Here's how you can prioritize self-care to maintain work-life balance amidst workplace culture changes.

Understand your working habits. If you are a morning person then stack the most critical items in the morning. Put complex tasks wherever you will have your peak brain power in your schedule. For times when you feel tired or not motivated, take a quick walk to re-energize. When you see how you work, you can align your working day around your own best performance. Set a reminder 15 minutes before end of day to wrap things up so you don't burn out.

First off, check in with your mindset about self care. Do you see it as essential or do you view it as a luxury to be enjoyed "when you get time". If you see self care as a luxury, shift your thinking about this. Its a necessity that gives us the ability to continue doing great work and being in service without burning out.

In an "instant everything" world, it's easy to think we need to conform to this. But we don't. Great work can happen with boundaries. Here are few tips: 1) know when you're most productive and block time in your calendar for production 2) block "flex time" in your calendar for dealing with unexpected issues during the day 3) set up auto-responders on your email. Let people know you check email at certain times per day and you will respond accordingly. Then do it. 4) use voicemail more. Have a voicemail message that tells people you check messages at certain times of day and will respond accordingly. Then do it. These strategies will help you feel in control of your day instead of feeling like your day is running you.

As a leader, I ensure that I live these values too. Because it’s one thing to empower your team to do this - but it’s another to lead by example.

This is perhaps the most essential, setting time. Just as meetings and phone calls and deadlines become blocks in a calendar, so too can deep breaths, walks and quick journaling. When you are able to treat your self care just as important as the goals at work, things start to shift. And when you make time for yourself, you are preparing yourself to show up to everything else with a full cup rather than an empty one.

Connecting with your colleagues is critically important - especially during periods of change. However, be mindful of how you are connecting. Gathering at the "water cooler" to catch up, commiserate and offer support is natural and important...but don't let that time deteriorate into a complaint session every time. Not only does it add to the erosion of any positive culture changes occurring within your organization but it will eventually start wearing on you and your ability to practice self-care.

Human connection is essential for all of us. It creates the deepest desire fulfilled as humans. When we are able to connect to others we begin to build community and enhance our sense of belonging. We begin to feel a part of something beyond ourselves and in essence creates an ease in showing up in contribution.