![]() ![]() A particularly tough point for Military Service Members is shifting the way you act at home and at work. For instance, heading to work after a tense argument with your teenager might distract you, affect your mood, and impact your ability to focus while on duty. A work-life conflict in this area means that emotions (and often stresses) in one area make it hard to be present and focused in the other one. Or your latest temporary duty assignment means you’ll miss your wedding anniversary. ![]() For example, maybe that early morning formation overlaps with family breakfast. A time-based conflict is about not having enough hours in the day to meet the needs of both your family and your job. For example, those who experience family-to-work conflict are less satisfied with their jobs, have more interpersonal conflicts at work, and tend to have poorer physical health. Family-to-work conflict is less common than work-to-family conflict, but it has significant impact on performance. On the flip side, family-to-work conflict occurs when family demands make it tough to fulfill work responsibilities. Negative experiences at work and with co-workers are linked to depression and anxiety, and they can affect your relationships with loved ones. In this direction, your role in the military interferes with your family life because your work spills over into your home. Start by thinking about work-to-family conflict. This is sometimes called “spillover” because the events or emotions of the day spill over into different aspects of your life. Work-life balance (and conflict) go both ways: What goes on at work affects what happens at home and vice versa. What’s work-life balance? Or a better question: What does it look like when your work and personal life are in conflict? And what does “conflict” actually mean? How work-life balance affects performance When things are going well in one area, there’s a good chance those good vibes will carry across your day, no matter where you are. Positive work-life balance is related to job satisfaction and commitment, while negative balance is linked to turnover intentions. Work-life balance is important for the military too since it’s a major factor in retention. For example, one of the top concerns reported by Military Service Members is the amount of time away from their families. Still, the desire for work-life balance continues to be highly valued by members of the force. This is especially true for dual military couples and families. With all that, it can be challenging to find balance when the line between your career and your personal life isn’t so clear. Warfighters are legally bound to the military for years at a time so you all have to find a way to make it work, even when the road gets tough. What’s more is that the commitment to the job is more than just by choice. As a unit, you have to navigate separations, moves and relocations, unpredictability, and worries about safety. Whether it’s your partner, kids, or older family members, most Warfighters have people who depend on them at home. ![]() More than half of active-duty and reserve forces have family responsibilities. And at the end of the day, a healthy work-life balance affects performance, so it’s important to find a way forward that works for you and your family. That’s why phrases such as “enlist a Military Service Member, retain a family” ring true in discussions about work-life balance in the military because your career impacts everyone. It’s a commitment your family has to make too. Enlistment is a commitment to a life dictated by your duties and responsibilities, and it’s a lifestyle devoted to honor and service. And if they’re married, their spouses (who also might be balancing careers) often support the home front so they can. Military Service Members take on jobs and duties that go well beyond punching a time card from 9-to-5. But it’s a balance that Warfighters don’t always find so easily. Work-life balance describes the (ideally harmonious) relationship between your job responsibilities, personal pursuits, and family obligations. ![]()
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