Work Life Balance, Stress Relief At Work: Making the Tough Choices to Balance your Life. Part one of this article discussed the unfortunate reality that over one-half of working professionals surveyed aren't living a balanced life and that corporate leaders are in denial or believe that policies that address work-life balance issues impede competitiveness. Since answers are not going to come from above, it's up to those in the unbalanced majority to help resolve work-life balance issues - for themselves and for those whom they lead. Learn more about how to deal with stress in the work place and finding a work-life balance that goes beyond just stress management at work.

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Making the Tough Choices to Balance your Life

Part 2 of a two-part series By Susan Cramm

Part one of this article discussed the unfortunate reality that over one-half of working professionals surveyed aren't living a balanced life and that corporate leaders are in denial or believe that policies that address work-life balance issues impede competitiveness. Since answers are not going to come from above, it's up to those in the unbalanced majority to help resolve work-life balance issues — for themselves and for those whom they lead.

Here's an e-mail I received recently from a woman named Jean (a pseudonym) that describes the work-life balance dilemma perfectly:

"I have spent 15 years in the same company trying to 'get to the top.' As a result, I have a daughter who is completely alienated from me and a husband who lives a complete life without me. My daughter suddenly has three years left in school and it has taken me 15 years to realize that she is much more important than work. I am dumbfounded how to change the situation, though."

"My company is very rigid about time keeping and there is no such thing as a 'half-day' position in the IT field. I vacillate between wanting to change jobs to accommodate a half-day position (but I know financially this is impossible) and staying where I am because I worked so hard to get here (where exactly 'here' is, I actually have no idea)."

It's tragic to work hard for many years — to have missed out on what matters most and be left without a clue as to what to do next. On the surface, it would appear that successful professionals like Jean have all the work-life balance tools they need — organizational and financial — to take control of their lives.

From an organizational perspective, they are in positions where they shape plans, define work commitments and schedules, and delegate to others. They should also have the financial security necessary to define their boundaries — to say "yes" or "no" and, if necessary, find alternative employment if their needs do not synch with those of the enterprise.