Balance It Out
Greta Bennett, The Chronicle of Higher Education

I really dislike the phrase "work/life balance." Just look at it: Work and Life (which aren't mutually exclusive, by the way) are in a stubborn deadlock, pushing up against one another in a heated battle. Work appears to be tipping the barrier that separates them in its favor, pushing Life (and Balance) out of the way and vying for more than its fair share of your precious time. And Balance is way off by itself, completely unconnected to (and mostly ignored by) Work and Life, who just keep fighting with each other but never really achieve anything resembling Balance…

Regardless of our specific circumstances, we can all make a few simple yet deliberate changes in our lives and attitudes that will move us beyond the clichéd "struggle for work/life balance" and put us all firmly on the road to true balance in our lives. The following list of tips from the X-Gals seems like a good place to start:

1. Write down a plan and stick to it…
2. Have a routine and be efficient…
3. When in doubt, farm it out…
4. Get at least one hobby that is not work related…
5. Don't do it all. Do just enough…
6. Avoid drama, seek fulfillment…

While we have all taken very different career paths, we find strength in the fact that we have all chosen to be here. We do what we can in the time that we have; then we go home to our families, dogs, and spouses, and try to leave our work behind.

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