You’re a journalist with a tight deadline. How can you keep your work-life balance in check?

I'm human and I don't set unrealistic deadlines in my daily work schedule. Even though setting work/life boundaries is advisable, flexibility is key in disseminating newsworthy information. Once you choose journalism as a career, you ought to be ready to work any day, anywhere and anytime. Just because I'm on one-month leave or a few-days-break, doesn't mean I should refrain from documenting an event in my locality, that is newsworthy and share it with my colleagues on duty. Journalism is not just a profession, it's an inborn calling.

Journalists are no less than soldiers; we have to be on our toes all the time without looking at the clock. On the other hand, we have to be realistic to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and for that, we should follow a time chart for our work. Also, in my opinion, if you're a journalist, then somewhere or another, you have to sacrifice your free time (not always) to be a well-known Journalist. Remember, all the Reporters are Journalists, but not all the Journalists are Reporters.

Be realistic with yourself. There will be days when there is NO work/life balance. Some days you will have to put work first. Some days you will have to put personal first. The "balance" comes by embracing the reality.

There is no balance when it comes to the mainstream media. Its toxic hustle harder culture is not an industry people who value family first should continue to stay in. Leave ?? There are better companies. Better bosses. Better pay. Unfortunately the news industry fails to innovate which is why digital first media companies will thrive as they embrace remote work flexibility.

Use your days off. If your vacation time is rejected, ask when you can take it off. Do not give up on the time off. Journalists need time to step away and unplug. Also, request regular check-ins with your direct supervisor. These can be monthly and do not need to last long. You need to make sure your manager learns how you think so she/he can also have your back in case you start burning out and do not see the signs right away.

It can be hard to set boundaries, as news is often our life. But when we leave the news station, disconnecting is KEY to work/life balance. Engage in activities that you enjoy that aren’t new related. Pick up a new habit. Spend time with friends. At the end of the day, remember that you are more than your job!

Truth is: at least in my 25 years as a working journalist: **work/life balance is a mirage.** Just a mirage. It’s not possible. It’s either/or: but not balance. We think we can do it: but when the big story breaks we go into reporter mode. Adrenaline flows and we work until the job’s done. We miss so much family time. We think we’ll make it up: but when? Always another big story. I don’t think I ever knew a full time long term reporter with work/life balance. We lose sight of how much time we’re pouring into work: and how much real life we’re missing. I loved my decades in news! But, now—I really regret how much I missed. As Janet wrote: Don’t do what I did. Real life, outside work, is far more important than the next big story.

Leave the job at work. As a News Director I learned too late. Now retired, I regret giving away my time with family. Don’t do what I did. The career you build is just a series of jobs. Life happens fast, don’t miss it

Follow-ups. So often, reporters will turn a story and move on when there's still more to unpack. Becoming a subject-matter expert and owning a story from start to finish can give you dozens of stories. The best way to capitalize on your free time is to have your next story lined up -- one you know matters to your audience and will get the green light from your editorial leaders. It's the low-hanging but important and oft-overlooked fruit on the journalism tree.

I strongly believe it’s all about focus. There’s focus working hours and time that you solely use for sports, meeting friends and other things you love. I learned that for myself it works quite well to do time boxing. I plan as much as I can and set priorities.