Don't Lose Your Marbles - Refocusing Your Priorities
Leadership and Administrative Skills
Lee Beers
Extension Educator
Ohio State University
Cortland
Abstract
Not many positive aspects can be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the move to telework and general shut down in 2020 and 2021 provided a once in a career opportunity to reset schedules as we return to "normal.” Clientele expectations have shifted, many Extension staff picked up new hobbies, found new ways to be productive at work, saw their families grow, and generally adapted to working in new environments during the pandemic. As we move back into a routine that looks more like pre-COVID, this is a great time to refocus our Extension priorities to find better life/work balance for Extension staff. We only have 168 hours each week to divide into home, work, sleep, and other activities. Finding a balance in these hours to promote happiness in our careers can be challenging, and many of us struggle to make it work and lose our marbles. This is a perennial challenge, but with dedicated support of Extension leadership, and reframing the conversation of life/work balance into 168 hours can help Extension staff find a balance that works for them personally and professionally. This presentation will provide tools for Extension leadership to have honest conversations about the true cost when life/work become unbalanced.
Authors: Lee Beers
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Lee Beers Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 44410-1455