Women in Convenience opinion: Focus on maintaining a work-life balance

Getting a good work-life balance is about time management, and not saying yes to everything – prioritise yourself for a cup of tea or a walk with a friend. You should have time to yourself each day.

Going to events can be a big part of getting a work-life balance. Lately, the more events I go to, the more I realise that people are getting better at socialising. There’s a lot of positivity in the room.

Being a part of groups like Women in Convenience (WiC) or the Association of Convenience Stores’ (ACS’s) women’s group is a big help. Going to these events is a mix of work and life, because you’re all networking together and learning more, but also getting to relax and feel supported. There’s even a new joiner to WiC who is keen to get into running, and that’s a big part of my life outside of work. So, I’ve got a small retail group together and we’re going to find a running event between us all.

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The lines of work and life can begin to blur in this industry, and that’s a good thing at times. It’s also important to not jump in the deep end at work and in your personal life.

Seek support if work is overwhelming, or if you want to try a new hobby, like running, start small and slow – start with a 5k walk. That way, everything can feel more manageable and it’s easier to make progress.

Julie Kaur, Jules Convenience, Telford, Shropshire, is a Women in Convenience ambassador

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