Work-Life Balance: Myth or Real?

Miracle Tochukwu Agunwah

According to a recent poll, created by Miracle Tochukwu, on Linkedin, to ascertain how women achieve work-life balance, "caring for kids" ranked higher followed by "house chores" at 36% and 34% respectively. "Cooking" and "spousal needs" followed behind at 20% and 9% respectively from a total of 44 votes. 

This shows that women still grapple with Work-Life balance regardless of age, number of children, work type and geographical location. 

At every women's event or conference, women ask the same question: "how do we achieve Work-Life balance?". The dynamics are never the same at the different stages of a woman's life.

I invited Miracle Tochukwu to share some strategies from her own experience to help young women navigate their personal and professional lives effectively.

Tochukwu is a certified project management Professional and a member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply. She is the Bid and Tender Cordinator in a prestigious oil and gas company in Lagos. She has an engineering background and her experience spans over a decade in Structural Design. Tochi is a multi talented wife and  mother of two beautiful girls.

Below is the summary of her responses to questions we asked at our virtual mentoring session.

On Navigating Challenges in The Homefront 

• Challenges are a part of  life, brace up to navigate challenges.
• Open up and admit you need help.
• Refrain from acting like a superwoman
• Accept support. Some people don't know how to accept support.
• Delegate, don't do everything by yourself. 
• Build your support system before you need them.

On Work-Life Balance 

• Work-Life balance is a myth.
• The only way you can come close to achieving work-life balance is when your work is your life. For example, when you run a business you are passionate about. 
• Lower your expectations, trust and delegate. 
• Plan and put structure to reduce your stress levels.
• Practice self compassion by learning when to rest.

Miracle is a multitalented woman. She is a hair care enthusiast, a mechanical engineer, structural designer, tender and bid coordinator , a fashion designer and mum of 2 girls! We asked her how she is able to combine her many interests and still slay at work and family life. 

She says, her love for learning, being curious and practicing what she learns is what sets her apart. She adds that she pursues interests outside work at her leisure time and that keeps her from being under any form of pressure.

On Women In Corporate Spaces Who Want To Run Their Own Businesses 

• Create a system that will enable you function in a dual position.
• Use other people's money and time.
• Master the industry you are going into.
• Know the difference between office hours and your own time.
• Create a time when you will in invest in the business.      

For Women In STEM Fields Who Think They Can't Measure Up.

• You are capable. 
• Don't limit yourself. As long as you are human, you can do the job.
• Stay focused.  You may be destabilised because of male dominance in your field, know that men do not want to compete with women except for the insecure ones. Be their friends.  They will teach you. If you are new to that space, just relax. Be sweet, don't be nasty.
• Don't be full of excuses because you are a women. Learn to separate family time from work. If you don't, it will make it difficult for other women to get into that role.
• As a woman, represent other women so employers can know that women can do the job and also have families. 

Miracle is the founder of "Focused Woman". A community for women interested in growing their careers and family by redirecting their focus. Join her community on Instagram  and  Facebook.

Watch the full interview here.

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