CLARK STACIE CLARK STACIE - HER LIFE Magazine

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herlife | working womenSeparating Work and Personal Personasby candi smithOver 150 years ago, SojournerTruth proclaimed that she couldbirth babies and plow fields—andemphasized, “Ain’t I a woman?” The morethings change, the more they stay the same.We still work at home, outside the homeand everywhere in between. Ain’t womenwondrous?But it’s important that as you forgeprofessional and private personas, you setclear boundaries to help create rhythm inyour life. Fortunately, today’s woman hasmany resources available at her fingertips tohelp guide her with this duality.Separate your work and home lifestylesby using technology consistently. Forinstance, carry two different mobile phones,ensuring that only one is used for work callsand emails. It allows you to continue tocommunicate with necessary professionalcontacts throughout the day and frees up yourpersonal cell phone for calls from family andfriends. Many employers provide a phone toyou for business purposes. Additionally, bydedicating a line to work calls, you can take abusiness expense write-off (if self-employed)for taxes.If you work out of your home, make sureyou dedicate a space for your home office.It psychologically helps you put on your“professional hat” when you need to haveyour head in the game. And it helps keep yourwork life from seeping into your personal andprivate time.Create structure in your day by using sometype of planner (online calendars work greatbecause they have reminders and notificationsthat might otherwise get missed on hard copycalendars). This allows you to have a set endof your workday, especially important if youtend to be a workaholic who has a hard timerecognizing when the workday is through. Italso keeps you focused on tasks that you needto complete.Try to keep a notepad handy at all timesfor when you have those flashes of brilliance(which usually come in the middle of thenight!). This allows you to jot down a fewprofessional notes, but quickly return to yourpersonal time. Don’t fully flesh out businessideas at this time—just refer to your noteslater to start the creative processes flowing.Create separate email addresses for yourwork and private lives, along with appropriate40 HERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM
email auto-responses. For instance, if you know that during yourworkday you won’t check your private email, set up an auto-responderto your family and friends that lets them know you’re unavailableduring working hours. Likewise, on the professional side, set up aresponse that lets your clients or coworkers know the hours they canreach you. Then be sure you are diligent about being available so youdon’t discredit yourself.If you work out of your home, makesure you dedicate a space for yourhome office. It psychologically helpsyou put on your “professional hat”when you need to have your headin the game.Using technology to establish boundaries makes things easier but someareas can get a bit stickier. What happens when you have personalissues that carry over into the workplace such as a divorce, death inthe family or financial problems? It’s important to do your best to onlybring your professional persona into the office. Otherwise, you mightcause your boss or peers to lose confidence in your ability to do yourjob. Create a plan of action that allows you to tackle whatever you’redealing with so that you’re not adding job loss to your already stressfulsituation.Avoid hanging out with gossipy colleagues. If they will dish their owndirt, they will surely dish yours as well. Many accomplished womenhave regretted being open in the workplace about their private lives andputting their “business in the street.” While it’s human nature to wantto reach out and connect with others, you need to carefully assess whoyou can trust with your personal issues. But if you find that there’s noone in the workplace you can turn to, seek outside professional help.If available, your company’s Employee Assistance Program is a greatconfidential resource to use.You’ve probably heard the phrase “dress for success”—this adage stillrings true. Sweat pants and flip flops are perfect for a night of movies andpopcorn on your couch. But don’t even think about showing up to workin them if you want to be taken seriously. And keep your conversationsand language professional at all times in the workplace, even if you cusslike a sailor at home.Finally, remember that sometimes things you do in your privatelife have a way of finding themselves being discussed around the officewater cooler. Be smart about how you conduct yourself on blogs, socialnetworking sites and in posted photos. And don’t ever bash your boss,place of employment, or your peers and coworkers. ■Sources for this article were found at:profitably.com, bradleygauthier.com and wikihow.com.HERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM 41
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