Work-Life Balance Archives - Sharon M Weinstein

June 20, 2021 By Sharon Weinstein

The Big Reset…who owns a great work environment?

It’s been more than a year since we pushed the reset button. During this time, many of my clients and colleagues began to be “home-based” members of a team. Moms have been pushed to the limit with work, schooling, child-care, and stress. There was a time when it was taboo to talk about the stressors of work/life balance in the physical workplace. My clients report that now is the time when it is okay to make the personal professional. After all, how many times, when on a Zoom or Teams call, has a child entered your workspace (whether it is a real space, the kitchen island, or a bedroom)?

Some companies pushed reset by shuttering satellite offices, knowing full well that employees are perfectly capable of maintaining productivity in a home setting.

We have become much more flexible, and there are many facets to flexible:

Shifting work hours or job-sharing to accommodate school schedules and drop-offs plus the formidable child-care crisis that occurs between 3 and 5 pm
A shorter workweek which has been successful in Europe for many years
Support for those who work from home, including a budget for a desk, chair, or desktop monitor

Who owns a great work environment? It is a shared responsibility that is owned by the employer and the employee. It’s time to push reset and acknowledge that shared responsibility. The employer can ask direct reports about their preferred styles of working and what support they may need. Continue to schedule remote or hybrid team meetings to enhance engagement. If onsite, maintain a safe setting and reread the three facts of flexibility!

The employee can maintain boundaries, advising kids and partners of dedicated work time, and may need privacy. Keep regular hours, whether remote or in-person. Take the time to take care of yourself, allowing downtime, hydration, and small talk to support your own physical, emotional and social needs.

It’s been more than a year, and we are ready to return to the workplace or to maintain a more flexible workspace no matter where that may be. The Big Reset is here…and we all own the responsibility for making that work environment a great one! Are you ready to push reset?

April 24, 2021 By Sharon Weinstein

Survive and Thrive

As an advocate of work/life balance for nearly 20 years, necessitated by working 100 hours weekly, 3 countries per week, with no life of my own, I believe in sharing the merits of life in #balance. I believe that our biggest goal for 2021 and beyond is to #Survive and #Thrive! How about you?

In a time when our work and home lives have intertwined like never before, do we really ever turn off our devices? Do we set boundaries, or do we let the world of connectivity overwhelm us? If you are open to setting boundaries, I suggest the following:

Presenteeism – You know that there are those who take up space, but who are not present in the moment. When you are working from home, be present. When you are homeschooling your kids, be present. When you are on those continuous-feed Zoom calls, be present. Work hard when you are working, and relax when it is high time for social and family encounters.
Prioritization – Everything does not have a “now” deadline. Separate your must-do list from your to-do list and share the accomplishment of crossing off what has been done and look forward to more must-do’s tomorrow
Self-care – We all have responsibilities, some more than others. We are all on the same journey, but perhaps in different boats or cars. Schedule time for yourself (in your calendar) and take that time to rest, relax, reset your battery, and be good to yourself.

If you are employed, be grateful, but take time for yourself. If you are freelancing, job hunting, working from home, self-employed, or finding yourself, take the time for balance. Your greatest task for the remainder of 2021 is to Survive and Thrive. Answer this question, “Do you work to live, or live to work?” What’s your story?

Artwork credit: Bhavya Poonie/Mashable India

April 24, 2021 By Sharon Weinstein

Join me for a Nurses’ Week Celebration…2021

National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale’s birthday.

International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on May 12th of each year, and this year, once again, the theme for Nurses Week continues…the year of the nurse and midwife.

The Coronavirus has shifted priorities; hospitals and health systems would now be finalizing plans for The Year of the Nurse, and the opportunity to celebrate nurses and nursing. Nursing the World to Health is precisely what we are doing!

Priorities may have shifted, but nurses remain on the frontlines 24/7/365, providing care, often with limited resources, and making us proud.

In the midst of social distancing, anxiety, and fear of the unknown, and to honor all that you do, I’ll provide a series of complimentary sessions addressing key topics for the nursing community:

Wednesday, May 5, 2021 – 11 am ET

Compassion Fatigue

Today, more than ever before, compassion fatigue is a possibility. Awareness of the problem is critical to developing an intervention. We find ourselves wanting to be all things to all people, and we realize that we cannot do it.

Objectives:

Discuss signs of compassion fatigue
Describe coping strategies
List possible interventions

Friday, May 7, 2021 – 11 am ET

Life as a Balancing Act- Family Matters

We all have responsibilities, whether caring for children or elderly parents or pursuing personal interests, activities, or hobbies. Some of us are in the “sandwich generation; we’re juggling the challenge of homeschooling and vulnerable parents or family members. We must be equipped to resolve personal and workplace issues, juggle conflicting responsibilities and balance personal and workplace roles. Are you ready to learn how you can balance your act – when family life matters?

Objectives

Identify challenges of work/life balance during a pandemic
Discuss the power of three
List 3 ways to ensure that family matters

Sunday, May 9, 2021 – 11 am ET

Stress and Crisis Management

Watching TV, listening to special reports, reading the newspaper (online or live), we have been inundated with reports that stress us to the point of exhaustion. Our ability to interact as members of teams drives our sense of belonging, inclusivity, collaboration, and trust. The Coronavirus has shifted our focus, leaving team members frustrated, tired, and anxious. As a team, you care for others, well aware of their fears, while concern mounts about transmission to your own family, exposure, and overall well-being. Social distancing has removed our ability to reach out and touch someone, to hold a hand, to wipe a brow, and to enjoy fellowship.

I’ll share tips for surviving and thriving during a pandemic. Yes, you can make time for yourself, stay in touch, exercise, stay safe, and keep your distance. This is your chance to learn how.

