OH! Magazine - Australian Version March 2014 (Australian Version) | Page 30

ARE YOUR PERSONAL
EXPECTATIONS
KILLING YOUR BALANCE?

JUSTIN
TAMSETT

Justin Tamsett provides another golden nugget
to help you achieve better work/life balance.
s we enter the third month of the
year, things are getting serious.
The kids are now in the swing of school,
social events with friends are picking up,
the boss needs proposals completed, and
the commitment to the new year’s
resolution needs to be resuscitated.
Already, you can feel it: you just can’t do
everything, so let’s dump the easiest
thing on the list: that new year’s resolution
to create a better work/life balance. How
about ‘NO!’
The most powerful advice that helped me
get my priorities in order, and create
better work/life balance was this:
Lower the personal expectations you
place on yourself.
You cannot do it all – no one can. So cut
yourself some slack!
Compromises or trade offs are a part of
life and if you think they don’t apply to
you, then you are kidding yourself; they
apply to everyone.
The key to success here, is open
communication. Be honest with your
family, peers and even work colleagues
about the demands you have in your life.
For example, one of your kids has a
school event during the day, and it’s
something you really want to attend (and
you should go because it could be a major
event in your child’s life). Instead of
stressing about how you can get there
during work time, try being open and
honest with your employer, by telling
them how important it is that you to
attend. It would be an uncaring and
unempathetic employer who would deny

A

30

ISSUE 8 ( OH! MAGAZINE )

a parent being part of your child’s
milestone.
On the other hand, when the time comes
and you have to unexpectedly work late to
complete a proposal that is potentially
vital to the company’s success, then
accept this demand and alter your
mindset to focus on feeling proud of what
you produce, rather than dwelling on
feelings that work has ‘ruined your life
(and it hasn’t, it’s just one night!).
Communicate this message with your
family, in a positive light.
One final tip to help to stop the “I should

be working” or “I should be with the
family” thinking, is to jot down all the
things you should be doing instead of
what you are currently doing. Then, take
to them with a highlighter and decide if
they have to be done right now or whether
they can actually wait. This will help you
make better choices around how your
time really needs to be allocated.
The simple truth is, you cannot do
everything at once. So change your
expectations on yourself and you’ll feel
happier and healthier as a result.

www.justintamsett.com

( Work/Life Balance )