The “Dog Days of Summer” are in full swing. And many within college athletics, this means a few things. 1. It is hot. 2. The fall semester is fast approaching. With the summer vacation almost over, the understanding that busy times are ahead can hit like a brick. Days tend to blend together as busy work weeks of soccer and volleyball games expand to the weekend with football games and cross-country meets. An issue with busy schedules is the decrease in work-life balance. Here are a few tips to help improve your work-life balance during an active semester.
Share Family Time with Events
Event attendance is a part of the job for many involved in a college administration. It is a great way to form relationships with donors, season tickets holders, and students. Unfortunately, these events happen at times outside of the normal 9-5 and cut into family time. Whenever possible, bring your family to the games. These events are excellent opportunities for your family to meet your coworkers, see where you work, and build their passion for the school you promote. All while you spend time together.
Be Vocal About the Home Team
College athletics draws many people due to traditions and feverish atmospheres. We’ve all seen the fans dressed in costumes. Students bare-chested with a single letter painted in school colors. All in vocal support of their favorite team. Well, if are a fan of having a work-life balance, be vocal with your boss about your ambitions away from work. Now, I’m not saying to walk into your supervisor’s office with a foam finger and dyed hair. But it is important that he/she knows you are a fan of your life outside the office and at home.
Sit Well at Work
In our article “Quit Making These Four Mistakes at Work,” one mistake was too much sitting. Work can get fast paced and stressful. Long days can lead to prolonged sitting in a desk, in meetings, or traveling. A trend growing in health is ergonomics. The proper desk and chair setup are like the perfect pair of shoes. You don’t realize the difference till you do. If you can get a desk ergonomic assessment done on your workstation, great! If not, there are plenty of online resources to help people make proper adjustments. Your workstation is a key element to being comfortable at work.
Enjoy Your Position
A college athletic department is individuals who make up a bigger team. Each have their own tasks, but all push for the same goal: building the best program in America. The Director of Ticket Operations role is to coordinate all activities and tasks relating to ticketing. The Director of Athletic Training is responsible for coordinating the medical services for the student athletes. They seem unrelated, but hurt athletes affect tickets sells. And vice versa. When you feel unappreciated just remember your work ethic and success affects co-workers. How you feel about the position you play is an important part of living balanced. Take a step back and remind yourself how you make the program better.
Conclusion
Work is important, but don’t let your pursuits at the office overwhelm your goal of living balanced. Find ways to join your family at events. Be vocal with your supervisor about your love away from the office. Fix your habits at your desk. Take pride in your position at work. Building healthy behaviors can help you find some balance between work and life.