Kay & Bruce
Kay and Bruce agree that wellness goals, like healthy eating and getting enough sleep, are the key to achieving work-life balance. “If I don’t work out one day, I know I’ll work out the next. Time is so precious. I try to leave guilt out of it.”Achieving work-life balance requires commitment, some planning and understanding from those around you. Kay and Bruce know this well. Together, they have shared the challenges and rewards of maintaining a balanced life. Kay is a CGA and partner with a Vancouver accounting firm. Bruce is a CA at a downtown law firm. The couple met nearly a decade ago and began a life together, creating a blended family of five children and one very full schedule. Kay sums up their life together by saying, “Going home at the end of the work day used to be the beginning of a second work day.”
It could be easy to feel overwhelmed by their work and family commitments, but Kay and Bruce incorporate the YWCA Health & Fitness Centre into their life as part of their plan for staying fit and keeping life in balance. Bruce, a YWCA member for twelve years, and Kay, a member for seven years, both participate in an informal running group that meets at the Health & Fitness Centre. Running at lunch hour provides the couple with a much-needed break from their long work day, a consistent way to stay fit and an opportunity to socialize with friends. Kay runs 10 kilometres, three times a week, and Bruce supplements his running with cycling classes. Bruce cites commitment to a routine, the variety of the programs offered at the YWCA and the convenience of the downtown facility as the key to maintaining the couple’s fitness levels through hectic times. Kay enjoys the flexibility offered at the YWCA: “If I don’t work out one day, I know I’ll work out the next. Time is so precious. I try to leave guilt out of it.”
Kay and Bruce agree that wellness goals, like healthy eating and getting enough sleep, are the key to achieving work-life balance. They also recognize that achieving these goals requires work. Kay remembers that eating well, particularly with the demands of five children, was a challenge. The couple began planning meals for the week and alternating on cooking and clean-up duties. Meal plans ensured healthier eating habits and removed much of the anxiety the couple experienced in the evening.
Kay and Bruce don’t feel like they’ve sacrificed anything to achieve work-life balance. To them, the benefits of maintaining health and managing stress far outweigh the effort.
