RSS Feed Brand U by Wendy Marx

« Careers: Personal Branding Apology ... Careers: Thank You, Readers »
November 15, 2007

9:08 am | 0 recommendations | 16 comments

Careers: Personal Branding and Work-Life Balance

| posted by Wendy Marx

Work-life balance. It’s one of those throwaway phrases that everyone salutes but a lot of us, including myself, often forget to practice. I just read a moving article written by PR superstar, Terrie M. Williams, who for years suffered from depression and eventually had a major breakdown. Recovered now and an evangelist for work-life balance and mental health, she attributes a lot of her problems to a life gone out of whack. As she writes,

"I’ve habitually spent my days immersed in projects, pouring over details and running from one engagement to another without a break – and it’s suffocating. I’ve even gone so far as to hold my urge to use the bathroom all day so I could make one more phone call, one more meeting, or one more something."

While Williams was an extreme case of work overload, many of us in this crazy 24/7 work culture know what she means. While it’s important to work hard, all work and no play is a recipe for diminishing returns not to mention dysfunction. Our personal brands and our sense of self need nurturing. Williams has a seven point strategy for balancing work and life that’s worth repeating:

1. Connect with a higher power for spiritual strength and give thanks for your blessings
through prayer and meditation.
2. Take the focus off you by volunteering to help others in need.
3. Indulge in “me time” through joyful activities.
4. Work your stress out through exercise or a favorite pastime.
5. Reach out to an understanding loved one for support.
6. Take a few deep breaths to relax.
7. Consider talk therapy (should your life be so out of balance).

Are you keeping your life in balance? I'd love to hear from you.

tag technorati: , , , , ,
Tags: Careers
Report Content
Sign in or register to comment.

Recent Comments | 16 Total

November 16, 2007 at 12:47am

Carol
I think when people are moving too fast and working too much, they stop even having a sense of self that is not infused by work. I would second the message Terrie gives. I hit the wall myself. I am putting things together 1 piece at a time, and I think things will work nicely this time around.
Report Content

November 16, 2007 at 6:47am

Jason Sloan
I wonder if work/life balance implies separation of the two. I've always been most at peace when the two intertwine easily. In fact, any of the work/life strategy suggestions can be incorporated into an everyday work day--at work--with a bit of tweaking possibly. I think the underlying principle to creating balance is to appropriately know yourself (connecting inwards) and appropriately connecting with others/setting boundaries (connecting outwards). Getting this right, you can make up your own strategy for keeping things in balance without creating an antagonistic work vs. life scenario. Every day can just be life with some work, play, or whatever thrown in.
Report Content

November 16, 2007 at 10:25am

aj
I know it's a typo, but maybe a subliminal one. I resisted "medication" but it was explained that a small dose, for a temporary period of time would help me "pick myself up by my bootstraps" and stop the downward spiral before it got really bad. I felt the stigma against medication, overcame it and I'm on my way to recovery. I do believe in "meditation" as a way to practice focusing my thoughts so i am more efficient and calm. One thing at a time vs. scattered. Nice article, but medication & meditation are BOTH good for me.
Report Content

November 16, 2007 at 12:40pm

Typo
@ James: I'd bet that's a typo. Probably 'meditation'...
Report Content

November 16, 2007 at 5:44pm

Kerry
I agree with Jason- I think that for those of us who are either pursuing our careers or are already in them, there is no problem intertwining the two together. I think that a big part of it is loving the work that you do and reminding yourself that this IS your life. I think that we all get so caught up in working towards the future instead of enjoying the ride. If you are really that miserable, maybe it is time to rethink your career and look into the possibility of changing. (Easier said than done, I know).
Report Content

November 20, 2007 at 8:58am

wendy marx
Thank you everyone for pointing out the typo. And, yes, it should be "meditation"; unfortunately, the Fast Company gremlins of the Internet have been at work and I haven't been able to change it though I have tried -- or comment here for that matter. I'm sure eventually it will be fixed. Also, appreciate the comments about work and life being intertwined and focusing on enjoying the moment. Would you please add this from me, wendy@marxcommunications.com, URL www.marxcommunications.com Thank you.
Report Content

