By Amanda Delamer, Leadership & Life Coach, MSc, CPCC, PCC
So Covid happened, is happening, and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
I don’t know about you, but for me, this thing called work/life balance, that I have been so intentional about achieving over the years, has morphed into a whole other creature to contend with in these times. Even though the kids are back at school, it seems that my world will be in this “hybrid” state moving forward. Sometimes I’m at the office and the kids are at school, sometimes I’m at home working virtually with one kid home in quarantine because a classmate tested positive, and sometimes I’m at home sick working virtually with one or all of my kids home sick from school. Just like at IKEA, the possibilities are endless!
We are creating “normal” as we go. Yes, we are learning to be more resilient. We are learning to be more agile, more flexible and more adaptable. We are learning how to be more a lot of things, and, right now, It. Is. Hard.
I think about clients talking to me about a co-worker they can’t seem to get along and work with, a boss that speaks to them in a disrespectful manner, an employee that isn’t following through on commitments, board meetings that are overpowered by one colleague, an endless list of to do’s, and the list goes on.
I am working with clients who are not only working through all of the challenges above, but they are also dealing with the fact that sometimes they are physically in the office, and sometimes they are dealing with these everyday challenges via Zoom.
The opportunity to have an important conversation or address a challenge is not happening naturally and casually while crossing paths at the office or when the timing is “right”. They are now more likely to be conversations that have to be formally scheduled in as an appointment via phone or Zoom. Just like that, that “little thing” can feel like it has morphed into this “big thing” that needs to be addressed.
And some of those “big things” conversations might not be happening at all.
Some of my new clients share that they are lying awake in the middle of the night processing everything that is on their mind. They are finding it hard to be present and enjoy time with their families because they are distracted with work. They are giving themselves pep talks on Sunday night as to how this week they are just going to ignore a person or situation, or just not take things so personally. Their minds are spinning.
For a lot of my clients, they share that “Everything in my personal life is great, but my professional life and work, argh, there is this co-worker who ___, or my boss just won’t ____, or if I just had more time, or, things will feel better when I get that promotion/that colleague is transferred to another department. A long list and a lot of I will be happy when.
I love supporting my clients to feel great in both their personal and professional lives, now. Not when. The truth is, “when” may not ever happen. Maybe things will feel better when meetings aren’t via Zoom. Maybe your boss will start communicating with you better when you are both working back in
the office and not communicating via email. But what if you felt great at work now? What if you left work at work, even when you’re working at home?
It will take energy, and effort and time on your part to process and discover how to achieve this. AND, it will leave you feeling empowered, confident and you will experience what balance looks and feels like, for you and your family.
Don’t wait until the new year to try something different! Start achieving more work/life balance now!
Book in for a complimentary coaching session with me!
New Year’s Early Bird – Achieve greater work/life balance (aka. stop bringing work home with you) promotion – 6 sessions – 3 months – $300
Amanda Delamer is a Leadership and Life Coach. Amanda coaches and supports people in living healthy, balanced, and joyful lives, with a focus on self-awareness and fulfillment. She coaches and honors the whole person – mind, body, and spirit. Her clients experience fulfillment in all parts of their lives – health, family, relationships, career, and beyond – and they value and appreciate that all parts of their lives are connected, and we all have a responsibility in and for the world around us. She lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with her husband and three children.