Work-life balance Q&A with Shenglan Liu: "The key to good work-life balance is not just about time, but also about energy"

Shenglan Liu, manager at Michael Page Guangzhou, makes it a point to spend most of her time with family every week.

What has helped you achieve work-life balance as a working mum?

I love being a mom and I love working, but sometimes it gets hard. I am fortunate to have a flexible working schedule and support from my parents to take care of my little one at home.

Some must-dos for me include:

• Setting some family time every week. On the weekends, I will spend most of my time with family.
• Hiring a part-time housekeeper so I can free up my time to nurse my baby or do some work.
• Setting priorities. I will typically focus on urgent or important issues first.
• Staying positive. I believe the key to good work-life balance is not just about time, but also about energy.

How do you think companies can better support employees who are new mums?

Offices should ideally have basic facilities, for example a small fridge to store items, or a private area, like a breast-feeding room, to cater to moms who are nursing an infant.

Any advice you’d like to share with new mums?

Stay focused on both work and your family. When you are at work, focus on your work. When you are at home, focus on your family. Often, when you have a family, you will find that working overtime becomes tricky and that’s when you need to prioritise. You will find that you enjoy home and work more when you do not allow them to take over your life entirely.

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