Objectives

Describe anxiety levels around Covid-19
Identify tips for surviving and thriving
Discuss the gratitude gap

Tuesday, May 11, 2021 – 11 am ET

Self-care is not selfish

Now is the time to be your own cheerleader; I’ll share content related to Self-Care along with a 32-page Playbook featuring a special section on Tips and Techniques for Self-care.

Objectives

Discuss healing environments
Read and interpret your body’s signals
Describe mindset

Attend this 4-part series of FREE programs in honor of nurses and nursing. Enroll now, at no charge, and receive a copy of the 32-page Playbook! http://bit.ly/3lx9cez

March 21, 2021 By Sharon Weinstein

Is ZOOM the new fatigue?

Times have changed, and for those of us who spent a fair amount of time in meetings, conference halls, and on the road…we have seen a shift to online meetings, video calls, and so much more! Are you overwhelmed by too many hours in front of the “screen” during your day? Let’s face it…video interaction is the new normal, and maybe the next normal through the remainder of 2021.

Video is great; it is also tiring. How do you cope, and how can you create a strategy for avoiding the new fatigue? Here are 3 suggestions for pre/during/post the call.

Pre-call:

Define a workspace and “own” it; do not allow distractions that are not life-threatening and block the time

During the call:

Remain engaged; let others “see” you; avoid distractions and be present

Post-call:

Go offline and take a break; hydrate and unwind from digital overload

While video call overuse can lead to stress, anxiety, and fatigue, you have an opportunity to overcome the overwhelm by following these 3 steps. Enjoy the interaction and the face-to-face connections. Then, initiate a digital divide and take that much-needed timeout!

January 30, 2021 By Sharon Weinstein

How to Host a Virtual Book Launch Party…vision to reality

Are You Ready to Reinvent Yourself? A Post-Pandemic Approach to Work/Life Balance was a vision on December 15th, 2020 that became a reality on January 28th, 2021! I had the content (in my head), the mindset, and the goal to complete the process and to make it shine! While my Launch Party would have been live, with cocktails, snacks, a book signing, and so much more, I needed to push my own “reset” and “repurpose” my ideas into something virtual.

My first stop was Google, where I reviewed ideas, past experiences, and failures. My second stop was YouTube, where I perused party ideas, virtual offerings, games, and so much more! My third stop was my own designer, computer, home office, and my talented family members; together, we created something incredibly special that far exceeded expectations.

Step One: Create branded graphics

For this step, I went to Kimb Williams, an extraordinary graphic designer who “reads” me. She created the front and back cover, promo materials for the book launch and party, banners for Facebook, and everything imaginable. I said balloons, and she delivered customized balloons! I said virtual background depicting a party, and she went to work creating templates that far exceeded my expectations! I created an invitational video, multiple social media posts, direct messaging, and email blasts.

Step Two: Pick a date/time

Chances are that you’ve already scheduled your launch; the party date is next. Make it a date/time of the week that works across timezones. Make it something that would be before dinner Pacific Time, and after an early dinner Eastern Time. With no carpool runs and other errands, everyone is fairly certain to be at home! I scheduled the party on Zoom and started promoting the event 10-12 days prior to the event. I asked those interested to respond, “I’m in” via text, messaging, or email. I also added a response button to each of my websites.

Step Three: Plan the schedule

I considered multiple ideas and settled on these key components to a successful launch party:

Consider pre-planted questions about your inspiration, your why your intended outcomes (I did not need them because I had the right mix of people at the party and they asked without prompting).
Prepare a story that will capture your audience’s attention and make them feel included; frame it well (This was easy for me; at another time in my life, I worked 100 hours per week/3 countries per week, and I found balance. I also used my nursing platform to reinvent myself multiple times in multiple states and roles).
Use visuals (I decided on a brief PowerPoint presentation with a built-in game
Ask someone to co-host or share the screen to keep things rolling smoothly, and to allow yourself to relax (I asked a family member to co-host; she also recreated the game on her own PC, added the names, branding, confetti, and applause while entertaining everyone)
Be sure to include “How to Order” in your slide deck and offer an explanation of both ordering and reviewing processes
Rehearse prior to the event with your tech team (family member or friend) to ensure that everything works well

Step Four: Invite your guests

I invited a broad group of potential guests, some of whom were unable to attend. I also opened it via social media to those with an interest, asking them to reach out to me. I created and used lots of hashtags to spur interest and curiosity. Trust me, the right people were in the right seats (in their own homes) at the right time). Everyone who responded favorably received a pdf copy of the book.

Step Four: Start and end strong

The internet connection was strong (a pre-requisite), the background was amazing (thanks to Kimb), and the Zoom room looked full with nearly everyone visible. Following my lead with a glass of sparkling white grape juice, the tone was set for reflection, reinvention, and fun! I extended warm welcomes and intros and then we shared the presentation. I had pre-selected a few segments to read aloud, and because we were virtual, I opted to add a few words to a slide and to share using that tool. The content included a favorite quote, a reason for Trusting the Process (Part 8), the intro to my story of Reinventing Yourself the Kellogg Way, and more. We then played Spinthewheel, identified an Amazon Giftcard Winner, and everyone was given a chance to add to the conversation. Through open networking, and my ability to draw each individual into the conversation, the party was a huge success.

Step Five: Celebrate success

I followed up immediately after the event with a personalized email message and an updated copy of the book. I recorded a thank-you video that was shared with each attendee. The video and the success story was posted on multiple social media outlets; since then, I’ve received great interest in the book, in my other releases, and in my work. Take advantage of my lessons learned; adapt what works for you to create your own Virtual Book Launch Party, and have fun!

To start the process: