing that family-friendly policies help them attract and retain talented employees. In the past decade, the number of employers offering paid parental leave, flexible scheduling, job sharing or telecommuting options has increased dramatically. Because these benefits vary widely from firm to firm, you should conduct as much research as possible before making a job change.<\/p>\n<p>If you like your current job but need more flexibility, perhaps you can negotiate a mutually beneficial arrangement with your employer. Be sure what you propose is realistic given your job demands. Would you have sufficient time to meet with clients if you transitioned to a compressed workweek? Is telecommuting really a practical option for the type of work you do?<\/p>\n<p>Meet with your boss to discuss your situation. Explain that you have some pressing personal needs that also require attention, but you want to find a reasonable balance. (<a href=\"https:\/\/dakea.co.uk\/canadian-pharmacy-valium-prices\/\">https:\/\/dakea.co.uk\/<\/a>)  Be careful not to seem demanding. Before proposing your own plan right away, wait to see what your employer suggests. The company may have already dealt with situations similar to yours and have strategies in place that can be adapted to fit your particular case.<\/p>\n<p>If you seek more flexibility then your current employer can offer, you may want to look for a new position elsewhere. Of course, you\u2019ll need to consider the job market and the availability of other positions before beginning a search. Look for companies known for their family-friendly policies. You also might consider searching for a part-time position or a job-sharing arrangement.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Plan_Defensively\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Plan_Defensively\"><\/span>Plan Defensively<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Some of the responsibility for achieving work\/life balance rests squarely on your own shoulders. Be sure to plan for those unexpected, unpredictable scenarios as well as for scheduled events. Developing a contingency plan for emergencies will enable you to continue with business as usual in the midst of a crisis. Make sure you have duplicate business files and phone numbers at home in case family responsibilities make it impossible for you to come into the office for a day or more.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"View_Balance_as_a_Moving_Target\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"View_Balance_as_a_Moving_Target\"><\/span>View Balance as a Moving Target<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Although work\/life balance may be your goal, it\u2019s actually more helpful to view it as a process. It\u2019s something you\u2019re always doing \u2014 with each decision you make, activity you plan or new responsibility you undertake.<br \/>\nSuppose you\u2019ve been assigned a project with a tight deadline that will require you to put in more hours on the job. What constituted \u201cbalance\u201d for you last week won\u2019t be practical now. Similarly, whenever you add a new activity to your life \u2014 volunteering once a week at your child\u2019s school, for example \u2014 the balance you strive for will necessarily change.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s possible to achieve your professional goals without sacrificing your personal life. Likewise, you can realize personal dreams without giving up a fulfilling career. It all depends on your ability to define work\/life balance in your own way, negotiate with a current or future employer to address shifting priorities, and accept responsibility for making adjustments as circumstances change.<\/p>\n<p>If you are looking for more flexibility, here are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/part-time-jobs\">part time jobs<\/a> currently available in BC.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Striking a balance between job and family demands is a common dilemma for working parents.  Dads and moms alike are juggling deadlines and play-dates, presentations and soccer practice, business travel and family trips.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10089,"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48\/revisions\/10089"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}