Here's how you can prevent burnout and find work-life balance as a leader.

Prioritisation is one of the most important skills any leader needs to develop. Here are a few tips to help: 1 Detail how/where/with whom you are allocating your time each work day across a 2-4 week period. 2. Assess which of these you need to attend to, which you could delegate out, which could be managed differently (e.g. email instead of meeting) and which can be cancelled. 2 Realign your calendar of commitments to align with outcome of step 1. 3. Schedule calendar time each day to plan the day ahead and identify the 'mission critical' tasks that need immediate priority and then plan remaining tasks according to priority level. 4. Use your calendar to block out time to complete items on your to do list so that they get done

Prioritizing tasks may sound straightforward, but for many, it's a constant struggle. How one approaches this can vary based on personality and attitude. However, if finding balance is challenging, merging work and personal calendars can be immensely helpful. Personally, integrating both calendars has enabled me to achieve a genuine balance between my business and personal life. It serves as a reminder of both my obligations and desires, allowing me to allocate time accordingly and seamlessly slip away when necessary.

Effective time management is the cornerstone of work - life. Leaders should practice disciplined scheduling and prioritization of tasks. This might include techniques like time blocking or the Eisenhower Box (urgent vs. important matrix) to distinguish between tasks that require immediate attention and those that are important but not urgent. Allocating time for breaks and personal activities is just as crucial as scheduling work tasks.

Setting boundaries for myself involves utilizing the mute function on my instant messaging applications both on my computer and phone. I activate quiet mode to ensure notifications don't disturb me. By not receiving notifications, it reinforces the boundaries I've set, signaling to my team members that I may not respond after a certain time unless I choose to check messages before going to bed. This approach works well for me in maintaining a healthy balance between work and personal time.

Trying new things is crucial for managing stress in my life. I find that pushing myself out of my comfort zone, whether it's trying a new sport, joining a social networking club, or participating in team-building activities outside of work, helps me to effectively manage stress. It's essential to recognize that stress is a part of daily life, but rather than reacting impulsively to stressors, acknowledging its presence and taking proactive steps to address it is key.

Shift your team's mindset to that of a learning culture. As a leader make sure your team is developping their skills (both hard and especially soft) so that you can delegate work to them with confidence that it will be done timely and professionally. New leaders, especially, have to step away from wanting to do all tasks. You're not shielding your team by doing this, you are preventing them from growth opportunities and pushing yourself towards fatigue and eventual burnout.

No one can do everything alone. Delegating effectively not only empowers your team but also lightens your load, allowing you to focus on the most critical leadership tasks. It's important to trust your team and provide them with the tools and training they need to succeed.

Many leaders have a hands-on style & get involved in day to day operational decision making. Although this gives enhanced control, it is demotivating for the team. Your team should own the process which they are handling & making decisions is part of the process. Secondly even if everyone in your office is working in silos, each process is a contributing factor for the mother process. It makes sense if diverse teams have the bigger picture clearly embedded in their mind. Finally celebrate achievements with everyone in the team. Even a tech assistant is trying to contribute so that makes him part of the team. To avoid burnout create a culture which encourages free expression of ideas, provides learning opportunities & a reward program

During times filled with deadlines, sprints, and other daily tasks, granting team members the flexibility to work without being tethered to their desks can be a game-changer for both them and you. Creativity flourishes in environments where individuals feel comfortable and at ease. I actively encourage those I work with to explore different settings—whether it's working from various spots within their homes, at a coffee shop, or anywhere else they find inspiring. The beauty of remote work lies in the freedom it offers. Often, creative team members require this flexibility to ignite ideas and accomplish tasks in a positive, creative flow, reducing what might have been three hours of procrastination to just 30 minutes of productive work.

Practice saying no when necessary. As a leader, you may face numerous demands on your time and energy, but not every request aligns with your priorities or contributes to your well-being. Learning to politely decline commitments that don't serve your goals can help you maintain boundaries and prevent burnout. For example, if you're already stretched thin with existing responsibilities, declining an invitation to take on additional tasks or projects can protect your time and preserve your work-life balance.

The best way to prevent burnout is to set aside time for recovery. There’s no substitute for rest, which allows us to restore our energy and invest in our future performance. There are other performance benefits that come with rest too, beyond just mitigating burnout. Research that leaders who engage in post-work recovery are more effective and have higher performing teams. And, rested leaders are more innovative and make better decisions. Choose to invest in recovery to invest in future performance and reduce your risk of burnout.