What are the most effective self-assessment tools for work-life balance?

How do you feel when you wake up in the morning? Are you energized and excited for the day ahead, or are you hesitating, already stressing or disengaged. If it’s the latter something is off-balance. Take some time for self-reflection: walking, journaling or talking it out with a friend may help uncover those blocks. Once you uncover them, you can work to remediate them. And don’t be afraid to speak with your manager or HR about prioritizing work - they’re there to support you so that you don’t burn out.

Self-assessment is one way. There are many excellent tools and coaches that help you define your situation. I, however, think a big gain to objectively understand your situation is to talk to good friends that know you inside-out, understand (partially) your business, understand entrepreneurship and are completely honest to you. Talk to them and let them open your eyes!

Stay on top of health check ups, check in with your family if they doing okay, and ask yourself if you have checked in friends who you dont see every day and are doing things that make you happy.

Start by defining what balance means to you. There is no one fixed definition and varies from person to person depending on their life phase, career phase, priorities and health needs. Next assess the current scenario against your definition to see where you stand at present.

One reason that makes Self-assessment tools useful is that they force you to think of stuff you otherwise never give a thought. They push you to find answers to questions about yourself, the kind that you otherwise push aside. They help you dig deeper and find more about your beliefs and values than is visible on the surface. You may think that you are doing enough to lead a balanced life, but balance isn't just about the division of time. A self-assessment tool can you give a holistic understanding of multiple factors.

A self-assessment tool by itself is useful. Its effectiveness increases when the test is taken alongside coaching. A coach will act as your accountability partner and also help you interpret and understand the assessment. With a coach, you can go a step further and start working on the weaknesses and gaps highlighted by the tool.

Chances are, if you're questioning your work-life balance, it's probably not balanced. And living in imbalance is stressful! Start with an assessment like The Wheel of Life to gain clarity around the imbalance, then move to a Value Assessment to prioritize what's most important to you. Once you've really dug into the issue, it will become clear what needs to change. If you want the benefit of a strategic thinking partner, working with an Executive Coach will help you navigate creating strategies for change.

Look at your calendar for the last 12 months and divide your time into professional, people, personal and potential. Give each a percentage. Break down into subcategories. You may be surprised by where your time goes.

Self-assessment tools can be powerful. However, there is incredible value in layering coaching on top of these tools to help individuals better understand the context of these tools. A coach and technology can help frame where you sit in relation to others. This additional context helps when it comes to decision-making and having a greater situational awareness.

One thing I found helpful in navigating work-life harmony is setting clear boundaries. Establishing designated times for work and personal activities helps maintain a sense of structure and prevents one from encroaching on the other. An example I've seen is a colleague who implemented a "no-work email on the weekends" policy. This simple rule not only allowed her to unwind and focus on personal activities but also communicated a healthy boundary to her team and colleagues.