Fishing, a WLB activity

To some people, balancing life is about spending time with family or friends, living a healthy life or just find some personal time for yourself. 

My husband approach might not be so different after all. He enjoys fishing in the middle of no where with friends every now and then. Although I don't totally approve, I respected his choice of 'boys activity' once a while. 

Personally, I don't think so much of fishing as an activity for a balance life. Yes, it is a hobby but still I don't understand the pleasure you get by sitting on the boat all day long waiting for the fish to take a bite. It doesn't sound relaxing at all with the boat rocking, motion sickness, heat and sweats all over you. Maybe that because it is his hobby and not mine. 

For me, his fishing activity is just an escape from his daily life. A simple choice of having to spend some time socializing with the boys. Some men prefers to have a drink in a coffeeshop or play football or go to the club. As for him, fishing is his way in getting his mind off work. 

What ever it is, it will be great if he could find another aspect of life that needed balancing - a time for the family.

Flexi-Work Hour: An Alternative

One of the most effective alternatives to work in line with work-life balance is by incorporating flexi hour work as asserted by Hegewisch (2009). Although, now all types of work could accommodate this initiative, some especially people who work at the office should be given a chance in implementing this as to give more flexibility in order to moving forward into a more balance living. 

Flexi-Work Hour Option

Christina Oddone claims that women are falsely represented with the assumption of high achievement on career field justifies their self-actualization as reported by Butterworth (2009). This perception is misleading as women has more tendercy and prefers to choose their family over work as to care for their family based on the study by the Centre of Policy Study (Butterworth, 2009).  

Working women need to be given the opportunity to balance their career and family life to exel on both - Work & Life. Thus, flexi-work hour is an alternative choice. However, not many companies and organizations are keen to do so. According to Hegewisch (2009), flexi working hours is in compromise of working on a pre-schedule hours as agreed by both employee and employers and also working part time as other alternatives which means contributing less amount of hours at work. This gives extra free times for women to handle and taking care of their other responsibilities. 

Advance countries had proven in implementing the flexi-work hour such as in Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands and United Kingdom. As a matter of fact, other Asian countries such as Singapore and India too had started this effort.

In Malaysia, government policies have move towards this path such as the National Family Policy under the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development. The policy was introduces in 2010 and just at “baby-step phase” on its implementation. The policy is seen in encourage the transformation of work to a family-friendly policy including the flexi-working hour. 

This will be a favourable alternative step for working mothers as they were given more flexibility in life and work.

Reference:

Butterworth, M. ( 9 Oct 2009). Less than one in eight mothers want to work full time. The Telegraph.

Hegewisch, A. (2009). Flexible working policies: A comparative review. Institute for Women’s Policy Research.

Photo Credit:
The Sydney Morning Herald

My Inspiration..

Dato' Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil is truly an amazing lady. In terms of balancing life, she is my inspiration. Being woman on top and a politician is no easy job. Some say it is near imposible to balance life being a politician as your 24/7 are filled with work, work and work. But she did it with flying colours!

It was my dream and many others like me to follow her footsteps - having it all in life. Her passion and ambitious for serving the country, her countless charity work for the community, her responsibilies and obligations as a wife, a mother and a dauther are truly an inspirational.

Working under her inner circles for the past 13 years tought me something valuable. A lesson I will never forget and cherish for the rest of my life. The pursuit of happiness,  family will always need to be on your side.

No matter how buzy or tired, she will make time for her family. If she can't come to the family, she'll make the family come to her. Being together and keeping a close family ties is important to her. 

As for us, the longer we serve the more we feels as a part of the family. For her, our family is her family and her family is ours too. 

Photo taken during Dato' Sri Shahrizat birthday celebration in 2013

Cruize Your Stress Away..

Everyone deserve a break. Whether you are bored with your daily routine of work, or just need sometime to enjoy life. Last year, during the school holidays, my brother-in-law invited us to join on a cruise to no way. I did not think twice to say YES as it is an opportunity for me to spend 3 days 2 nights together with people that I love.

