What do you do if your career is thriving but your personal life is suffering?

When I ask people what they want in terms of work life balance, they can share a whole list of things they don't want. Yet, they struggle with what they DO want. Taking time to design your quality of life in the way of work life balance is ensuring that there is integrity in the foundation of how you set boundaries, schedules and routine. Begin with discernment creating your list of wants. Then assess how you can build around your life by design.

Identify What Matters to You Write down what makes you happy in both your career and personal life. This could be anything from job achievements to spending time with family. Track Your Time for a Week Keep a simple diary of how you spend your hours each day, noting work, family time, hobbies, and rest. Notice the Imbalances Look at your diary. Are you spending much more time on work than anything else? Is there something important that's getting very little of your time? Talk About It to family/friends/work partners They may notice signs that your career success is coming at the expense of your personal life, which you might have overlooked. Now you may be able to pinpoint specific areas where personal life is compromised.

One thing I found helpful is setting a boundary with emails. Just because someone wrote an email, does not mean you need to adjust to their timeframe and reply right away. You have your own timeframe for things you do. Your response can be sent based on your schedule, not based on their schedule. And certainly, you do not need to reply on the weekend just because someone wrote an email on the weekend.

It is also important to have work hours. Because academia is not similar to a 9-5 job, it is difficult to maintain a work life balance. Hence fixed work hours can be helpful. Those who are working from home can also take a day off every week.

Nurturing your relationships is akin to tending a garden, where the beauty of the blooms reflects the care and attention devoted to it. In the hustle of achieving professional success, it's vital to remember that relationships are the bedrock of personal fulfillment and joy. They require time, effort, and genuine engagement to flourish. By actively listening, sharing experiences, and offering support, you strengthen the bonds that provide comfort and happiness beyond the accolades of career achievements. Whether it's setting aside quality time for family dinners, scheduling regular catch-ups with friends, or simply being present in the moments you share with others, these efforts sow the seeds of lasting connections of love and support

Achieving a harmonious work-life balance is crucial for maintaining physical and mental health. Prolonged work stress can lead to serious health conditions, including heart disease, hypertension, and mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. For instance, a condition known as "karoshi," which translates to "death from overwork," has been recognized in Japan, where there have been reported cases of individuals suffering fatal heart attacks and strokes due to excessive work hours and stress. Implementing changes to reduce stress and prioritize well-being can enhance life quality and potentially save lives, emphasizing the vital need for a balance between professional success and personal health.

Guess all of us have been through this scenario, some have found the ying and yang, some drifted and drowned, some drastic decisions. In the current HE demography, especially for academicians, the choice is management, lecturing, research or hybrids. There has to be targets set in the professional life so that the quality time away from it has its equivalent focus. The focus weightage varies from each individual, guess here we are addressing the majority sample size on a similar facet. Thus the onus is one us on where is our target, and there should be minimal shift so that balance is not distrupted.

Regularly Assess Your Work-Life Balance Set periodic reviews of your work-life balance to ensure both career and personal needs are being met. Identify Areas of Suffering Pinpoint specific aspects of your personal life that are negatively impacted by your work commitments. Reconsider Your Workload Evaluate if your current workload is sustainable or if adjustments are needed to alleviate stress and improve balance. Seek Changes in Your Professional Role Explore the possibility of a role change within your organization or elsewhere to better accommodate your personal life. Implement Adjustments and continue to evaluate the effectiveness of these changes and be willing to make further adjustments as necessary for a sustainable balance.

Implement a "Life Sabbatical": If possible, take an extended break from work—ranging from a month to a year—to fully immerse yourself in personal development, travel, or pursue a passion project that you've always put off due to work commitments. This can provide profound insights into what truly matters to you and can redefine your understanding of work-life balance. During this period, focus on activities that rejuvenate your mind and body, such as meditation retreats, learning new skills unrelated to your career, or volunteering in areas you're passionate about. This break can significantly reset your perspectives, helping you return to work reenergized and with clearer understanding for balancing your career and personal life.