There was a time when everyone aimed for a work-life balance. With work at the center, recreation, entertainment, and family commitments were worked around it. However, work-life integration is the new age mantra. It is about bringing together different elements from both realms—work and life outside work.
Work-life integration has several benefits —ensuring well-being, improving productivity, and fulfillment apart from judicious use of time. However, what makes work-life integration effective is a framework.
Here are three essential ingredients for implementing an effective and productive work-life integration:
Clarity: It is about seeking clarity in values and priorities. What are the aspects of work you want to focus on primarily? What else is important for you? What are your wants and needs in both? Understanding these will help arrive at a more realistic integration.
Communication: It is essential to clarify your commitments with all — from leaders to teammates and family. It gives them an idea about the boundaries you have drawn and your schedule. They know that your yoga class at 6 pm means you are not available for team catch-ups. Your family knows you have morning meetings at 8 am and are unavailable for errands or breakfast.
Weekly plan: A weekly schedule that looks at work-related engagements alongside action needed on the home front can help factor in them judiciously. When you plan, you know the time available for what’s important for you to pursue. For eg. reading a book with your daughter or helping the children with their homework. Or making the dinner plan work during a busy week.
Work-life integration is best done when you have a bird’s eye view of your life, where family and career commitments are not pitted against each other but pursued alongside. To make it effective, you need to work out a framework that supports well-being and gives you a sense of fulfillment.