I make arrangement to book a car as the cost of two sedan cars for the whole trip will cost more compared to just one big MPV. The most exiting part was this is the first family trip of all of us together. My sister was recently married, her husband, my parents, and my husband including my two kids all are going for the trip. This is such a big deal to my sister and I as this was the first family trip together since ages.

I had such a lovely time despite being a new experience for me. This was also the first trip for my 5 year old son. The cruise was amazing , having to hang out at the pool, barbecue dinner with the family and just enjoy the evening cruising no where in the midsle of the sea, enjoying the moment as it is. It's truly a relaxing trip and cruise my stress away..

Women & Work-Life Balance

As I posted earlier, the terms work/life balance has difference meaning to different people. Of course, as a working mother like me, I believe that it has a deeper meaning for people like me as we struggle the most to care for the children and taking care of our elderly all at the same time. The burden are sometimes shouldered only to us. 

In today's life, especially living in urban areas, for middle to low-income-household (LIH), the need for dual-income earners in family is seems unavoidable. Some may pursue for future career path others may want to be liberate with their own capability on own earning instead of hoping from their spouse. Other may just need to work to make a living for the little luxury in life.

WLB Bigger Picture

From the economic perspective, World Bank asserted that women dominate 46% out of the workforce in the country (Retaining Women in the Workforce 50 Champions of Gender Diversity). We have to wear two hats at the same time, take care of the children and work to make a living. Some even have to care for their elderly especially if they are old or sick.These sandwich generation are sometimes are in conlict as they are juggling their responsibilities, manage imposible shedule to cater for their roles as an employee, a mother and a daugther. 

Butterworth (2009) cite that according to a study by the Centre for Policy Studies, one out of eight women with children, which are 12% are willingly and want to work fulltime. This is due to the fact that they could not cope with the stress. Some has taken a career break and others simply just do not return to the workforce to continue to raise their family. This will lead to the reduction number of women in the workforce especially for working mothers.

Work-Life Balance concept offers a win-win solutions to both employers and employees. And, in a bigger picture, work-life balance helped to address the women' workforce retaintion issues on the national persepective.



Reference:
Retaining Women in the Workforce 50 Champions of Gender Diversity

Butterworth, M. ( Oct 2009) Less than one in eight mothers want to work full time. The Telegraph

Photo Credit:
The Telegraph

Thanks for the Time-off

As the main agencies of the government responsible of the family well-being in Malaysia and in-line with the National Family Policy, The National Population and Family Development (Lembaga Penduduk dan Pembangunan Keluarga Negara acronym LPPKN) are trying its best to be the role model agency by encouraging other government agencies and corporate sectors to implement the work-life balance concept.

Adopting Work-Life Balance effort

LPPKN share experiences in encouraging the family-friendly policies to and adopted a lot of effort to initiate and enforce the concept towards a better balance life for the good of the nation as a whole. However, as a statutory body institute, LPPKN are bound to the rules and regulations as they are civil servants’. This initiative is perceives as an added advantages for LPPKN to make the first big effort for the realization of the work-life balance especially in the context of civil servant services.

To be a role model, LPPKN feels that it is their social duties to set some good example by adopting and following the footsteps of some of the Multi-National Companies (MNC) to incorporate their family-friendly organization policies to put in practices. This is also to prove to others that work-life balance concept is not only theoretical and slanted benefits to the employee.  

Time-off Initiative

Early this year, LPPKN introduce new initiative to its employee to show they are passionate and serious about this matter. LPPKN offers time-off which refers to taking the rest of the day off after lunch on Friday once a month with a pre-condition that the employee have been serving for some extra hours on that particular month. As to be fair to other employee, a rotation schedule could be arranged in order for all entitle employers has equal chance of this benefits.

Although, personally I have not have the opportunity to take this benefits, I am looking forward to it as it will meant so much to me as a  working mother to settle other unrelated-work issues.

