Is there a life beyond 9-5?
As we make our way to the end of February in a COVID year, I’ve been keenly interested in learning about how working parents will broach the topic of their careers in the next iteration of life within COVID times now and beyond. For all intensive purposes, we are not through the woods and many companies are still crafting their policies and practices with how to return to their offices safely, efficiently, and effectively. Without everyone vaccinated, there is also big disparity among employees that desire to go back to the office and others that have found a new breather in their home life to balance some of the things that stressed them pre-covid, like a commute. As many companies are still remote at this time, many are beginning to crack the “where do we go from here?” questions around working parents and taking into an account the larger issue of #Wellbeing and #Mental Health in the workforce. It’s not a linear process and it’s quite multifaceted. What is interesting to me and I hope working parents will ask the question, Is there a life beyond 9-5 that you can dream up?
Our lives have dramatically shifted in ways that have exposed challenges in our children, family and extended family, marriages, partnerships and all the parts of us. There are thorns and areas that are intensely woven in over run and busy schedules. Because companies are learning that we are not through the woods yet, I feel there is a great opportunity for young working parents to not only advocate for themselves but begin a larger conversation around paving the way for workplaces to develop schedules, flexibility and work life style changes that adapt to meet the needs of both the company and the employee. For example, if parents are having babies this spring or summer, it would be a great opportunity to start a conversation with your manager around a pilot run program for going part time or doing a job share. Companies might consider thinking about creating pathways to invite conversation or pilot programs to try it on for size. It’s as if companies and employees are walking together into unknown territory. On the upside, the productive conversations are creating opportunities for both women and men to support them in their life transition. I don’t think this is only about women either, both parties may benefit and feel that alternate schedules or opportunities may serve their family better.
As I think about where we are in this current climate of figuring out what is next beyond 9-5 hours and a 40 hour work week, I can’t help to think about Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her impactful breadcrumbs that she left for all of us to path the way for working parents to create a way that prioritized family life while also moving along in your career track and aspirations. Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the model we working parents needed.
Ruth created a schedule in her life that intentionally moved her from “work” to “family” life. Of course, it didn’t change the fact that her life was very full and she was exercising her brain power in both home and work life, she thoughtfully planted a seed for all of us as working parents to create boundaries.
I think she still gives us a lot to think about today of where we are in our “work lives” and where we go with our passions, joys and careers. I feel she weaved them in a way to support her, and I urge all parents to find and create that for yourself and your family. There is no better time to do that than now.
Quoted by Ruth - She was a pioneer in creating work - life integration…
“When I started law school, my daughter Jane was 14 months. I attribute my success in law school largely to Jane. I went to class about 8:30, and I came home at 4 o’clock. That was children’s hour. It was a total break in my day. And children’s hour continued until Jane went to sleep. Then, I was happy to go back to the books. So, I felt each part of my life gave me respite from the other. …Having Jane gave me a better sense of what life is. ”
Ruth Bader Ginsburg had a healthy way of managing work and home life and I thought I’d bring that to light.
As a working parent, she did the following:
Valued Work - Ruth valued career and the intellectual stimulation and learning it brought.
Valued Family - She valued her family. She made some boundaries around her work time and family time. Something like 8-4 was work. Then Jane time was 4 on and bedtime. Often she would return to law studies after Jane was down.
Support - She had a supportive partner that encouraged her career.
Not every working parent has this situation but we do have some control over making boundaries.
Is it required of you to log on after work to do emails or work?
Do you protect your weekends for family?
Is your burnout or exhaustion in large part due to work stress?
Do you have fears around keeping your job?
Have you and your partner discussed one of you creating a different schedule to support your family?
Do you have fears or limiting beliefs around this change?
As I highlight some of the areas above that have to do with Mental Health, Workplace Style life and your own wellbeing, these are emerging from way below the surface. Our society and culture of work has always been to prioritize our work as if our families aren’t behind our zoom calls. COVID has exposed that the lines are blurry and we are now showing up as our full selves, the ones with families, pets, mental health issues, and passions, and joys. It’s the whole self. The tides are changing now. It’s an invitation to create another way. Sometimes as working families, we are all so deep in our “daily grind”, it’s hard to come above water to realize there may be a better way that supports our family as a whole. And that concept creates success and a thriving approach to living in our homes, communities and workplaces. Our lives are not crafted to be overwhelmed, stressed and mentally drained. In this covid year that has been so challenging, we all have taken stock of our wellbeing for better or worse and mental health should also be prioritized in the jobs and careers we choose. I hope as a working parent, you begin to think about ways that might support you, your family and your kids in a holistic way.
I’m happy to connect with you on this journey!
