We start the off the new year by examining the belief that work+life challenges are a “mothers’ issue.” If a stereotype is a “standardized mental picture that is held in common by members of a group and that represents an oversimplified opinion,” then this is a perfect example. It’s true that working mothers can struggle with how to combine work and motherhood (I know, because I am one), but that is only one piece of a much bigger, and more complex reality. Continue Reading…

Be sure to scroll down and check out the final Holiday Work+Life “Fit” Tip–Start Planning for Next Year Now!

“Work/Life balance” is the concept we’ll tackle first. It’s the phrase most often used to describe the work+life outcome we are all striving for. In fact, one of my terrific readers who is a professional coach wrote:

“I agree that new terminology can be used among professionals who are constantly on top of new developments in work/life——but I have found that the general public understands the term” work/life balance.” I have balance as part of my counseling practice name and it works well. People get it! I won’t be discarding the term.”

While I agree the general public uses the term, over a decade of experience developing work-life flexibility strategies for organizations and individuals has convinced me that this stereotype isn’t accurately describing what they are experiencing day-to-day in their work and life.

Here’s proof… Continue Reading…

Take the Work+Life Fit Reality Check Quiz and test your own personal work+life fit reality, then scroll down for Holiday Work+Life Fit Tip #3: Checking In and Readjusting.

If you read last week’s blog, you know that we officially released the results from our first annual Work+Life Fit™ Reality Check Survey. Very exciting!

The survey identified why individuals are stuck when it comes to managing the boundaries between their work and personal lives. We can transform corporate cultures and government policies all we want, but until we overhaul the stereotypes that guide our collective thinking and problem-solving around this subject nothing will really change. Continue Reading…