A Win-win Benefit

This initiative is well receive by the employee and found that this great opportunity come handy to sort-out their personal and family issue. This is a win-win benefit for both employee and employer by giving a platform for them to settled unrelated work during working hours. In a long run, it helps to boost employee morale and reduce absenteeism problem.

WORK + FAMILY = LIFE

Prioritising is definitely a skill to master. Which one comes first, family or work. Many people believe one complement the other. You work to make a living for supporting the family or yourself. Well, most people do. I believe I do.

However, you'll be surprised to learn that is not always the case. I sure wish that if I was given the luxury of not making my own living to support my family and spends my entire day taking care of them. But to think again, not a chance. Not that I would not sacrifice my career over my children, just that I'm not the full-time housewife/ mother type. I salute them for dedicating their entire life for their children and family.

I confess that I might be just a little selfish to have it all. I do love my children and I want to spend quality time with them despite my hectic schedule. Well I can tell you it not not an easy task.The key is balancing these two axis and setting your priorities. When ever possible starts planning ahead. Keep to your rutin and schedule.

If something clashes for example an important office meeting with your child talent contest at school choose either one but be sure not to repeat the same choice next time. If you finished your work on time after work hour do not be afraid to leave the office before you boss do. It is not your job to lock the office door! Unless it is what you do.

Another thing, just like it is compulsory to attend certain office event, make an effort to do the same with day family - A Compulsory Family Day - your spouse might not appreciate but your kids will certainly do!

A Date with the Kids

I am blessed with two adorable kids, an 8 year old daughter and a 5 year old son. I have always felt guilty sometime as not be able to spend quality time with my children. I work Monday to Friday on weekdays and wake up every day in the morning, send my daughter to school before going off to work. My son is still asleep at that time and by the time I got home at night both of them are half asleep. On weekend, I spend most of my time to do the house chores and catch up on my studies before my Sunday classes. Well, that’s my weekly routine! 

That's why, I felt obligated to spend some quality time with them. But with the hectic work schedule and studying it’s sometime very difficult to find some decent time. So, to help me balance my time with my loves one, I schedule for a date with them. Since I want to make the most out of my date with my children, I try to find activities that they will enjoy the most – instead of what I enjoy – but of course activities that does not cost me a fortune like a trip to Toys r Us.

So, every now and then, I schedule and lock in my calendar for some activity that I think the kids will enjoy the most. I do this because if there is nothing in my schedule, the time will pass by just like that with my weekend routines and the kids will spend the whole day in front of the television. Yes, I will spend the whole day with them but it is not a quality time which will be memorable and affect us.

My kids having a lovely time

During the school holiday recently, we went for a swim on the nearest public swimming pool in Komplek Sukan Bangsar. We spend a few hours there and I just sit and watch them having a good time. It was really calming and gratifying feeling just sitting there that helps me ease my mind from work and release stress.

 More recently, I could not bear to break my date with my 8 year old son even though I would prefer to spend the day preparing for the first day class of the semester. So, we went to the Formula One Race in Sepang International Circuit, just spend some time together. The funniest part was during the qualifying round when he whispers to me saying, “Mommy, when will the motorbike race come out, I want to see the motorbike race, not car race?” Apparently, he’s not aware that Formula 1 Race is not motorbike like he went last year with my husband to the Grand Prix in Sepang. Pity for both of us! 

6 Tips to a Balanced Life

We need some time off from the dreadful daily routine to keep us refresh and unwind our self. Here's are some tips I pick up that can be customize so we can pick and choose which combination that will suit us the best.

1. Spend Time with Family

Spend some quality time with family. Whether you are having a family dinner together or watching your favourite TV Show, shopping with your sisters,  go to a football match with your brother, it does not really matters. What matter the most is that you allocated some quality time together. This strengthens the family bond and keeping you close together. It also takes your mind off work.

2. Find Time to Work Out

As difficult as this may sound, to some of us, we need to find time to work out. Not just to stay healthy and fit, exercise can also reduce stress, increase alertness and concentration and help to refresh our mind. If you cannot exercise 3 times a week, maybe you could start small with just 15 minutes walk by park your car slightly further or climbs the stairs in the office building instead of waiting for the elevator.

