The term ‘work-life balance’ may seem overrated, but picture this: Juggling motherhood, waking up before dawn, unending household chores, endless tasks, dealing with chaos at work and the mental strain of looming deadlines.
It feels like walking a tightrope, and straddling two worlds of work and desire. And, by the end of the day, all plans of work-life balance go for a toss.
On the other hand, there is no respite for many women, whose life is a relentless pursuit of professional and personal fulfilment, stretching her thin, work bleeding into her personal time. Managing a career and social life can be an equally daunting task to deal with when it comes to work-life balance.
These two types of women may be in different circumstances in their lives, but still grapple with the intangible ideal of a work-life balance.
PLANNING AHEAD
Being a woman can be tough, especially when you have to prove to your bosses that you have the capability of getting the job done on time with diligence. At the same time, you are expected to be a good mom, too.
All this can be overwhelming, and Sarita, a 38-year-old mother of a school-going kid, from Margao, feels it on a regular basis.
“My company expects me to give my best 8 hours to the firm; however, society expects me to be a good mother, too. In the bargain, a mother experiences the worst from both sides! So, I have decided to do my best with whatever time I get,” says Sarita, who is a single mother.
“There are days when I just want to relax, and so I take leave, or just wait until Sunday,” says Sarita. “By the end of the day, I'm exhausted and don’t know where my time disappeared. So, instead of complaining, I try to plan ahead and work smarter instead of harder.”
THANK GOD IT’S FRIDAY
Having a side business, along with a 9-to-5 job in today’s day and time, is not only risky, but can lead to burnout. However Emily, who is based in Ponda, and works for an international medical firm, says she utilises weekends to plan her work.
“Working full time in a 9-to-5 job as well as doing a business can get hectic, but we've managed to find the correct resources to handle day-to-day tasks. My partner and I both work with multinational corporations, and hence, we only get time on weekends to plan strategies and business expansions,” she says.
“In order to maintain a healthy work-life balance, we make it a point not to discuss business or work in my house on Sundays and after work hours. At dinner time, I spend quality time with my family, and on Sundays, I have exclusive family time,” she shares.
OH, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE ART OF JUGGLING
For Andrea Fernandes e Lopes, who runs a PR firm, says, it's all about juggling PR pitches with peekaboo sessions, and boardroom meetings with bedtime stories!
“Some days, I feel like a circus performer, with my husband as my chief cheerleader. My daughter, as my adorable sidekick, definitely adds the fun factor! Having my own business, ‘Media Solutions By Andrea’, is like having a second child, but with a lot more deadlines!” admits Andrea.
More often than not, being successful at balancing a job and home depends, to a great extent, on the support of family members. And, Andrea endorses this view, too.
“It's definitely challenging at times, but knowing that my family is rooting for me makes all the difference. I work with a team of superheroes, who never say 'no' even if it means burning the midnight oil or giving up their off days,” shares Andrea.