At lunchtime on November 14th, our Firms committee hosted a panel on work-life balance.

The panelists discussed the ways they’ve dealt with balancing their work and life at the various stages of their careers.  The panelists recommended earning “capital” early in your career so that you can exchange it later for things like flex time, part time schedules, or just to make time for your relationships and hobbies.  Working really hard when you have time and flexibility can allow you to prove yourself so that when you have more constraints on your life or need something in the future, your colleagues will be more accommodating.  The panelists also discussed the importance of having a great support system.  Whether it’s a team of babysitters, a nanny, a husband, a partner, or a family member, they stressed how helpful it is to have someone to call for help or to assign certain tasks to.  Finally, the panelists discussed thinking of work life balance in a larger context than the traditional “female-with-children” perspective.  Work life balance should include men and women, families and friends, hobbies and activities. Continuing conversations like we had during the panel can help spread this broader perspective, increase awareness about issues of work life balance, and provide individuals with practical tips to succeed.