3. Get Enough Sleep

Are you getting enough sleep? It is the key to a healthy and balance life. Doctor suggested a minimum of 6 hour straight of sleep. It helps us stay fresh and keep our health in-check.

4. Volunteer, Show That You Care

Social duty calls! Do some volunteering work for the community. You will be surprised of the comforting feeling to share some love and help others in need. Help your community to clean  the compound of your neighbourhood for Anti Dengue Campaign, volunteers at the homeless shelter home, cook and feed orphans or assist an elderly neighbour to do their groceries. The satisfaction feeling will give you a sense of purpose in life.

5. Socialise with Others

Visit you friend or have a Girls’ Night Out! I'm sure there is a lot of catching up to do. Connect with friends, enjoy their company & share stories. At work, if you are not too busy with work, make an effort to mingle with your colleague and get to know them better. Anyway, we spend most of our times with them anyway.

6. Indulge Yourself 

Take some personal “me-time”.  You deserve a treat as well. Whether its reading a novel, listening to music, pick-up a hobby or just chill-out. 

Well, there you have it. Try one at a time. I believe if we truly believe, we can make a difference.  



Reference:
Tanjrloff, J. How to create a balanced life: 9 tips to feel calm and grounded. 

Photo Credit:                                
Mish Sukharev; InJust10Pages


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Contribute to charity work..

Early this year, my friends and I volunteers to help the flood victims in Pahang. As most of us are working full-time and finds it imposible to take a few days off from work to personally help them at the flood site, we decited to organize a collection of unused cloths and necessities to send to those victims. We make an effort to gather some unused, recycle items such as old clothes, bags, blankets and other home essentials and also unused personal items for the flood victims.

We then segregating them into boxes and label them accordingly to make it easier to identify such as baby clothes, t-shirts, pants, towels, schoolbags and others. We also bought dozens of baby diapers and innerwears. Finally, we make the arrangement to delivers the goods. 

According to Holt (2012) a research done by the Third Sector Research Centre asserted that people working on voluntary sector has higher job satisfaction level as compare to other private and public sector jobs. This is base on their 17 years of data analysis that conclude volunteer work gives unexplained gratifying feeling and ‘warm glow’ to those working in the voluntary sector".

Different people has different reasons in doing charity. As for me, apart from spending some time with friends it also pays me in terms that could not explain. You could not imagine the personal satisfaction of having to help others in needs until you try it yourself. 

Reference: 
Holt, A. ( Apr 13, 2012) Research confirms work satisfaction working in the sector. Charity times.com

Work-Life Balance: a Myth?

We are pursuing a high income country, which we are expected to increase our productivity, work longer hours to meet the demands of work. Women are encouraged to return to the working sector as soon as they can after giving birth or else their position might be fill with some other person that are free-willingly to work. Despite that, working mothers complaints on the lack of basic facilities such as nursery in the workplace. Furthermore, no decent lactation room facility was provided for nursing working women to continue to breastfeed after returning from work.

Sometimes as the breadwinner of the family, we had to work late leaving our children at home unattended. They leave the house very early in the morning for work and got back way pass the bed time. It hard to even to find some quality time to spend with the family much less finding time to work out in the evening. This work-life conflict is such a depressing and stressful. Can we really pursue a high income county and have a happy personal life at the same time? How can we have both? Does work-life balance really work or it is just a myth?

Well, it might be hard to have it all but if we serious and passionate enought about this, we can sure do it.

Zumba: De-Stress

Part of the work-life balance concept is to reduce the stress level of the daily routine. As the 9-5 office routine is too challenging in finding just the right time to work out and de-stree. Normally, de-stress for us refers to a brisk walk down the street to the nearest mall for window-shopping treat. However, some other passionate members of “eat-well; live-healthy” clan offers the alternative.

