Balancing Home, Family and Work Home Family Work

Why Should We Discuss Balancing Home, Family and Work? Extension Faculty OFTEN find themselves with conflicting demands on their time and energy by clientele, administrators, family expectations, and personal priorities. Fetsch & Kennington, 1997

What Can These Conflicts Lead to? Stress!!

Stress Can Lead To… Increased alcohol use Insomnia Intestinal problems Decreased concentration Headaches Ulcers Nervous tics Infectious diseases Job burnout Suicide and much more… Fetsch & Kennington, 1997

Who in Extension is Most Likely to Experience Job Burnout? 4-H agents, young agents, single agents Those between 20-30 years old Males and females Mostly those who are involved in youth work. Agents with joint program responsibilities such as 4-H and agriculture Fetsch and Kennington, 1997

What Else Could Happen? Negative effect on marital relationships. Negative effects on parent-child relationships. Increased health care costs. Married agents report that job stressors had an impact on their ability to do the job. Patterson & McCubbin, 1984

Strategies for Achieving Balance Scheduling Combining work and family Working flexible hours Setting boundaries Making families first Personalizing strategies

Creative Scheduling Use one calendar for scheduling work, family and personal dates. Highlight or write family dates in ink to prevent double scheduling. Place annual leave on that calendar, as well. Does it matter? Can it be delegated? 1-2 evening meetings/week.

Combining Work and Family Ask family members/close friends to assist in preparing meeting rooms, registration, handing out materials. Involve spouse/family in work related travel to the extent that you can.

Working Flexible Hours May lead to guilt because no formal “Flextime” policy. Check out working at home, as an option. Leaving when you “need” to. Check out coming in later in the day after an evening meeting or a weekend event.

Setting Boundaries Leave work at work! Say no! Delegate! “Please call my office during work hours regarding work matters…”

Making Family First Share household tasks and child care. Video tape children’s events. Communicate . Eat meals at unusual hours. Eat lunch out with spouse/other once a week.

Making It Personal Exercise Take your/family’s birthdays off. Take breaks. Don’t loose you annual leave, you’ve earned it! Add a sense of humor to everyday events.