Work-Life Balance Confessions: Stories and Tips to Enlighten and Inspire How to Juggle What Matters

Dalya Wittenberg
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Work-Life Balance Confessions: Stories and Tips to Enlighten and Inspire How to Juggle What Matters

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the competing demands of work and life, or if you’re simply curious about how others manage their time and priorities, then this is the podcast for you. Each episode covers the work-life balance confessions of people from all walks of life - in person or anonymously - with the purpose of celebrating individual approaches to pursuing balance, and learning from one another. Whatever your work or home commitments, finding the right blend to create a harmony that suits you is a fine balancing act. Join us to listen to stories and tips to enlighten and inspire.

  1. 40: How to Find a Work-Life Balance by Working More

    FEB 12

    40: How to Find a Work-Life Balance by Working More

    The rhetoric around work-life balance is often twinned with messaging around self-care and well-being. And whilst it's true that the end result of improving your work-life balance is usually an enhanced sense of well-being, there are many ways in which a person can get to that point. And one of those that this episode addresses is working more. Yes, you read that correctly: this episode explores how you can improve your work-life balance by INCREASING your work load.  In this episode I share some real life examples of people who have done just that, and shared their "work-life balance confession" on the podcast. I will reflect on how this approach can enhance a person’s sense of balance, how it can be managed well, and what the pitfalls are when it goes wrong too. Of course, self-care is the most commonly cited way of improving your work-life balance, but let this episode broaden your mind to other possibilities too. RELATED EPISODES: On Prioritising Work Over Other Things in Life: 11: Gilles' Story: On Finding Balance as a Career-Driven Family Man, When Work Takes Priority - https://a-fine-balance.com/2023/04/02/a-fine-balance-the-podcast-season-2-episode-3-out-now/ 21: Rami's Story: Finding Balance When You’re An Introvert in a Family and Workplace Full of Extroverts - https://a-fine-balance.com/2024/03/13/finding-balance-when-youre-an-introvert-in-a-family-and-workplace-full-of-extroverts-podcast-episode-out-now-season-3-episode-3/ Darren’s Story – Confessions of a Workaholic: https://a-fine-balance.com/2020/08/27/108/ Marsha’s Story – From high-flying professional to stay-at-home-mum: https://a-fine-balance.com/2020/09/23/work-life-balance-profile-3-marsha/ 12: Ruth's Story: On Finding Balance When You Want to “Have It All”, Teamwork & Avoiding Stress: https://a-fine-balance.com/2023/04/21/a-fine-balance-the-podcast-season-2-episode-4-out-now/8: Tom's Story - Finding Balance in Retirement: https://a-fine-balance.com/2022/06/18/a-fine-balance-the-podcast-episode-8-out-now/ On Reducing Work Load in Pursuit of Balance: 9: Amanda's Story - On Not Being Career-Oriented & Finding Balance as a Musician and a Newlywed: https://a-fine-balance.com/2023/02/03/its-official-season-two-of-a-fine-balance-the-podcast-is-live/ 16: Sam's Story - On Part-Time Working Fatherhood, Perfectionism & Finding Balance When Living with Cancer: https://a-fine-balance.com/2023/12/18/a-fine-balance-the-podcast-season-2-episode-8-out-now/ 27: Rebecca’s Story - On Flexible Working, Morning Routines & Finding Balance When You're In Charge: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0DAOBqA2RnyMa19gayV9Iz?si=oAkIO6tdQ3qgOMn_PNlMiQ The Fine Balance Between Working Hard, and Working Too Hard: https://a-fine-balance.com/2022/05/18/the-fine-balance-between-working-hard-and-working-too-hard/ On Challenging the Term "Work-Life Balance": What's in a Name? https://a-fine-balance.com/2021/09/05/whats-in-a-name/ What the hell is “work-life balance” anyway? https://a-fine-balance.com/2024/10/11/what-the-hell-is-work-life-balance-anyway/

    29 min
  2. 39: Finding a Work-Life Balance When The 'To Do' List is Never Done: Kerry's Story on Solo Motherhood, Job-Sharing and the Lure of the Expatriate Lifestyle

    JAN 30

    39: Finding a Work-Life Balance When The 'To Do' List is Never Done: Kerry's Story on Solo Motherhood, Job-Sharing and the Lure of the Expatriate Lifestyle