We can say that my office colleagues are passionate about work-life balance. Believe me as no one would hardly work after office hour much less on lunch break. Thus, from time to time, thanks to these "health-consious" ladies, which introduce us to a new routine every Wednesday at 1.00 – 2.00 pm weekly with entrance fees of RM10.00 - ZUMBA Fitness workout -

People say the third always a charm so I try just to see it will work for me. It has been three weeks in a row that a colleague of mine ask meto join in to their latest weekly ZUMBA Fitness workout on the 13th floor of our office building – quite a cramp place to do exercise but just nice as it is a bit isolated compared to other floors.

My first heard of this ZUMBA madness was during the Puteri UMNO in my areas organizing this activity almost weekly in our neighbourhood on Sunday but almost every time I have a prior engagement and could not make it.

What is the big Zumba fuzz all about. Well it is basically earobics workout revamp to a new name. Originated from the Latin countries, Zumba was made popular in Malaysia recently involving aerobics dance workout that incorporates music such as hip-hop, samba, salsa, meringue, mambo and other Latino-inspired music. Many fitness centres offers similar classes such as Zumba with perhaps a different name.

However, it is a de-stress activity that adds to my life equilibrium. No harm for trying!

Get-Together with Neighbours

Once a while it is a good idea to spend some times with neighbours as well. We hardly do this anymore. Knowing your neighbours, provides a caring society and a safer community. It helps build a relationship when we can look out for each other as a big-family.

A simple get-together help strengthen the bond and keep us from being isolated in our daily jobs routine. My neighbourhood recently organized a simple get-together just having a barbecue. All of us chip-in some money and brought a dish of pot-luck for the occasion. It is nothing much but a simple gathering.

It was fun just to hang out, catch up on the neighbourhood latest gossip, have dinner and mingle with one another once a while instead of just sitting at home.

Work & Life Balance

Work-Life Balance is a concept that encourages us to spend times balancely between our work and other commitments in life.

Work-Life Balance is a concept that encourages us to spend times balancely between our work and other commitments in life. This includes spending quality time with our families, some personal "me" time and making an effort to contribute to the community.

This concept suggested that people could have a better quality of life with the right balance of work and other commitments in life. It help reduces stress due to the long working hours we spend at work. Thus, in a long run, it will contributes in creating a happier working environment and better productivity.

Furthermore, it is also believed that with the right work-life balance such as spending more times with children and family can improve family ties and bonding, which  lead to lesser social problems.

People tend to spend most of their waking hours focusing on their work in trying to make a living but tend to forget on other important things in life. This page encourage people to pursue a more balance live and and at the same time we can remind each other that there is more in life than devoting our entire life in making a living.

I welcome comments and posts from friends and others in sharing your effort in making your life a more balance and healthier living. 

The National Family Policy (NFP) - Towards a Balance Life

The National Family Policy (NFP) is seen as the benchmark step towards achieving a balance life (The National Population and Family Development Board of Malaysia, 2010). However, some people say it is easier said than done! Formulating a policy is one thing, but implementing and executing it is another. 

How far does this policy is taken seriously in term of implementing and executing it in the private sector. As a matter of fact, how many agencies or companies really making an effort in taking steps in-line with this policy. There are still issues that needs our attention. For example, compassionate leave for the death of our loved ones, flexible working hours, working from home, commuters couples issues, lack of nursery facility in the office, no lactation room available for nursing mothers and many others that needs to be look into. All of these issues will not come to any solutions if there is no cooperation between the government and the corporate sectors.

I personally believes that as we are living in a growing nation, our needs change. We no longer work simply for a paycheck at the end of every months in making a li ing but we need a quality one. The government had taken the first step of action by developing this policy but it is up to us to be self-aware of what we want. For ourself, our family and for the nation as a whole. We need to take the next steps towards this actualization.

Anyway, lets take a peek on what the policy is all about:-

The National Family Policy (NFP)

In 2010, the Government announced a new policy to be implemented focusing in mainstreaming the family perspective. National Family Policy is prioritising family perspective in all socio-economic development efforts to ensure quality generations. The goal is to develop prosperous, healthy and resilient families to ensure social stability.

