Here's how you can achieve work-life balance in a higher education career.

Conquer it with ninja prioritization! Identify BIG deadlines & projects. Schedule them in your calendar (with buffer time - trust me!). Don't forget breaks - a rested brain rocks! Tackle what matters, and avoid burnout.

Life is limited by time. Based on this, if a person can understand, care for, and help others, they will naturally achieve a balance between work and life. I will work hard to improve myself according to this standard

I keep a running to-do list with me at all times that I continuously add time and organize it by the amount of time I think it will take to accomplish the task - e.g., 5 min (quick - for example, shooting off an email); 20 min tasks (moderate amount of time); 60+ min tasks (project work). At the end of each week, I review my to-do list, prioritize it, and add priority items to my calendar. When I have a gift of time, I can quickly identify task that I can get done. It's a great system!

I have found that first figuring out what works for you (and your family) is the key to setting boundaries. When I did not know what worked and didn't work (and that it changes over time), I could not set the boundaries. Get married, re-evaluate, have a kid, re-evaluate, your health changes, re-evaluate. Time goes by--time to check in.

Block off time away as early as you can (even if the details are fuzzy). During times when you're least productive, set meetings. Use productive time for project work. Block your calendar out as far as is reasonable to protect this time.

The hard part of learning how to delegate is realizing that the goal is not whether the task will be done as well as you would do it, but whether it will be done well enough to meet the needed return. Yes, you might craft the deck to 98% of its potential, but if someone else can get it to 90% (and grow while doing it), ask yourself: does 90% meet the requirements? Often, the answer is yes. If it is, default to delegate.

Achieve work-life balance in your career by delegating tasks effectively. Assign administrative duties, research assistance, and grading to capable colleagues, teaching assistants, or administrative staff. Prioritize tasks that align with your strengths and delegate the rest. This not only reduces your workload but also empowers others and fosters a collaborative environment, allowing you to focus on essential responsibilities and maintain a healthier work-life balance.

Another way that flexibility is so important involves the shifting priorities we have day-to-day, month-to-month, and/or year-to-year. Work-life balance isn't a problem to be solved one time; rather, it involves a deeply honest and open process of self-reflection that can reveal the need to make changes and adaptations to the "balance". Set periodic reminders for yourself to take a step back and reassess the balance.

Keep in mind that while higher education can be flexible, it does not mean that your flexibility should impose on others. You might have a family—spouse, kids, caring for a parent, etc.—and want to spend time at dinner and in the early evenings, only to jump on email late at night. This might cause others to receive emails late at night. Either make it clear that you are not expecting a response at that hour, or better yet, use technology to schedule the email to be sent the next morning.

Make sure to schedule a break each day - away from screens. Get some sunlight, exercise if possible (even a 15 min walk is fantastic!). Breathe, relax. While it is sometimes hard to break away from your desk, you will find yourself much more productive overall if you take good care of yourself.

Achieve work-life balance in a higher education career by setting clear technology limits. Establish specific times for checking emails and using work-related apps, and avoid tech during personal hours. Use tools like auto-responders and scheduling apps to manage communications efficiently. Prioritize in-person interactions and designate tech-free zones to maintain focus and boundaries, ensuring a healthier separation between work and personal life.

The best way to achieve a good work-life balance in academia is to find and have the happiness and privilege of being able to pursue truly meaningful work. A good work-life balance is less a question of time than a question of meaning.

Being a team player is the most important value of a higher education career. When you are a team player you model those skills to the rest of the team. They in turn will become better at their work too. That is the skill of leaders...to motivate a team.