Which Would You Rather Drop?

The one that bounces or the one that shatters?

When I talk with leaders about work/life balance, they often tell me that they have so much to do at work that it makes it hard to leave on time.

Or this huge thing at work is going on and my kiddo is sick today so I've got to go pick them up from daycare...and I'm SO UPSET because it's horrible timing.

Or sometimes it's less about words and more about actions...

I'll just stay a few minutes late today...turns into every day staying late.

I'll just quick check my work email at dinner this once....becomes a habit of checking work email after hours for no reason.

Yes, our work provides for our family...but it is more resilient if we drop it.

Think of your work like a tennis ball. If on one day you can't get everything done, you drop one of your many work tennis balls you're juggling -- your work will come back to you, just like the tennis ball. It bounces. You can pick it up again when you're able. Not answering that email in the evening or being a day late putting our a schedule or not finishing your entire to do list will not break the ball when it hits the ground.

Think of your family or whatever is important to you outside of work as the glass ornament. The relationships we have with our loved ones are built on trust. We cultivate that trust with every action we take. If we drop the glass ornament and it hits the ground, it shatters.

The ornament can't be so easily picked up. It will take tedious time to repair.

Whenever we choose work over family, we start to let the glass ornament slip from our grip.

Over time, if we keep doing this, we're going to drop it.

We may not realize we're choosing work over family because "it's just one more quick thing before I leave." But our repeated actions speak loudly.

This season is a great time to do a quick reflection (without judgement). How have I been operating as of late? And do I need to remember to uphold my glass ornaments more in 2022?