Family is a fundamental social unit that provides human capital for development and ensures the continuity of future generations. In this regard, the family must be strengthened, enriched and empowered with up-to-date knowledge, skills and expertise.

The National Family Policy (NFP) supports and complements existing policies such as the National Social Policy, National Policy on Women and the National Child Policy. In addition, this policy also refers specifically to Malaysia's international commitments such as those ratified under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and  the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

The accompanying National Family Policy Action Plan (NFPAP) details actions that need to be taken by government agencies, NGOs, academicians, the private sector and other members of the society. In this regard, the NFP will be translated into strategies, programmes and activities to facilitate effective implementation. The NFPAP covers the main sectors which focused on:

1.  A total and holistic direction for family wellbeing
2. The family as the most fundamental unit provides the platform for human capital development that will propel the development of a nation. Hence, policies, programs, services, protection and the supporting infrastructure to empower families through their inherent strengths will be developed to create high quality and moral integrity human capital.
3. Formation and strengthening of the family institution in terms of family relationships, economy, career and lifestyle in order to improve stability, harmony and well-being.
4.  Efforts to guide and nurture the skills for families to inculcate and practice good moral and family values.
5. Efforts to strengthen inter-generational ties.
6. Human rights and equality where focus will be applied to laws and policies that ensure protection and security, and establish a culture of gender equality in the family.Increasing the commitment and social responsibility of all parties to implement family-friendly policies and programs.
7. Enhancing the implementation of family wellbeing programs for different family structures and high risk families.
8. Human capital development and K-Family: Commitment and social responsibility of all parties will be enhanced and expanded to provide facilities for family members to better themselves. 

Reference:

The National Family Policy (NFP)

National Population and Family Development Board

Ministry of Women, Family & Community Development of Malaysia

What's Work-Life Balance All About..

What is work-life balance? 

Well, it has different meaning to different people. Basically, it's about achieving equilibrium in a state of work and personal or family life. It's becoming a basic human needs for your own self, family and for the community as a whole.

In employer/ employee perspective, work-life balance is a win-win solution which the initiatives can brings to a more balance life for employees with other responsibilities in life as well as the employer on their employee relation's effort. Among others, it includes issues such on productivity, work retention, stress-related problems, low employee morale and absenteeism for the employer and as for the employee, work-life balance is about balancing work and other responsibilities in life and promote equality in life especially in terms of their obligation as parents and also taking care for their elderly.

A little history

According to Lockwood (2003), the term work-life balance was first coined in 1986 but the concept originated way back in 1930s when the Kelogg Company created four six-hour shift in replacing the original three eight-hour shift to increase employee morale and efficiency. Of course, during those time, it was perceived only to accommodate the demands of the factory workers which mostly are female that complaints there is not enough time for their children or family life. Lockwood (2003) also asserted that IBM was the first organization that recognize work-life balance as a value and was first to change their organization policies to accommodate their female employee.

Initially, work-life balance started as an extended wellness program. It was associates with issues of  the working mothers as many issues brought up includes difficulty in balancing their responsibilities between being an ideal worker and a responsible mothers. Torn in between, working mothers find it is hard to juggle between the two as they believe they have not enough time to commit to their families needs. Today, this issues are much more that working mothers problem but also a global issues which involves almost everyone  Everyone that have to work for a living.

Why is it important?

The work-life balance concept in a bigger picture, was introduces to address the changing face of family in today's globalization. With the growing  diversity of family structures in the workforce such as blended family, dual-earner family, commuter couple and sandwich generation forces the human resources professionals to understand the problems that employee face which will impact the workplace.

Failure to address these issues not only will lead to stress related problems but also other problems such as decreasing employee morale, poor productivity and job dissatisfaction (Lockwood, 2003). Thus, it is also the employer's responsibility in providing and supporting the work-life balance and incorporate it into its organization to maintain positive, productive and happy employee.


Reference:
Lockwood, N. R. (2003). Work/Life balance: Challenges and solutions. 2003 Society for Human Resource Development Research Quarterly.