    This solo episode is dedicated to an anonymous "Work-Life Balance Confession" of a woman named Kerry (*not her real name), who did not want to reveal her identity. Kerry's work-life balance story originally featured on the blog, and centred on the themes of finding a work-life balance when: 📋You have a never-ending ‘to-do list’ 🤰You're a solo parent (Kerry pursued IVF with a sperm donor, so is raising her son independently) 🧑‍🧒You have a child with additional needs 💯You're a Perfectionist 👯‍♀️You're in a job-share Kerry brings a new dimension to the work:life ratio I ask all my guests to reflect on, inserting the element of “play”, which for her has been lacking since becoming a mother:“It never feels like a day when I don’t have lots to do. Where is the fun? Where is the play?” A reminder, if ever we need one, of how joy is so intrinsic to the pursuit of balance. RELATED EPISODES AND BLOG LINKS: Write-up of my original interview with Kerry: https://a-fine-balance.com/2023/06/07/finding-balance-when-the-to-do-list-is-never-done-kerrys-story-on-solo-motherhood-job-sharing-and-the-lure-of-the-expatriate-lifestyle/ On being a high-achiever and perfectionist: 38: How to Find a Work-Life Balance When You're a Perfectionist - Work, Life, Balance Lesson #8Work-Life Balance Confessions: Stories and Tips to Enlighten and Inspire How to Juggle What Matters 10: On Finding Balance in Grief, Being a High-Achiever & Overcoming Imposter Syndrome-Katie's Story Work-Life Balance Confessions: Stories and Tips to Enlighten and Inspire How to Juggle What Matters On Single Parenting: 2: On competitiveness, co-parenting & surviving job loss - Jhilmil’s Story Work-Life Balance Confessions: Stories and Tips to Enlighten and Inspire How to Juggle What Matters

    37 min
  3. 38: How to Find a Work-Life Balance When You're a Perfectionist - Work, Life, Balance Lesson #8

    JAN 21

    38: How to Find a Work-Life Balance When You're a Perfectionist - Work, Life, Balance Lesson #8

    Perfectionism is often seen as a hindrance to work-lifebalance. After all, the dictionary defines a perfectionist as someone "not satisfied with anything less than perfect" - a mindset that can easily lead to burnout. In this episode, I explore insights from podcast interviewswhere perfectionism (or the lack of it) has come up. I’ll share the key lessons I've learned along the way, including: ⭐️ 3 essential work-life balance take-aways from people who describe resisting  perfectionism ⭐️ Practical strategies for perfectionists to strike a healthier balance ⭐️ Real-life examples of how perfectionism can both hinder and enhance work-life harmony Below are some links to other episodes referenced in the show. If you’d like to share your story of work-life balance and perfectionism, get in touch at info@a-fine-balance.com. RELATED EPISODES: On Being a Perfectionist: 10: On Finding Balance in Grief, Being a High-Achiever &Overcoming Imposter Syndrome-Katie's Story:https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/sNiDQWnqiQb 23: On Housekeeping, Middle Age & Finding Work-LifeBalance When Your Marriage Ends - Helen’s Story: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/work-life-balance-confessions-stories-and-tips-to/id1570430336?i=1000652002324. On Resisting Perfectionism: 6: “Single & Childfree by Choice”. On boundary-setting& doing what makes you happy - Laurie’s Story: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-fine-balance/id1570430336?i=1000553872664 16: On Part-Time Working Fatherhood, Perfectionism &Finding Balance With Cancer-Sam's Story: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/work-life-balance-confessions-stories-and-tips-to/id1570430336?i=1000638884267 27: On Flexible Working, Morning Routines & FindingBalance When You Like To Be In Charge - Rebecca’s Story: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-fine-balance/id1570430336?i=1000659563287 On Burnout: 3: On burnout and finding balance in the early stages ofworking life - Tahmid’s Story: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-fine-balance/id1570430336?i=1000537016359 25: On Work-Life Balance in Marketing and Corporate Jobs,Having Fun & Asking For Help - Dan’s Story: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-fine-balance/id1570430336?i=1000656335982 35: On Panic Attacks, Career Changes and Regaining BalanceAfter Hitting Rock Bottom - Routh's Story: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-fine-balance/id1570430336?i=1000679434706

