Here's how you can identify and address work-life balance issues early on with the help of business coaches.

Quite often people don't realise their work life balance is out of sync until they start addressing issues that are caused because of the work life in-balance! they just don't realise it.. feeling overwhelmed with work tasks for example could be rooted back to not getting enough sleep, working all the hours and not taking breaks. A coach can help you to identify what helps you to thrive and give 100% and then guide you to develop realistic strategies to put them back into your routine.

Recognizing early signs of work-life imbalance is crucial for your well-being. Symptoms such as feeling constantly overwhelmed, experiencing trouble sleeping, or noticing a dwindling social life can indicate an imbalance. A business coach can help you step back and objectively assess your situation. They’ll guide you to listen to your body and mind, paying attention to changes in your behavior and mood, and understanding how these relate to your work habits. By identifying these signals early, you can take proactive steps to restore balance, preventing escalation into burnout or negative health impacts. Taking action sooner fosters a healthier, more sustainable approach to your professional and personal life.

Identifying and addressing work-life balance issues early is crucial for long-term success, and business coaches play a pivotal role. Early Detection of Burnout Signs: Are you waiting until it's too late, OR actively monitoring stress and fatigue levels? For example, coaches can help set regular check-ins to assess emotional well-being before burnout occurs. Establish Boundaries: Are you blurring work and personal life, OR clearly defining when to switch off? A coach might help create actionable boundaries, such as blocking off non-work hours and encouraging mindful rest. "Balance isn’t something you find, it’s something you create."

Every person, unit, and organization has a purpose, goals, and mission. Setting boundaries is critical to success, especially given that we only have a finite amount of time for work and must separate life outside work because our lives depend on it. To this end, I once purchased big red "NO!" buttons for my key leaders and encouraged them not to hesitate to say no to requests that took their time away from their purpose, goals, and our unit and organizational mission. It is easier said than done, but setting boundaries begins with the leader modeling the behavior. I was not always the best role model, but I always provided top cover for those who told me to say "NO!"

Certain roles, like that of a creative artist, require Studio Time. When you peek in the door of a poet, during their sacred three hours each morning, they are mostly wasting time. Out of that rigorous idleness, over a lifetime, may come a handful of poems that last. This sacred time of creation is closer to that of the seasons, or how children evolve from stage to stage, than that of the time clock, annual plan, and performance assessment. “Creatives” in a corporate setting could be replaced with AI. Either way, their “viral” products will further distract and delude. The few creative leaders capable of “positive deviation” are more likely living the art life in an RV with a satellite hookup for internet access.

Setting boundaries is essential for achieving work-life balance. This means defining clear limits on work hours and being firm about your availability to colleagues and clients. Business coaches play a crucial role in helping you communicate these boundaries effectively, ensuring they are respected. They can also guide you in recognizing when and how to say no to additional responsibilities that may disrupt your balance. With their support, you can maintain strong professional performance while preserving time for personal activities and relaxation. Establishing these limits empowers you to prioritize your well-being, leading to a more fulfilling and balanced life overall.

Understanding which tasks are essential for you to handle personally and which can be delegated or outsourced is key to maintaining work-life balance. Business coaches can help you identify these tasks, freeing up time to focus on high-impact work and personal priorities.

Apply the Pareto Principle (80/20 rule) to identify high-impact activities. Work with your coach to create a personal prioritization system, focusing on tasks that align with your goals and values. Use the Action Priority Matrix to visualize and manage tasks based on effort and impact, ensuring you're spending time on what truly matters. Question what you're using as a time management tool. If it's the Eisenhower matrix, it's time to retire it. Of its 4 squares, the Not Important Not Urgent as well as Not Important Urgent are irrelevant. Nothing can be urgent if it's not important. Don't waste someone else's time delegating them. Plan ahead 80% of what can be planned. Leave 205 to firefight. Over time there will be no fires to fight.

A coach can help you notice when things are off before you realize it—whether you're feeling overwhelmed, drained, or constantly juggling too much. They'll ask the right questions to make you reflect on how your time is split between work and life. From there, it's all about setting goals, not just career goals—goals that ensure you're taking care of yourself, too. A coach will help you prioritize what's important, determine where you need boundaries, and build sustainable routines. And with regular check-ins, you'll be able to adjust as things come up, staying ahead of burnout and stress. Working with a coach gives you the support you need to stay balanced, happy, and successful in your work and life.

Setting goals is critical to any venture. I like to work backwards from the 'end result' (e.g. increased profits by 'x' and decreased time working in the biz by 'y') and breaking them down into mini goals right up to setting a measurable goal that can be achieved TODAY. This could be as simple as making a decision but it creates momentum. What is vital is to continue celebrating how far people have come toward their end result AND the commitment to the result. I like to frame goals with my clients as waypoints to the overall vision and not the 'end result'. After all, what happens when a runner crosses the finish line? They stop running. :-)

A good business coach will be able to act as a 'confidante' to many things that you cannot openly discuss with your team or family. The saying 'You can't lead the label from inside the jar' is where the true value of good coaching comes in. You can't create a solution for your challenge with the same level of thinking that created the challenge. A good coach will help you navigate and evaluate different solutions to your challenges offering perspective from their own experience that apply to your situation. This may be the first time the client is dealing with a a particular challenge but it may be something your experienced coach has seen many times before and has the tools to guide you through.

Build a support network using the Circle of Influence concept. Identify key individuals who can provide assistance and guidance. A coach can help you develop strategies for delegating tasks and seeking help in work-life balance. Use the Situational Leadership model to adapt your approach when working with different team members or seeking support from various sources. When I work with leadership teams I request within, for mentors for members who have skill gaps. Often reverse mentoring happens when younger employees start mentoring older leaders in technology, with the older ones supporting them in other areas. As a coach, I work with members on behavioural issues. I suggest that a support network be also built outside the company.

When balance becomes more weighted towards work than life, it can feel daunting to make the shift to prioritize yourself. My recommendation is to start small and commit to 1-2 things per day that you can do for yourself...be it 30 minutes of exercise or meditation, or breakfast with your family. Something that can help you connect with the people you care about most and something that's meaningful for your own health and well-being. Our personal relationships and health often take a back seat and it's critical to find small ways to re-incorporate them to start to create a better balance.

I use Coacharya's Create Your Future framework to help leaders with work-life issues to integrate them rather than merely balancing. Simplified, it has 3 steps. 1. Drawing up a Wheel of Life as is with 8 segments of time and energy spent on Wealth creation, Seeking position/power, Health, Relationships, Serving others, Learning, Joyful activities and spiritual activities. 2. Based on a mix of metaphors, passion and strengths identify purposeful opportunities and develop a near-future Wheel of Life 3 years from now. 3. Envision a legacy you wish to leave behind 20 years from now post-career. From 3 walk back to 2, find the gaps, then walk back to 1 and set goals to achieve. Meditate and creatively visualise the future you need to have.