Work/Life Balance – Definitely a Myth October 23, 2007

At the Business Mums Conference in Melbourne last month, keynote speaker Sandi Givens announced to a group of enthusiastic, yet overloaded mums that work/life balance is a myth. I agree and feel it is much more realistic to view it as a continual juggling of roles and tasks with an aim to achieve some sense of ‘control’ over our situations. As the weeks race by, I am often faced with days of doing lots but feeling like I’m achieving little. And of course those things that are supposed to keep our life ‘in balance’ (exercise, ‘me’ time, etc) continue to fall by the wayside. As a mum in business, there is also the inevitable ‘mother guilt’ associated with the juggle between business and kids. Part of my motivation for having my own business is to spend more time with my child, but if I’m exhausted from late nights and meeting deadlines, is this quality time? OK, so that all sounds rather bleak and not particularly inspiring. But I’m sure any mum in business has similar thoughts and concerns, but pushes on regardless. And you know what? I think generally our kids are better for it. They learn so many good life lessons from watching mum run a business. They see multi-tasking at its best. They see how flexible life can be (who ever has the same day twice in their business?). They see how hard work can pay off – and if it doesn’t pay off, the virtue of ‘giving it a go’. So for those business owner mums out there having a ‘mother guilt’ day….don’t!Yours in Design Michelle Grice Shel Design