I have always found that balancing work and personal life isn't an issue for me. I have always adopted the mentality that my job has me for 9 hours a day and nothing more. However, there are many who do find the balance a struggle, and companies have become creative in allowing employees more options to balance work and personal life. For example companies that offer work from home programs really helps some parents, and can even allow you to get more done around the house. I think the idea is great for those who can't find that balance. Especially in today's world where we're always on the go, and the time isn't on our side which leads to less family time. By working from home you can utilize your time better which can help with stress of everyday life. A lunch break nap in your own bed, would probably help your production and relieve some stress. So for the many who have trouble with this balancing act may want to consider a job like this.

It’s very hard to separate work life and home life. My boyfriend always tells me to leave personal at home and leave work at work. I work with children with autism, I love my job, but it is a very stressful job at times. The way that I separate work from personal is that we actually live about 45 minutes from anything. So I have a 45 minute ride to work, where I eat my breakfast and wake myself up and get ready for the day. After work I have 45 minutes to listen to the radio and calm myself down and get ready for home life. My home life is very calm and quiet unlike work. I have a 14 month old daughter that I really enjoy being able to come home to and be calm and not bring work home to her.

My schedule is from 9 to 3 Monday thru Friday, so I get weekends to spend with my family and have my social life. My job gives us a certain amount of days a year that we can use to take off. When I am not feeling well or my daughter is not feeling well, I have those days to use. I will use almost all those paid off days, just because they give them to us for a reason, and if I don’t use them then they just go away at the end of the year. I feel everyone is obligated to having a day off here and there, to recoup. In a stressful job, that day off may be all you need to go back the next day and be ready to go again.

It’s very hard to separate work life and home life. My boyfriend always tells me to leave personal at home and leave work at work. I work with children with autism, I love my job, but it is a very stressful job at times. The way that I separate work from personal is that we actually live about 45 minutes from anything. So I have a 45 minute ride to work, where I eat my breakfast and wake myself up and get ready for the day. After work I have 45 minutes to listen to the radio and calm myself down and get ready for home life. My home life is very calm and quiet unlike work. I have a 14 month old daughter that I really enjoy being able to come home to and be calm and not bring work home to her.

My schedule is from 9 to 3 Monday thru Friday, so I get weekends to spend with my family and have my social life. My job gives us a certain amount of days a year that we can use to take off. When I am not feeling well or my daughter is not feeling well, I have those days to use. I will use almost all those paid off days, just because they give them to us for a reason, and if I don’t use them then they just go away at the end of the year. I feel everyone is obligated to having a day off here and there, to recoup. In a stressful job, that day off may be all you need to go back the next day and be ready to go again.

Trying to manage a personal life and work it is very difficult and it amounts to more stress. Two months ago, I attained a new position in my current job where I find myself very limited on time. In comparison, prior to this position I had another position for 3 years, where I had flexibility to run personal errands and have a social life. With my new position, I am able to take time off; however, if I did, I think of the pile of work that I would have to get back to the next day. With this mindset, I wouldn’t be able to enjoy a day off without thinking of the chaos that I would get back to. It does become frustrating to manage both work and a personal life; however, I try to set aside 1 day out the week for a few hours to have personal time for myself. Paula, you mention that there are different levels of flexibility where one is able to mix personal life in the workplace. I think this is very true and it depends on the person. For me personally, I like to keep my personal life out of the workplace, and focus on my responsibilities that have to get done and vice versa in the home environment.

For the last 16 years, I was fortunate to have a wonderful job, doing what I loved to do. I had great flexability when it came to taking time off for my personal needs. Over the years, I took too much time off and was eventually let go. I was devastated to say the least, but now I realize that my mental boundary between work and home should not have been taken for granted. I am hopeful that I will find a job soon, and when I do I will make sure to take care of my personal issue and leave them at home.

In today's society there is no longer a definitive work place or a definitive home place when it comes to thoughts. I have found myself blurring the spheres to the point of unrecognizable madness. I cannot just leave my duties and thoughts in one place. I have had to send emails to work at doctor’s offices and called my child’s school from work. I recently left the workforce to concentrate on school but it is no less daunting when I am in the middle of a thought for my research paper, making dinner, and holding the baby. I have found that in my academic career I have more flexibility than I need, and some days are just about my family while others leave me with just enough time to say “good night, see you soon.” I have not found a balance and I believe that there is no such thing as “guilt-free” control over anyone’s time. If I am in class I feel guilty for answering my husband when he texts me, “What do I do? The baby just won’t stop crying!” I feel guilty when I am trying to get homework done and I have to tell my son to wait just a few more minutes. I feel even more guilty when we are spending time as a family and I need to get work done. I essentially work from home and only spend about ten hours a week in a “work” environment so it is hard for me to separate the two no matter which situation I am in. I have come accustomed to just living my personal life and I fear the day I go back into the workforce because no matter how flexible my work may seem to be, I have a family at home that needs me too.

Most places I have worked in the last several years don't really care about your personal life. They want you to work overtime and weekends, but have a fit if you want to go take time off to go to a personal event - like your kids school event. Developing your own career acts (as Paula calls them) is the only way to create a work-life schedule that you are in charge of.

Good points, Paula. I think you're right that there are different levels of flexibility for different people, and some may want their work lives to blur more with personal than others. This makes sense, since everyone works differently. I also wonder how many of the people who think they want a clear division only really do because it's all they've ever known -- because that's the way work has operated in the past. Before computers and mobile devices came along, the idea of this flexibility wasn't really fathomable. Although you could still "take work home with you," we didn't know anything else than the 9 to 5 way, did we?

I think that since technology has been changing the way the workplace operates, more employers are realizing that workers are doing work while at home (or the grocery store) -- as well as taking care of personal things while at work. The lines are blurring more and more, and I think the employers who are willing to adjust to this change when employees are asking for that flexibility you mention are smart to do so. However, it should be give and take -- employers can't expect employees to be available whenever they like without giving those employees the freedom and flexibility they need for their personal lives (going back to your #1 point about guilt).

This is why I have always hated when people talk about work-life balance. It implies that things have to be totally separate. What I prefer is the term life morphing. As I need flexibility for my home life, I can bring a lap top home and work other hours. As my office needs me more, I flex to get the job done. In this way, I feel like I am almost giving my best to both spheres of my life. By feeling like I am doing my best, I am less stressed and happier, which in turn leads to a happier workplace and a happier family life.