Team Blog

v-Fluence Blog

01/03/2008

Posted by Dawn A. Runge.

After graduating last December and completing an enjoyable but cubicle-bound internship with a large public relations firm in July, I joined v-Fluence. As a truly new "young professional" working from home or various other locations, work-life balance has taken on a real meaning for me.

A coworker passed along a Fox Business article with the results of a survey conducted by Beyond.com. The survey found 57 percent of professionals put work-life balance as their most important professional goal for the New Year. The article's recommendations mesh with the approaches I've used to maintain a healthy work-life balance in my short tenure at v-Fluence and serve as handy reminders for how to maintain this balance as part of my New Year resolutions:

Take Every Opportunity. I've been with v-Fluence for only six months, so I am new not only to the company but to the professional world. I constantly make mistakes and know I will continue to make them. Here, however, all employees, including managing partners, are available to help me learn from my mistakes and use them as opportunities for improvement. Interestingly, I find that I'm much more comfortable discussing my concerns, hopes, and work issues with my boss in our flexible work environment than I would be if only a simple nameplate, not physical distance, separated us.
Devise a Realistic Strategy. Devising a strategy for work-life balance can be difficult when there are no clear boundaries. When your home is your office, it can be very easy as a young single professional to work all day, repeat, and not see sunlight for a few days if you don't force yourself to get out of the house. With v-Fluence, we each have a mentor to chat with for advice, and we can turn to our colleagues for guidance. I have found the best advice comes from those who have been with the company for a while-their trial-by-fire experiences ensure an answer (or at least sound reasoning) for any work-life dilemmas I've encountered.
Set the Bar Appropriately. PR professionals are notorious for working constantly, including evenings and weekends. v-Fluence's company policy and culture has helped me understand when we need to step away from our computers, and when we need to be there for the company or clients. I've found the instant messages and e-mail from a boss saying, "Sign off, I'll see you tomorrow" or "I'm concerned, I haven't heard much from you today" are useful guides to knowing what the company expects from me.
Tap Into the People Who Know You Best. Having less face time with colleagues than I would in a traditional office setting could be an issue, but I've never felt my colleagues and coworkers in the past were as inviting as they've been here at v-Fluence. Not a day goes by when someone doesn't stop by my virtual desk to see what they can do to help me succeed.
Make Daily Reminders. Daily lists are key to ensuring my future success at v-Fluence and keeping my work-life balance on track. For me, list-making is a daily ritual that helps me reflect on my successes and "areas of opportunity." The lists also provide structure to days that can otherwise run together or get away from you-and they provide a mental "check out" to help you walk away when things are done.

As I look ahead to the New Year, I'm excited to continue working for v-Fluence and maintaining the healthy work-life balance the company promotes and supports.

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