    26 min
  4. 37: On the Hidden Impact of Debt, Body Image Struggles, and Being "Replaceable" on Work-Life Balance – Lorna's Story

    JAN 10

    37: On the Hidden Impact of Debt, Body Image Struggles, and Being "Replaceable" on Work-Life Balance – Lorna's Story

    In this episode of A Fine Balance, we explore some serious life challenges that can impact a person's work-life balance, through the personal story of my guest Lorna McKenna. Lorna works full-time in local government, alongside running her passion project of coaching and hosting a personal development podcast called "Evolve & Expand". She is also expecting her first child so is on the cusp of some pretty seismic changes in 2025. Throughout our conversation, we cover: 💰Lorna's personal journey through debt - the anxiety and shame that came with it, and how it challenged her sense of balance. 🫦What it’s like to struggle with body image and the impact that this, and perpetually striving to lose weight, can have on a person’s work-life balance and mental well-being. 👥Lorna's experience of being let go from a role she had fully invested herself into. This shifted her work-life balance perspective profoundly as she faced the stark reality that "everyone is replaceable ". 🕰️ Plus, we dive into practical tips on how freeing up your schedule can create more balance in both work and home life. As the first podcast episode of the year and the Season, Lorna and I talk about new beginnings and she shares some wise words on embracing change and new beginnings. I hope the ideas that she shares supports listeners as they consider what finding a work-life balance in 2025 means to them. RELATED EPISODES: On diary management and scheduling: 27: On Flexible Working, Morning Routines, and How To Find a Work-Life Balance When You Like to Be In Charge: Rebecca Newenham's Story: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/dalya-wittenberg2/episodes/27-On-Flexible-Working--Morning-Routines--Finding-Balance-When-Youre-In-Charge---Rebeccas-Story-e2jd8tu/a-aaoejho On debt and financial worries:  25: On Work-Life Balance in Marketing and Corporate Jobs, Having Fun & Asking for Help - Dan Knowlton's Story: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/dalya-wittenberg2/episodes/25-On-Work-Life-Balance-in-Marketing-and-Corporate-Jobs--Having-Fun--Asking-For-Help---Dans-Story-e2i8717/a-aaoejho You can listen to my interview on Lorna's podcast, "Evolve & Expand", here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/lorna-mckenna/episodes/83-Creating-Your-Own-Version-of-Balance-with-Dalya-Wittenberg-e2hmns6/a-ab47245

    1h 7m
  5. 36: Podcast Backstory & What's Coming Up in Season 4

    12/20/2024 · BONUS

    36: Podcast Backstory & What's Coming Up in Season 4

    In the spirit of the upcoming holidays, this episode of “A Fine Balance” touches on the past, present and future of the podcast. On the past, I take a look back at what prompted me to create a podcast that delves into the subject of how different people pursue their balance between work and everything else in life. On the present, I share a gift that’s available right now for any listeners curious to explore where you stand in balancing your work with everything else in life: the Work, Life, Balance Self-Assessment tool. To download the self-assessment for free from the website go to www.a-fine-balance.com, and for guidance on how to get use it to its full effect, check out Episode 34: Work, Life, Balance Self-Assessment: a Tool for Reflecting on Your Personal Pursuit of Balance And finally, looking ahead to the future, I share a few teasers on what’s to come in Season 4 of the podcast, which is due to launch in 2025. Wishing all my listeners an enjoyable holiday period, and one that enables you to find a sense of balance, whatever that means for you. You can read more about the podcast's backstory on these blog posts: A Fine Balance - A Fine Balance © A Fine Balance Lockdown 2.0: The Next Chapter - A Fine Balance © A Fine Balance Work-Life Balance Profiles: An Introduction - A Fine Balance © A Fine Balance

    8 min
  6. 35: On Panic Attacks, Career Changes and Regaining Balance After Hitting Rock Bottom - Routh's Story

    12/06/2024

    35: On Panic Attacks, Career Changes and Regaining Balance After Hitting Rock Bottom - Routh's Story

