Balancing the Scales Advice From Modern Day Women

Women in the workplace today walk a tightrope while balancing the many things that make up their life today. From having families to running a business women today are doing it all! We reached out to leading women in their industries and asked them how they are able to work, have families, and still maintain a very happy and fulfilling life.

Make the most out of your work time – get everything work-related done at work (if possible) so you don’t have to bring your tasks home. Set limits on social events – don’t overwhelm yourself and end up compromising work/home life.
“When you are busy doing something that does not fit the mold, such as being an elected official who is on the job 24/7, it is imperative that one enjoys the responsibility that comes with the position.  Most likely the family has already given permission for the person to do what is necessary to serve his/her constituents and therefore guilt or stress does not need to be an issue.  Still, family comes first and the person should be really good at balancing family time with the responsibilities of the elected position.  In my case, my husband and I own a business which I manage, so we are very busy, but manage to enjoy family time and each other.”
– Mayor Marsha McLean, City of Santa Clarita

Prioritize family time – spending time with kids/spouse can lower your stress levels and remind you of your support system at home.
“I think for me one of my challenges is balancing the need to always be aware – should a fire, or some other crisis pop up. I am fortunate that my husband and kids understand the demands of my job and are always willing to pitch in if I need to run. That being said, I make a point to spend time with each of them, whether it is watching our favorite show, walking the dog or doing homework together.”
-Carrie Lujan, Communications Division Manager/ PIO
City of Santa Clarita

Learn when to say no to social events – good friends will understand the importance of choosing to spend a night in every once in a while
“I think empowering yourself to say no every once in a while is a great tool for success as well. For instance, if I feel overwhelmed with commitments, I will usually take 24 hours to evaluate whether or not I want to commit to a particular event or request, or just the ability to say I’m unable to commit to that at this time without a big long lengthy explanation is also reasonable.”
-Ginger LeVang, Hair Stylist/Owner
Salon 7

Set priorities early on and keep yourself accountable – example: no more than 2 nights out with friends, make sure you’re keeping up with family activities. Remain consistent with your schedule – try to stick to the same routine every week; helps with stress because you’ll have less to worry about once you get in a consistent routine. Leave work in the office and make your home a family and self-care only space.
“Managing mental and physical health care is very important. As an example, female veterinarians are 2.5 times as likely as the general US population to die from suicide. Working women take on a lot, and finding work-life balance as well as managing mental health may save their lives. An open dialogue which removes the stigma associated with mental health care is important to professional women in all fields. “
-Vanessa Vandersande, DVM
Copperhill Animal Clinic

Take at least one night out of the week to enjoy “me-time” and de-stress from the week’s workload.
“If you are a workaholic like I am and find regularly that it’s already 6pm and you haven’t left your desk since the morning, you need to force yourself to stay social and plan nights away from the work to make sure you have some balance. And take a vacation – with some days away from tech altogether.  It’s a tough thing to practice, but no one will suffer if you take a day off.”
-Amy Daniels,Executive Director
WiSH Education Foundation

Don’t forget about communication – if you’re going to be staying late at the office, let your family know ahead of time (if at all possible) to ensure that they don’t think you’re ditching family time for work time. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your workload, consider speaking to your boss/supervisor about coming in extra days to finish longer tasks or ask to split responsibilities on a particularly daunting project (if possible).
“Learn to delegate tasks and highlight others’ talents. The more you include people and make them feel valued the more they add to a greater vision, take ownership and run with things.”
-Sharlene Duzick, Member Services Director
Henry Mayo Fitness Center

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