Have you achieved "Work-Life Balance?"

Its always been difficult to have a work-life balance for me. I have put pressure on myself to excel, and that takes perseverance and dedication outside of the 0630-1700 schedule. It means working through lunch, working late, working weekends.&nbsp;<div>I realized how important it was when I became an NCO and held a section sergeant position. I also came to the realization that I needed to appreciate my life more...during my R&amp;R. I realized that I could go back to Afghanistan, and never come back home. I wanted to live my life some and enjoy the life I had built.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>I had to also learn not to feel guilty about going home and turning my brain off. I hop in the car, crank the tunes, and by the time i'm home, i'm in Josh mode again. &nbsp;As Soldiers, especially NCOs, we are told that being a leader is a 24/7 job. I took that literally, and did not understand how to disconnect when at home, and switch back when I was truly needed. I was in the mindset all the time, and it was exhausting. I though "I cannot do 20+ years of this, at this pace"</div><div><br></div><div>I realized that I needed to be present and engaged with my wife and kids, and I couldn't serve my country and provide for my family while destroying my bond with them all at the same time because I was always jacked in to work. I needed to be able to be Josh and Dad at home, and be SSG Tetreault when the phone rang with an urgent matter.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>CELL PHONES--I learned to stop using my cell phone to handle work after hours unless it was an emergency. This had an unintended effect. It forced other people in my unit to stop being slack with information flow. They had gotten into the habit of being able to send out critical information at 2200 that would be in effect at 0630. There was a few times I missed a meeting or something because I was already asleep, and missed the text.</div><div>They started ensuring info was disseminated by COB unless our of their control.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>After I matured as a leader, I wouldn't allow my guys to work through lunch unless it was a critical task, and that working late rarely yielded any benefits. I told them to avoid getting burned out, to appreciate the benefits of the good job they had. Enjoy life...your next deployment could be your last, and not in the good way.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>

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Work life balance means to me to maintain effectively a transition from your work and home life.  When do you turn off your work mode and turn on the family mode.  First I make a list of all the titles you have that need your attention on a daily basis. For example Executive Chef, Wife and Mother then try to determine what comes first.  Obviously work is a priority to provide for your other responsibilities.  Being a working Mother is not easy but I just remind myself that my children support my decision to work and love being able to say "my mommy is a Chef".  I try to take time for my kids when work permits like field trips to the museum or aquarium.  My father was active an E-9 and the memories I cherish are those moments that he chose to spend the day with me!  So that's what I try to do with my kids make moments!!  Some times I think being a mother is easier than being a wife because for me I am used to giving orders and having them followed.  You can't do that in a marriage it's about compromise, patience and understanding non of which is terribly easy.  So I still have an area to work on.