    9/11 marked a dramatic turning point in the working life of this episode's guest, Routh Chadwick, a New York resident who at the time was an aspiring actress. The career changes that evolved from thereon maintained a degree of drama, as Routh went on to train as a clinical social worker and counsellor. From TV sets as a counsellor on the Jeremy Kyle show, to caring for patients on the psych ward, Routh's work-life balance limits were tested, leading her to set the boundaries she has in place today between her work and everything else in life. In this episode, as well as hearing her own fascinating work-life balance story , Routh shares her professional expertise on the pursuit of balance, including: *The impact that smartphones and social media have on the pursuit of balance *Recovering from experiencing panic attacks at work *Overcoming burn-out *Finding a balance between being a creative, and seeking stability *The pursuit of balance when you're child-free RELATED EPISODES: On finding balance when you have a smartphone and engage in social media: https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/G61tbY7G5Ob https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/0UjjK17G5Ob On being child-free: https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/uN3C77hH5Ob On burn-out: https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/xjHWFdiH5Ob https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/xUBeNc8G5Ob https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/RU0kHOoH5Ob

    1h 11m
  7. 34: Work, Life, Balance Self-Assessment: a Tool for Reflecting on Your Personal Pursuit of Balance

    11/27/2024

    34: Work, Life, Balance Self-Assessment: a Tool for Reflecting on Your Personal Pursuit of Balance

    This podcast episode is a quick introduction and guide to a new tool, which has recently launched on the website, www.a-fine-balance.com, called the "Work, Life, Balance Self-Assessment". If you've downloaded the self-assessment, or are considering doing it, then take a listen to this episode to get some ideas about how to complete the assessment, what to bear in mind as you do, and for some additional questions to prompt more in-depth introspection. If you'd like to share your experience of completing the Work, Life, Balance Self-Assessment, then get in touch as info@a-fine-balance.com.

    14 min
  8. 33: How To Reset Your Work-Life Balance by Mastering Four Internal Elements - with Faust Ruggiero

    10/29/2024

    33: How To Reset Your Work-Life Balance by Mastering Four Internal Elements - with Faust Ruggiero

    In this episode of A Fine Balance – The Podcast, I’m joined by Faust Ruggiero, a US-based therapist and author whose career spans over 35 years of working with people from all walks of life. From his time in clinics, prisons, and inpatient facilities to his role as a consultant for major corporations, Faust brings a wealth of knowledge and practical insight. Throughout our conversation, Faust introduces his “process life program,” a method he developed to help people find inner balance across four key areas: physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual. He also shares his personal journey of balancing a full-time practice with raising four children, leading to the creation of The Fix Yourself Empowerment Series—a collection of guides focused on overcoming common struggles like anxiety, depression, and anger. This episode is for you if: - You're interested in reflecting on what balance really means, both in work and in life; - You'd like to learn some tips for creating a sense of calm and stability from within; - You work as a therapist and would like to understand the work-life balance challenges that like-minded professionals contend with and how they overcome them. If this episode resonates with you, you may also want to check out Episode #7 from our back catalogue: Five Steps to Improve Your Work-Life Balance - with Annabel Jeffcoate https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dalya-wittenberg2/episodes/7-BONUS-EPISODE-Five-Steps-to-Improve-Your-Work-Life-Balance---with-Annabel-Jeffcoate-e1gvjkt As we approach the end of 2024, this will be the last interview episode of Season 3 of A Fine Balance – The Podcast. We’ll be back in 2025 with more in-depths interviews from people of all backgrounds, professions, occupations, and stages of life. Some will have found their work-life balance sweet spot; others will still be in pursuit of balance. All of them, no doubt, will have lessons to share, which I look forward to exploring more of in the new year too. Meanwhile, I hope listeners enjoy this final interview episode of 2024, which was recorded back in the summer, featuring a work-life balance pro who offers some tangible and practical advice on how to find that sweet balance spot. You can join the online 'A Fine Balance' community by looking up our page on LinkedIn, and following @afinebalance_podcast on Instagram.

    1h 2m
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If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the competing demands of work and life, or if you’re simply curious about how others manage their time and priorities, then this is the podcast for you. Each episode covers the work-life balance confessions of people from all walks of life - in person or anonymously - with the purpose of celebrating individual approaches to pursuing balance, and learning from one another. Whatever your work or home commitments, finding the right blend to create a harmony that suits you is a fine balancing act. Join us to listen to stories and tips to enlighten and inspire.

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