Is work-life balance possible?
I’ve always been dedicated to my work. Interior design is my passion, and I work hard to do it well for my clients. I’m also a dedicated mother and partner. It’s important to me to be there for my family and make time for my wolf pack.
Sometimes these priorities can feel conflicting. There are moments when my family takes priority and others when work is my focus.
When I look back on my career, I’m not sure I’ve ever achieved a perfect balance. I have, however, created a business that gives me the privilege of building personal and professional boundaries that make me stronger for myself, my family and my clients.
As I review new contracts with clients, I emphasize the boundaries we’ve created to respect their time and space. It is our policy not to work after hours or on weekends. Every contractor I partner with agrees to these conditions. It might seem like this policy would delay project completion, but the opposite is true.
With clear professional boundaries, I can deliver a better product to our clients. Giving our team and clients space from the project ensures that we’re all on our A-game when we work together. It also gives our clients valuable time in their homes without the intrusion or distraction of our team of contractors and designers. This boundary protects clients from the stress or burnout caused by a lack of privacy.
Working longer doesn’t necessarily mean the project will be done faster or at the quality that we guarantee. These boundaries ensure our contracting and design team is sharp when we’re working on a project in your home or managing fire drills on our own.
As a business owner, I’ve created these boundaries to ensure I’m showing up as my best for my clients. To do this, I need to spend time caring for my family and friends.
I want to be there for my kids, whether that means picking them up from school, taking them to the park, or chaperoning a class trip. This time with my kids is good for my soul and great for my creativity. My children challenge me to see the world with fresh eyes, picking up on new colors, shapes or patterns that inspire me professionally. When I’m feeling stuck, I spend some time with my kids. Their wonder always does the trick.
I also need to spend time prioritizing my relationship with my partner. Starting my own business wasn’t something I did alone. I did it with the support of my family. My partner is along with me at every step of the way, cheering me on and helping me navigate challenges. Spending time together allows us to keep the foundation for my family strong, making the foundation for my business much stronger.
The perfect work-life balance may not be possible. Life is full of personal and professional obstacles and opportunities that make perfection difficult to achieve.
However, it is possible to create clear boundaries and set expectations that make our work lives more personal and our professional lives more wonderful. At One of a Kind Interior Design, we build boundaries to keep this wonder alive. It makes our work more wonderful too.
