The easily overlooked value of paying close attention

You might have some strategies in place to make sure that your work-life balance is actually in balance. But how often do you evaluate how well that’s going?

For married advisors Lisa Barram and Daniel Barram, RICP, both one-year MDRT members from Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, that effort is constantly reviewed. “When a husband and wife work together, we often talk about life and work wherever we are,” Lisa said, adding that the pair sets up their calendars weekly and concretely discusses the state of their balance about every eight weeks.

Checking every box

That also means ensuring that all of their boxes are checked — spending time with their 4-year-old and 8-year-old sons, going to church, exercising, studying and visiting with family who live in Florida and California. “Are we getting the time to spend that time and doing things that enhance us?” Lisa said, referencing both the benefit of getting paid to help people as well as the oft-used and ever-important maxim of working to live rather than living to work.

Meanwhile, there is a system: Every morning, the Barrams ask their sons about their week and make time to help them with any problems. They also touch base daily with the nanny who cares for the boys (all three have a gym membership and go together for swimming, soccer and yoga) to see how they are doing, and adjust their schedule accordingly.

“Usually on Thursday or Friday, Daniel and I see how we are doing, and if we want some additional family or enhancement time, we will rearrange the coming week and block out some time in the calendar so that appointments are not scheduled,” Lisa said. “We do this checking each week so that we stay happy and the kids are happy. Balance has to be key.”

Written by Matt Pais, MDRT Content Specialist