What are the best ways to maintain work-life balance in a Finance career?

1 Set realistic goals

One of the keys to work-life balance is to set realistic and attainable goals for yourself and your team. Don't overcommit yourself to unrealistic deadlines, expectations, or projects that will only cause you more stress and frustration. Instead, focus on the most important and urgent tasks, delegate or outsource what you can, and communicate clearly and honestly with your stakeholders. Setting realistic goals will help you avoid burnout, improve your quality of work, and give you more time and space for your personal life.

2 Establish boundaries

Another essential tip for work-life balance is to establish and respect boundaries between your work and your life. This means setting clear rules for when and how you work, and when and how you relax, recharge, and enjoy your life. For example, you can limit your work hours, turn off your notifications, avoid checking your emails or messages after work, and dedicate some time each day or week for yourself, your family, and your hobbies. Establishing boundaries will help you reduce stress, increase focus, and prevent work from taking over your life.

4 Learn to say no

Sometimes, the best way to achieve work-life balance is to learn to say no. Saying no can be hard, especially if you are a people-pleaser, a perfectionist, or a high-achiever, but it can also be liberating, empowering, and rewarding. Saying no means respecting your limits, values, and preferences, and choosing what matters most to you. It also means saying yes to yourself, your growth, and your happiness. Learn to say no to the things that drain you, distract you, or derail you from your goals, and say yes to the things that inspire you, motivate you, or fulfill you.

5 Seek support

You don't have to achieve work-life balance alone. You can seek support from your colleagues, managers, mentors, friends, family, or professionals who can help you cope with the challenges and pressures of working in finance. Seeking support means asking for help, advice, feedback, or guidance when you need it, and offering the same to others when they need it. It also means building a network of people who share your vision, values, and interests, and who can support you, challenge you, and celebrate you. Seeking support will help you overcome obstacles, learn new skills, and enjoy your work and your life more.

6 Be flexible

Finally, one of the most important tips for work-life balance is to be flexible and adaptable. Working in finance can be unpredictable, dynamic, and exciting, but it can also be stressful, chaotic, and overwhelming. You can't control everything that happens in your work or your life, but you can control how you react to it. Be flexible and adaptable to the changing circumstances, opportunities, and demands of your work and your life. Be open to learning, experimenting, and adjusting your plans, strategies, and goals as you go. Be flexible and adaptable to achieve work-life balance in a finance career.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?