Whether you’re a parent that’s looking to provide for your young family or a young professional still trying to make your way in the world of work, work-life balance is more important in the 21st century than ever before. With the stresses and strains of modern life far more heightened than in generations gone by, it’s important that your work and personal life do not collide.
A study by Pew Research found that women are more likely than men to adjust their careers to suit their personal lifestyle. It indicates that female workers are more prepared to alter their work schedules and aspirations in favor of the needs of their families. If you’re looking to find a career that enhances your lifestyle rather than clashes with it, consider these top tips to help you on the right path.
Choose working hours that fit your existing commitments
It’s very possible to find work that balances your day roles – and even any additional business interests. Renee Mu is one female that’s sought to go against the grain and battle the so-called “bro-culture” in financial trading to become a leading currency analyst for DailyFX. While looking after her own day-to-day business interests, Renee chooses to trade the Asian stock markets later in the day around her existing commitments. This is also beneficial to Renee because she is Chinese and has a good awareness of the fundamentals of Asian stocks and forex.
Strive for your ideal job rather than your dream job
Some people argue that there is no such thing as a dream job. In fact, at the surface level, a so-called “dream” job should actually be your ideal job that aligns perfectly with your individual interests, skillsets and priorities. A job as a fashion designer in New York might sound “sexy” but a “sexy” career won’t necessarily translate to happiness based on your core values.
Renee again sets a fine example: in trading, she has achieved a balance between two varied fields that she likes – maths and psychology. Trading may not be for you but the concept of combining more than one thing you’re good at is transferable to all business areas. You can always start small and dream big. While you may be wanting to work on big companies, you can begin working on startup companies in San Francisco and other parts of the US first. Being part of a startup will hone your leadership and decision-making skills that you can use when you finally decide to work on larger companies.
Be clear on non-negotiable priorities
Before you head out on the job search trail, it’s vital that you nail down what you’re not looking for from a prospective career. If you want to be able to pick up your children from school or put them to bed in the evenings, or even take your kids away on holiday outside of the school holidays, make sure your working hours marry up with your lifestyle goals. Knowing what you’re not prepared to deal with in a new role is hugely beneficial and can help narrow down potential career paths.
Consider careers best suited to your personality
Choose a job role that makes you happiest and most productive. If you’re an introvert, you might like the idea of being able to work from home and stay closer to your loved ones and the running of the family home. Alternatively, if you’re something of an extrovert, the idea of working alone and not with clusters of colleagues might affect you socially. And we can look at our trader example again, here: Renee knows how to stay calm from her background in psychology and can employ that ability to her work to achieve top results.
At the heart of it all – figure out what matters most to you
When it comes to being happy in a career, analyze what’s most important to you and your personal life. If you’d rather have less money but less stress outside of office hours, so be it. If you need to earn a salary above a certain figure, you might have to be somewhat more flexible. If you want a generous vacation package as part of your contract, you’ll need a career or employer that can tick the right boxes. Don’t undersell the importance of your mental and physical wellbeing; choose a role that enhances your personal lifestyle rather than existing at loggerheads with it.
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