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It may seem strange that we are talking about subjects such as saving for
retirement and remaining current in your field when you have not even
graduated. As they say – failing to plan is planning to fail! Decisions you
make now, and the mindset you establish from your first day on the job, will
impact the enjoyment your life can bring. Let’s begin by assessing your
goals and attitudes about work-life balance so we can establish a plan that
you can carry with you through your career.
The term “work-life balance” is a misnomer because it is never a perfect
balance. The amount of time you will dedicate to either facet of your life
will vary over time and throughout your career. That’s how it should be.
There is no perfect, one-size-fits all balance to try and achieve. Success for
you will depend on your attitude, goals, and definition of success.
During your time in college, you determined the definition of your success.
For some people, success is passing the course. For others, it is achieving an
A. Some students define success as graduating, while others place more
value on the experience and relationships they developed. The same is
true when establishing a healthy work-life balance. You get to define a
successful breakdown of where you spend your time and energy. The key
is being deliberate about your choice. Deliberate means that you are
making a conscious choice about how you will manage your time and the
decisions you make. For one person, a deliberate work-life balance means
being home several nights per week. For another, it’s about having enough
emotional energy to connect with both family and co-workers. If you ask
100 people what deliberate work-life balance looks like, you will
undoubtedly get 100 different responses.
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Section 18 – Planning For Your Future