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WLB Thursdays and All That: Avenues to Finding Balance
by Beverley A. WoodAs librarians, we have the urge to serve others and tend to place our own needs and desires on the back burner. Our profession continues to be female-dominated, and women tend to be self- sacrificing. We feel an enormous pull to let our work dictate our lives, rather than dictating the place of work in our lives. I have found that we all need some motivating factor, or baptism, to keep us focused on aspects of our lives besides work. My own baptism/motivation came early in my library career.
Motivation to create balance
Shortly after finishing my coursework for the MLS, I landed a temporary position as the sole Public Services Librarian in a very busy academic law library. This library catered, not only to the staff and students of the university, but also to the local and regional legal fraternity. I was new both to the field of librarianship and to legal information. The learning curve was very steep and the work was demanding and time consuming.
In addition, I still had to complete the research component of my Master’s program. All my non-work time was spent in this activity; my life consisted solely of working and studying. This was not a healthy combination! I promised myself then and there that after that period I would never allow a job to totally consume my life.
It is important - and particularly so for new librarians - to establish boundaries which clearly define work and the rest of our lives. It may not be easy to pull yourself away from the work environment, but some avenues within that arena can also be used to explore other interests.
Learn a new skill
My next job allowed me to put my resolve into action, to a certain extent. The job was at a tech/voc institution with beautiful grounds. I spent many lunch hours under trees reading novels, and occasionally a friend and I would have a spontaneous picnic. This workplace offered short courses in the evenings and I was able to take advantage of several of them. I learned to sew, to make soft furnishings, and to build web pages. In one of these evening programs I met a young lady with whom I have remained friends, and who has since become a librarian.
Perhaps your organization also offers continuing education or skills training. Take advantage of the opportunity to develop your creativity or an interest, or to learn a new skill unrelated to your actual profession. These can be parlayed into other benefits such as meeting new friends, becoming a mentor to younger people, or simply self fulfillment.
Explore your surroundings
Another institution for which I worked was located in the middle of the capital city. Each day, after eating a quick lunch, I would explore some of the small stores hidden in various nooks and crannies, window shop, or traverse unfamiliar streets, many of which had interesting names and histories. My education moved outside the book as I was better able to relate to local history. My knowledge base widened, which impacted positively on my role as a reference librarian.
Often I would walk to a nearby park and just watch senior citizens play warri or dominoes. An art gallery at that location ignited an interest in art and photography. In the other direction was a craft village where items were made on the spot. It was fascinating to watch the craftspeople fashion exquisite pieces out of the most ordinary materials. Sometimes there would be a cultural show, geared mainly towards tourists, but which I found quite entertaining. An unexpected side benefit of these explorations was weight loss due to my increased physical activity; this was the most painless and pleasurable of exercise routines.
Is the area surrounding your workplace conducive to walking or such explorations? Why not take a walk and see what you find? You just may get more than you anticipated - an increased awareness of local and cultural history, adventure, and even pleasurable exercise.
WLB Thursdays
The location of and benefits at my current workplace allow opportunities which act as foils to the demanding and intense work environment. In addition to having a beautiful botanical garden, the institution is located close to shopping centers, the beach, recreational parks, eateries, and, very importantly, the home of my work buddy. One other attractive benefit is flextime, where, within reason, one can set one's own working hours. This combination of location and flexible work hours has facilitated what my buddy has dubbed work life balance (WLB) Thursdays.
So, on Thursdays at lunchtime, we "get off the compound." We go picnicking at the beach, try out a nearby restaurant, window shop, or hang out in the park or at my colleague's home. My colleague loves to cook and is always trying new and interesting recipes, and I am happy to be the guinea pig.
Initially I felt guilty (and sometimes I still do) about taking such an extended lunch period. However, during the course of the work week, I more than make up for the extra time taken on Thursdays. The break from the work environment is also so refreshing and stimulating that I usually return to work charged up.
These Thursday escapades have proven to be great stress relievers, though more often than not we spend the time talking shop. We brainstorm, discuss articles or current issues, and plot our course for the following week - or our next activity. The benefits of WLB Thursdays are not just personal, but impact positively on my work as well.
Your work environment will most likely have these and or similar avenues for finding time to engage in non-work activities. Even if you cannot get off the compound, find an outlet for relieving some stress and to relax. Join some of your colleagues at the staff gym, or have a silly competition at lunch in the staff cafeteria. Take a break from the routine. The benefits will not only be yours, but will accrue to your workplace as well.
Beverley A. Wood is a cataloguer and Humanities and Education Liaison Librarian at the Main Library, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados.