How Does She Do It?

By Christa Leupen

How Does She Do It?
Striking the perfect balance in your work and personal life

If you’re a working woman, you likely have experienced the difficulty of balancing your career and your home life. Whether you’re married or single, a mother to many or none, finding the sweet spot of harmonizing your professional and personal life is something you aren’t immune to.

“Women today are faced with too much information bombarding them, overwhelming to-do lists and not enough time in one day to complete the list, let alone in an entire week,” says Julie Morgenstern, New York Times best-selling author of Making Work Work, Organizing from the Inside Out, Time Management from the Inside Out and Never Check E-mail in the Morning.

Hectic schedules are part of what the Women of Western Wake know as life, from the morning rush to get the children to school or get the house in order before hurrying to the office to work a full day of demanding tasks, to volunteering, to returning home exhausted but with so much left to do. Managing life, children, spouses, work, volunteering and trying to find time for themselves is often exhausting.

With the countless exciting philanthropies and volunteer opportunities, plus making a living and running a household, women tend to overwork themselves. Morgenstern spoke on the issue of overcommitting your time, saying, “Trying to complete too many goals and tasks can leave you feeling frustrated, unfulfilled and exhausted. But, if you are very clear about those three or four most important things you must complete today, then you can let go of the rest until tomorrow because you have accomplished what really matters most.”

The concept of letting go is very important for women who find themselves disappointed or exhausted at the end of the day. It is key to choose what is most important and master those tasks before moving on. Establish priorities and decide for yourself what you are willing to take on … there is no need to act like Superwoman.

Morgenstern has teamed with Franklin Covey, an organizing system company, to help women like you who have a full plate of tasks to accomplish in a day. They have developed a list of the “Top 10 Tips for Busy Moms and Women Managing Work and Home.” Some key points mentioned include: developing boundaries between your home life and work life; saying no to opportunities that you know will cause more stress or demand time you don’t have to offer; and making “me time” a priority so that you have a chance to renew yourself. Scheduling time for you is very important. Take the afternoon off to come home early, have lunch with friends on the weekend, or schedule that overdue massage or pedicure to congratulate yourself on all the things you have accomplished.

To learn more valuable tips about what it means to be a woman in the professional world, please join us for the Women of Western Wake Luncheon on Friday, Nov. 6, at 11:30 a.m. at the Umstead Hotel and Spa. Cary Magazine’s 2009 honorees will share their stories on the balance of personal and professional life and answer your poignant questions.