What do you do if you're a leader struggling to find work-life balance and need to recharge outside of work?

Seek work-life harmony, instead of striving for work-life balance. I view work and life not as competing forces, but as complementary parts of my whole self. By integrating work with life, we are not just managing time, but enriching the quality of every aspect of our lives, which is what truly and eventually matters.

As a leader striving for work-life balance, setting clear boundaries is crucial. Establish specific work hours and stick to them, resisting the urge to constantly check emails or take work calls outside of designated times. Communicate these boundaries to your team and colleagues to manage expectations effectively. Prioritize self-care activities outside of work to recharge and rejuvenate, whether it's spending time with loved ones, pursuing hobbies, or simply taking a break to relax. Remember, maintaining a healthy balance is essential for sustained leadership effectiveness and personal well-being.

Prioritizing work-life balance as a leader requires setting distinct boundaries between professional and personal time. Personally, I've discovered that weight training serves as my relaxation mantra, dedicating an hour daily to indulge in this activity. Additionally, for a mental break, I ensure to take a few days off every quarter and digitally detox by escaping to a place without internet and mobile connection. I'm also committed to nurturing meaningful connections with loved ones, dedicating quality time to strengthen these relationships. There is more to life than work, as Betsy Jacobson says, "Balance is not better time management, but better boundary management"

As a leader struggling to find work-life balance, actively prioritize and protect your time outside of work. Start by setting clear boundaries for your availability, communicating these to your team and sticking to them. Delegate responsibilities to team members to empower them. Engage in activities that rejuvenate you, whether it’s a hobby, exercise, or spending time with loved ones. Consider mindfulness or meditation to manage stress. It's essential to recognize that taking time to recharge is not a luxury but a necessity for sustained leadership effectiveness and personal well-being. This approach ensures you return to work energized, with a clearer perspective and increased productivity.

Taking micro-actions is the way to go for me. I'd suggest: Start small. Start simple. Start anywhere. Recharging doesn't have to be a monumental effort. Grand visualisations of flashy vacations & luxurious escapes make us feel like it is an elusive club for the time-rich. I’ve started small – such as not checking emails first thing in the morning, spending what little me-time I have without feeling guilty or distracted, communicating boundaries to my team so they know when I am unavailable, streamlining/eliminating time-sucking low-value activities, asking for help when I need it, and finding those micro pockets of time when I can check in with myself, consider my energy levels & act accordingly.

If you're a leader grappling with work-life balance, prioritizing self-care is paramount. Allocate specific time slots in your schedule for activities that rejuvenate you, such as exercise, meditation, or hobbies. Make self-care non-negotiable and treat it with the same importance as any work commitment. Engage in activities that help you disconnect from work and recharge mentally and physically. Remember, self-care isn't selfish; it's essential for maintaining your well-being and effectiveness as a leader.

Treat self-care as non-negotiable. Neglecting your needs outside of work may lead to a burnout. Make sure to block out time for exercising, spending time with family/friends, going for a walk etc. A balance between productivity and physical and mental well-being enhances personal effectiveness and sets a positive example for the team.

Treating self-care like it’s any other appointment helps ensure that you prioritize your well-being. Scheduling time for self-care into your calendar as you would a doctor’s appointment, is a firm commitment to your well-being, which will help reduce burnout and improve your quality of life.

It all depends on your personality and what it takes for you to recharge. I think of myself like a phone. Sometimes I just need to charge for a bit before I leave the house for the evening or day. Other times I need to sit on the charger for awhile because the battery is drained. Quick recharges might be a walk, a nap, lifting weights, or laying around watching a movie or show you enjoy. It could also be an overnight trip or weekend getaway. Big recharges I like to take at least quarterly. Vacation, get away from screens, work, and social media. Really let my brain reset.

Not only applicable for leaders, but people with good work/life balance are less stressed, more satisfied with their jobs, and overall happier and healthier. ? Delegate tasks to team members for free time. ? Set boundaries and communicate availability outside work hours. ? Prioritize self-care activities like exercise, meditation, hobbies, and spending time with loved ones. ? Seek support from a coach, mentor, or therapist. ? Take regular breaks and vacations for energy and mental rejuvenation.

Look to mentor and invest in others so you and your team can continue to share successes. Promote others on your team — it inspires trust, confidence and loyalty. It also allows you to build a stronger team with diverse but complementary interests.

If you're a leader finding it challenging to strike a work-life balance, consider delegating tasks to trusted team members. Entrusting others with responsibilities not only empowers them but also frees up your time for essential self-care and relaxation. By effectively delegating, you can ensure that work progresses smoothly while creating space for yourself to recharge and rejuvenate outside of the professional realm.

This is a must. I believe deligating is key to building your team and the next leaders. It builds trust and keeps ideas fresh.

