Women at work

“Don’t confuse having a career with having a life”

– Hillary Clinton

“You can do anything but not everything”

-Dave Allen

 “Balancing home and work is a myth”

-Di Downie

There is a notion of “balance home and work”, this notion implies we can balance ( to be in equilibrium) both home and work at the same time. Women pursue this myth as it is a truth.

I believe this notion sets us up to think that we can calmly with self – equilibrium carry out tasks, be emotionally engaged, have intellectual clarity and be able to build the perfect life through mostly self fulling tasks carried out at home and at work.

It is a myth to think we can balance home and work, its a  myth to think that anything in life is perfect.  Life does not go in a straight line we have challenges, upsets, other people, our personal energy, global changes, ideas, the list does go on in our river of living.

Women especially fall victim to attempting to hold this balance work and life myth in their minds as we are so good at juggling many activities. Women are champions at doing more than two or five things at the same time.  This very trait is the trait that sabotages women at work and at home. The notion of balancing home and work for women is the very thought that adds to womens confusion, anxiety and competition in this world of change.

Women empowerment is a hot topic right now as women struggle to really have their thoughts clear to develop their voice from their true selves . This goes for women entrepreneurs as well at women who are employed it makes no difference the thought of balancing work and home exists in all working cultures.

I’m speaking here as part of the Women Power Summit in Bahrain.

Women at work,  women working  in their own business, in a corporation, at home, with 3 jobs, whatever their situation is, need to base their  opinions, their decisions and actions from what really matters to them. Often we are so busy being busy and  have been busy being busy for many years that we have forgotten what is important to us and we have forgotten what we love to do and ask for what we need. Rather we spend our time chasing our tail before the day ends, competing for space for our wants to be heard, justifying our position and  opinions in fear of being made wrong or being ignored.

STOP!!

• Take time for yourself
• Develop many passions to direct your purpose.
• Ask yourself what is really important to YOU (apart from your family)
• Surround yourself with people who not only can support you but will.
• Practise asking for what you need with good intentions not just for your own selfish immediate desires.
• The paradox is you must be selfish to take time to develop your routines and rituals for your own health, clarity, self love, personal development.
• Do NOT play the competition game ONLY play the co-operation game. Life is a game!

REMEMBER

we can only be doing one thing at one time

we can only be thinking of one thing at one time

life is not a straight line

What you can start to do at work:

Engage in education: Women have taken this notion of balance work and home to heart with structures like flexi time, education regarding women empowerment.

Engage is the culture:  There needs to be clear guidelines with home and work with both the women and the manager.

Engage in continuous conversation: Expectations as to when emails will be answered when the women will be at home, often having arranged flexi working times around children or elderly parents is just one issue that needs to be on the table for discussion.

Engage and encourage:  Continuous communication with the  inevitable changes in both home and work is important. Nothing can be set in stone yet time for change take clarity and foresight.

Engage in the bigger picture: Think how your actions do impact other team members at work and at home

Of course, a healthy culture of building trust is important to be fostered for flexibility and full responsibility with open communication to occur for the above issues to be built on.

What are your opinions and experiences.

Share with us your thoughts and feelings.

Hugs from

Di Downie

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