November 27, 2007 at 2:40am

Matt
Growing up a farm kid, I understood the nececssity to work hard, when hard work was necessary. But also understood the need for play time. This was a great proving groud for self-reliance, descipline, and achievement. Balance is just that. Balance. Many of us are driven to succeed in business as a means to provide a comforatable famliy life. However, we need to understand where the two don't cross. Don't ever sacrafice what is important for what needs to be done. Make ahy when the sun shines, and thank God for the sun.
Report Content

November 27, 2007 at 8:21am

Gayathri
Yes, I agree with Jason, The interwining of work-life & play helps to have more pleasure in work. I think it needs lot of inward introspection. Thanks & Regards B. Gayathri
Report Content

November 27, 2007 at 12:30pm

Rick Wolff
I have precisely the opposite problem. I am trying to rev up an avocation I hope to make a replacement career -- an attempt to mix more work into my life. I had a stretch of ten days vacation to start in. And I just couldn't. I pissed the time away. I wonder: do I follow the inverse of the seven points? I already have the first point fixed: I'm an atheist.
Report Content

November 27, 2007 at 3:43pm

Michal Suarez
What's the link to Terrie's article? I'd love to read it and pass it along to others.
Report Content

November 27, 2007 at 9:15pm

Liz Handlin
Great post Wendy. I completely agree. I wrote a post back in October about the fact that we should work to live and not live to work because the trials and tribulations of life tend to diminish our enjoyment of the simple things unless we just take a break once in awhile. Happy holidays!
Report Content

November 28, 2007 at 10:24am

Ben Murphy
When we "go, go, go" we have a tendency to get a lot of things only partially completed. And that adds to the feeling that you're working your butt off but not getting anything done. There's a big difference between being busy and being productive. I'm a believer that you can actually be less busy and more productive. This, in turn, frees up more time for family, self, etc. Two pieces of advice that have served me well: - Aim to get 1 item/project truly completed each day. Sounds like a low target, but it's not. - Check email only 2 or 3 times a day. I check at 9:15, 1:00 and 4:45. Keep it off the rest of the time. Again, it's surprising how effective this habit can be. -Ben Murphy / TheFatherLife.com
Report Content

November 28, 2007 at 10:52am

Trevor
Your advice is right on the mark. One addition (correlated to your seventh point) that I would make would be that finding a therapist/coach/mentor can be beneficial for even those whose lives do not seem so "out of balance." Sometimes merely interacting in a meaningful way with a mentor or personal coach can help put things into perspective and provide additional balance between work/life struggles
Report Content

November 28, 2007 at 3:22pm

Hop
Funny ... I am in the middle of this now. I got home at 10 pm last night, I worked until 1 am ( with music at least) and I have been sitting at my kitchen for hours. I decided to work from home in the hope I would not be bugged. But .. e mail has be and I am rambling about. This balance deal ... good lord. It is tough. I read about it, I try it, but the challenges to live at the level of excellence I demand, and in a non profit none the less, takes time and more time. I know ... it's a choice. But when do you make the choice. Hope it's not after my breakdown. Peace
Report Content

November 28, 2007 at 9:45pm

Carlos R. Hernandez
Two words...."Self-Care"...with many ways of executing it as you have wonderfully pointed out. Two of my favorites...going to a San Francisco Giants baseball game...getting up early for a morning walk, followed by respite at the local cafe to sip my morning coffee while reading the newspaper.
Report Content

November 29, 2007 at 11:58am

Donna Palomba
All great points. It is so important to take time during the day for simple things. Just getting up and walking around when I find myself tensing up and getting anxious can change my perspective. When I allow myself time for creative thought I am happily surprised by the ability to see things differently, more clearly and consequently achieve better results both personally and professionally.
Report Content

Special Editions?