One of the hardest things to teach managers is delegation. It is not simply leaving work on someone's desk when you have to be elsewhere. Delegation requires not only building skills sets but also growing trust between you and your delegates. If you want to be able to walk away with more confidence that things will work out in your absence, spend the time needed to master this very important and seldomly well-executive skill.

Delegate to elevate! Delegation is not just about offloading tasks, it's a strategic move that empowers your team and fosters a culture of trust and responsibility. I've seen how effective delegation can transform a business, accelerating growth and innovation. It's a vital skill for leaders aiming to balance their professional and personal life.

As a leader grappling with work-life balance, embracing flexibility can be pivotal. Adopt a flexible approach to work hours and tasks, allowing yourself time for personal rejuvenation. By promoting a culture of flexibility within your team, you can also set a positive example for your employees, fostering a more balanced and productive work environment. Remember, flexibility can be a powerful tool in maintaining both professional efficacy and personal well-being.

-Adapt Work Hours: Embrace flexible scheduling to accommodate personal obligations and create a harmonious blend of work and life. -Emphasize Non-Traditional Arrangements: Explore remote work options or alternative schedules to foster a balanced lifestyle. -Lead by Example: Model flexibility in your own work-life integration, inspiring your team to prioritize balance and well-being.

Flexibility is not just about accommodating personal commitments, but also about fostering innovation and adaptability in the face of industry changes. Being open to non-traditional work arrangements can lead to novel solutions, improved efficiency, and enhanced customer satisfaction. As a leader, it's crucial to not only model this flexibility, but also to create an environment that encourages it.

When facing challenges in work-life balance, recharging creatively can be immensely beneficial. Engage in activities that stimulate your mind and spirit, such as hobbies, art, or outdoor pursuits. This not only offers a break from work-related stress but also fuels creativity and problem-solving abilities. Incorporating these rejuvenating practices can help you maintain balance and bring fresh perspectives to your leadership role, enhancing both personal well-being and professional performance.

-Pursue Passion Projects: Invest time in activities outside of work that ignite passion and stimulate creativity. -Cultivate New Skills: Explore opportunities for personal growth through learning new skills or hobbies. -Prioritize Joyful Activities: Engage in activities that bring joy and relaxation, fostering mental rejuvenation and well-being.

If your job primarily involves your mind, you should recharge with your body. Do something physical to relax the mind and balance yourself out. Good examples are exercise, walking/hiking, gardening, building/DIY, leather-working, baking, sewing, etc. Give your brain a rest and recharge. Don’t sit in front of another screen after work. You’ll find yourself burnt-out even faster.

I've found that creative recharging is not just beneficial, but necessary for innovative leadership. It's in these moments of relaxation and exploration that we often stumble upon our most groundbreaking ideas. As leaders, we should encourage this practice not just for ourselves, but also within our teams to foster a culture of innovation and balance.

Reflection is a must,I am not saying no to that. But learn to have boundaries in that too, if not you will end questioning every single thought of yours. Have a schedule to assess your current routines, see what has changed from the earlier version of it and what adjustments or no adjustments can be made for the future. Factor in some hobby time within that reflection period to give you change of pace. And also seek out a person with a similar experience and have a chat with them to enhance your learnings.

Plan your life outside of work as you plan your work: get busy outside of work, create dependencies and responsabilities, deadlines, timelines, projects you care about - distribute the effort and the time - that is how you get to balance :)

One thing I’ve found helpful is prioritizing self-care. Think for your health, think for your body and mind whenever you schedule your work plans. Then, your delegation will start working, as well as your hobbies, mental health needs and physical fitness exercises. At some point you will achieve your work life balance with well managed stress level.

My wife and I were often asked to answer "How are you managing six kids, senior management roles, and a strong marriage?". People expected a left-brain answer stressing my wife's greatly organized schedule, journal, and project management skills. Those were wonderful and extremely helpful. But what made us successful in being highly productive and innovative at work while tending to the needs of growing kids and teens was focusing on the task at hand. I title it "Be present with your mind, your body, and your soul". You can't be in two places at once, so if you are at work, be at work. And when you are at home, be at home. Focus.

Periodically review how you spend your time, both at work and personally, to identify activities that may not be contributing to your goals or well-being. This audit can help you make more informed decisions about where to allocate your time and energy, potentially freeing up more space for restorative activities.

Whilst all of the above are key tools in achieving that work-life balance, the support mechanisms and people in your circles both in work and personal life are equally important. They are critical in supporting you manage this successfully. So it’s important to communicate with your family/partner/friends and your team around these parameters so these boundaries, schedules and practices created work harmoniously. Essentially this support mechanism helps you champion your goals in both areas of work and life. When the people you love and the team you lead understand and support these relevant elements, the path to achieving harmony in this balance becomes more achievable. Always love what you do and be grateful for the people you do it with.