The subject of work-life balance applies to an individual's effort to be effective in their worklife and in their personal life, as well. This topic wasn't as important in the past as it is today because, in the past, people often were able to attend primarily to one major role in their life wither it be working, or taking care of our homes and families. Now we multi-task - which can cause stress and stress related disease, unhappiness and discontent. Companies and organizations are recognizing that, in order to continue to have effective employees and associates, there must be a means to assist one another in maintaining suitable work-life balance. Our next guest is an expert in work-life balance issues and one we consider a perfect way to end a perfect event. Let me tell you about her.

Donna Steinhorn is President of Coaching to Success, co-founder of the Association for
Coaching Excellence and of Serendipitous Events LLC. She is the former Executive Vice President for CoachVille and Dean of the Thomas Leonard Coaching School. As an Executive, Life and Mentor Coach, Donna coaches Executives, Coaches, High Profile Individuals, Over-Achievers and Entrepreneurs, and has over 30 years of corporate and business experience. With her multiple roles, she's learned how crucial it is to embrace change and create inspiring, sustainable environments for success. Her humor coupled with her love of innovation and practical approach to life and business has earned her the "title" of Bottom Line Visionary.

Donna is actively involved in the International Coaching Federation, is a founding member of the International Association for Coaching, and involved in Coach 100 Free. Donna is an IAC certified coach, as well as Certified Teleclass Leader and Certified Mentor Coach.

Donna, please tell us - What is work-life balance? Is it a theory or something we can truly attain?

While work-life balance is not a theory, it's also not a reality for many people. In fact, the average worker is actually working more hours today than they did ten years ago.

When most people think about work-life balance, they are thinking about how they balance their time between work and their personal live. What that balance is differs from person to person, and even for each person differs according to the stage of life, or what stage at their career they are in. Work-life balance needs to be defined by each individual for themselves. They need to choose how to most effectively juggle their multiple roles of work, self, family, community and friends ensuring that there is adequate (or abundant) time for the people and activities they value.

For some people, it’s not about balance at all, but about work-life integration. Think of our ancestors on the farm; for them, work and life were integrated. Barn-raising was a social and work event. Harvest included celebrations. Child care and eldercare happened within the home. It was all intertwined. Families lived and worked together. While it’s difficult to go back to that model, it is possible to have more of a connection between work and life in a variety of ways, including through how you work—virtually, telecommuting, working from home---or by having a career that you are so passionate about that life and work combine in endless delightful ways, and of course, by choosing how your spend your time so that you spend more time doing the things you value.

Okay, so does it mean perfect balance in all aspects of our lives? And how do you know if you have it?

It almost never means perfect balance...not sure that such a thing exists! For someone who is starting a new job or a new business, they’ll likely need to spend a lot more time at work or on their business than someone who has been at their role for several or more years. And of course, at various times of our lives, our personal lives overshadow any work we are doing, whether it’s as a result of having children, caring for parents, illness or any number of reasons that tilt the scales heavily towards the life side.

But even when it’s “life as normal”, our lives are never equally balanced. Perhaps you’ve seen the “wheel of life” that asks you to rate the areas of your life on a wheel, including your career, home and family, finances, relationships, energy, friendships, fun, health and well being. When you’re done, you’re shown how bumpy your wheel is. Life isn’t neatly balanced.

If we agree that life-balance means living your life today so that you are not out of kilter...working too much or not enough, playing too much or not enough, and having time to pay attention to all aspects of your life, then you know you have life balance when you are satisfied (dare I say, even happy) with your life. It occurs when you are able to handle all the pieces in your life without stress, without overwhelm, and without sacrificing some aspect of your life or yourself.

Are there any statistics to support a person's increased productivity when they feel more in-balance with their life? If so, please share them.

There are studies being done in many countries, especially in recent years, where businesses are beginning to understand the benefits the employer gets when their employees have greater work-life balance. Studies show higher productivity among workers as a result of reduced absenteeism and stress, improved recruitment and retention rates, as well as greater employee satisfaction. As an example, when employers offer options enabling employees to feel more in control of their lives, the likelihood of retaining those employees for next 5 years is 20% higher. And one study done at UK based Rothwell and Sons found that employees with higher WLB had: a 9% improved productivity; 26% reduced cost of overtime; 44% reduction of staff turnover; and 46% drop in absence rate.

As with all changes, to get work-life balance you need to start by knowing where you are. Is your life totally out of balance? Are you aware of being out of whack, but aren’t sure why? Or do you know where you’re out of kilter, and are ready to make changes?

What can you do to get it?

Second, you need to know who is there to support you in your changes. Do you need to enroll your boss and propose flextime or even telecommuting? Do you need to enroll your family to help out, or to take more time together? Do you need to engage your broader network? A life coach?

