Are you tired of working 10 and 12 and 14-hour days? Do you
want more time for yourself or your family? It's okay to
admit it! And, admitting that you need or want more time
for things other than work does not mean you are any less
professional or any less committed to your work. It simply
means that you are setting healthy boundaries to protect
your priorities and avoid becoming expended, depleted, and
overwhelmed.
Today, in a work world where competitive pressures are the
name of the game and huge work loads the norm...In a work
world where we face constant change and corporate cultures
that tell us that we must constantly do more, be more, and
bring in the sales or else...it is no wonder that a growing
number of workers are saying "enough" and seeking more
reasonable and balanced alternatives.
In my work as a career coach and career marketing
specialist, I am in daily contact with people in all
different phases of career transition. While many still
pursue careers on the traditional corporate ladder, and
most of these clients find this an extremely rewarding path
for a variety of their own reasons, there are a growing
percentage—and the number seems to be growing every
year—of individuals who have made a conscious
decision to buck the trend and take a step off that ladder.
These clients tell me that they want to regroup and carve
career paths for themselves that allow for more flexibility
and for what has been coined "work-life balance." The
changes aren't always as dramatic as you might imagine.
Often the solution is as simple as negotiating a more
flexible work arrangement within the corporate structure
If the above sounds like you, but you are hesitating to
make the move because you aren't quite sure you fully
understand your options and how to make them work for you,
the following explanation of some of the more popular
flexible work arrangements may be just the inspiration you
need.
Flex Hours - If you are happy working a 40-hour week, but
prefer not to work the typical five or six days per week,
negotiating for a schedule based on flex hours may be just
what you are looking at. For example, with a flex schedule,
rather than working five eight-hour days, you might work
four ten-hour days and take a full three days off for
yourself. Of all the options, this one has the potential to
be the least disruptive. You will still be working the same
number of hours; you'll just do it in a different
configuration.
Job Sharing - Although not common, job sharing is becoming
more popular and more accepted. This is a good option if
you love your job and want to remain on the same rung of
the "ladder." However, it does require, in most cases,
taking a cut in pay, so it may not be for everyone. Job
sharing entails taking a job that might normally require
40, 50, 60 hours per week and essentially cutting the
responsibilities down the middle to be shared by two
people. This arrangement requires constant communication
and cooperation, but it can be effective under the right
circumstances.
Portfolio Career - If you are ready to leave the corporate
world behind, or at least leave some of it behind, a
portfolio career may be your best option. While many of us
have been raised to believe that a full-time job is really
the only secure work arrangement, a portfolio career may
actually be more secure because it involves multiple
streams of income. If one source dries up, you always have
the other sources. What is a portfolio career? It is a
career that is built around your skills and interests
through a variety of part-time jobs, which may include some
combination of part-time employment, self-employment,
freelancing, consulting, and temporary jobs. If you truly
enjoy flexibility, freedom, and variety in your work, and
can tolerate the unpredictability, you may want to consider
a portfolio career.
The culture of the business world tells us to maximize
everything, push the limits, and pursue more. The three
flexible work arrangements described above might be the
perfect solution to help you avoid overwhelm and the many
negative effects of overload. You do, of course, have many
other options as well. Consider phased early retirement,
turning down a promotion, relocating to shorten your
commute, telecommuting, moving laterally or even into a
downward position. The choice is yours.
While you might experience resistance as you begin to set
clearer boundaries between your personal needs and work,
always remember that you and only you are in charge. If you
know your priorities and you truly want to create more
work-life balance, you can't just wait for someone else to
come and make the changes for you. You must make them
yourself!
----------------------------------------------------
Nationally certified resume writer and career coach,
Michelle Dumas is the director of Distinctive Career
Services LLC. Through Distinctive Documents
http://www.distinctiveweb.com and her Executive VIP
Services http://www.100kcareermarketing.com
Michelle has
empowered thousands of professionals all across the U.S.
and worldwide. Michelle is also the author of Secrets of a
Successful Job Search http://www.job-search-secrets.com
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