Next, take a look at your personal boundaries. Are you a people pleaser who always says yes to anything that is asked of you? Do you take on more work than you should? Offer to help others at the expense of your own time and stress? You can learn to say no, and even to disentangle yourself from obligations that you agreed to for the wrong reasons. You only have so much time and energy...choose how you want to spend them.

Review all the obligations you have, and the things that you’d like to include in your life as well. This includes self-care, hobbies, home and car maintenance, family obligations (childcare, eldercare), time for yourself, time for you and your spouse/significant other, social obligations (as well as socializing for fun), travel, classes, organizations, community and volunteer efforts, education, health, work and of course, sleep.

Now put a time to each of those activities. You might want to do an actual time spent AND a desired time spent. It’s likely that there is quite a disparity between the two. The goal is to begin working towards the desired hours as opposed to how you spend it now. Decide what’s important to you, and if there are ways to delegate or automate, or find better ways of dealing with the rest. You need to prioritize your activities, and it may mean other changes as well, such as changing your standards for how well the house is cleaned, or even negotiating with your employer or finding a new job. But it’s well worth it.

Are there any rituals you recommend for achieving balance?

Absolutely! Two key elements in achieving balance are the reduction of stress and your self-care. You can establish rituals for both.

Meditation is a great way to slow yourself down and rejuvenate. Even ten minutes a day has been found to have beneficial results...studies even who that they balance your right and left brain...you might say that’s the ultimate in life balance! But I recommend a half hour a day, and creating a ritual out of it. Having a wonderful space for your meditation, perhaps with a scented candle or one of those portable electric fountains that are so great for a meditation corner.

Yoga breathing is a great way to de-stress and recenter, and I recommend to my clients that they set aside five minutes several times a day to get centered and breathe. I also tell them there is NO eating at your desk. Even if you are deeply engrossed in a project, step away from your desk and take some time, even if it’s just ten minutes, to change your scenery, take
a walk, sit on a park bench and breathe.

And I am highly in favor of a bedtime ritual. Just like little children do best when there is a bedtime routine, we do best with one as well. I like to wind down the day reading in bed, I prop myself up with some great pillows, spray my pillow with lavender bed spray, and turn on a sleep machine that plays the sound of rain. It’s something I look forward to every day.

One other thing, not exactly a ritual, but vital to achieving balance. All my clients know that I want them to have something to look forward to in each and every day. It can be a call with a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while, dinner out, a movie you’ve been looking forward to, a massage...whatever is on your list of activities that bring you pleasure. It can be a ten minute activity or a three hour activity. But something to look forward to in every day is essential.

What are the consequences to being out of balance?

There are several consequences to being out of balance. There’s a long laundry list of the effects: frustration, anxiety, depression, stress (which causes a lowered immune system response), overwhelm, illness brought on by lack of self-care -- not eating well, not sleeping well and not exercising. There can be negative effects on relationships...we’ve all heard of divorces being caused by workaholic spouses. When you’re out of balance you’re also more likely to use substances to console you...more food, more sugar, more alcohol, more caffeine...even prescription drugs.

I can't seem to leave the office...what can I do?

Understand that there is always more work...you’ll never “finish”, and that there are rarely dire consequences (or any consequences) to leaving the office on time. One technique that works well for my clients is to schedule appointments or activities after work, so that they HAVE to leave the office on time.

Can you give some examples of how organizations are helping their business associates and employees achieve work-life balance?

Many employers are providing “cafeteria benefits” that their employees can choose from, ranging from on-site childcare, to work-life balance workshops, and even providing coaches. More and more employers are allowing flexible working patterns. I have several clients that successfully negotiated part-time telecommuting to work. Other options are flextime, part-time work, job-sharing, or compressed work weeks (I once had a job where, in the summer, we worked four ten hour days and had Fridays off). Generous family leave and personal days are offered by many or even paid or unpaid sabbaticals. Many companies give paid time off for volunteer activities and school. And more and more are offering coaching or mentoring as a means of helping their employees find better work-life balance and greater satisfaction.

How can I convince my company that work-life balance is important?

Talk with your boss and/or your human resources office. Take the initiative to propose alternatives such as flex time or others mentioned earlier. Discuss the studies that have been done that point to better productivity, employee retention and even greater customer satisfaction as a result of happier employees. Be creative about seeing possibilities and opportunities that can benefit both you and your employer. For example, many employers who allow their employees to telecommute part time find that those employees actually work longer hours (no water cooler distractions?) and are more productive. (And let that serve as a warning that you can fall into the workaholic trap at home even more easily!) If you’re ready to take this plunge, let me suggest you read the book "Work + Life: Finding the Fit That’s Right for You" by Cali Williams Yost.

And finally, Donna, how can our guests get in touch with you?

They can email me at donna@coachingtosuccess.com or via my website http://www.coachingtosuccess.com.