Achieve Work-Life Balance

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is crucial for leaders like yourself in order to perform at their best and inspire their teams.

According to Harvard Business Review, “When managers are overworked, they treat employees less fairly.”

And that is because middle managers are too busy juggling so many things even when they don’t have nearly enough time to look after themselves, let alone their direct reports. Does this resonate with you, {$name}?

‘Work-life balance’ is a struggle. I don’t even like this phrase, despite the usefulness of striving for balance. Maybe it’s a ‘work-life acceptance’, but even then, that sounds like resigning to a life of imbalance. Finding harmony between the demands of work and life can often feel daunting, so here are practical tips to help you strike a balance - or acceptance - between the two that empowers you to lead effectively while nurturing your well-being:

1. Prioritise Self-Care: Amidst the hustle and bustle of leadership, remember to prioritise self-care. Carve out time for exercise, nourishing meals and moments of relaxation to rejuvenate your body and mind. By nurturing yourself, you lay a solid foundation for effective leadership and sustainable success. Start small and swap out one not so healthy thing for a healthy alternative. In the lead up to my 280 km / 174 mile Portuguese Camino, I swapped out a lot of unhealthy for healthy but I started tiny: I stopped putting milk in my coffee. [Milk is not unhealthy, but it was something I needed to remove for my health plan.]
2. Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries between your work and personal life. Resist the temptation to be constantly tethered to your work emails and calls during non-work hours. Creating space for your personal life and relationships is essential for maintaining your overall well-being. Set expectations as well, e.g., let people know you will not be available after Xpm. you don’t have to justify or explain, simply state, “I won’t be available after 6pm, have a lovely evening, see you tomorrow.”
3. Cultivate Hobbies and Interests: Explore activities outside of work that ignite your passion and bring you joy. Whether it's painting, gardening, or hiking, engaging in hobbies and interests helps you recharge and maintain a broader perspective on life. Remember, investing in your personal interests is an investment in your happiness and fulfilment. The time invested in training, preparing for, learning about and then going on the Camino has added so much more value to my life: more energy, more focus, more joy and it’s even led to more business!
4. Delegate and Trust Your Team: Empower your team members by delegating tasks and trusting them to manage their responsibilities autonomously. By fostering a culture of trust and accountability, you not only promote the professional growth of your team but also free up valuable time for yourself to focus on strategic initiatives and personal pursuits.

Read more about delegation from last week’s blog here.

Incorporating these tips into your daily routine will enable you to lead more effectively while maintaining a healthy balance between your professional and personal life. Embrace these strategies as pillars of your leadership journey and watch as they elevate your well-being and success.

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#TheMiddleMatters #MiddleManagers #WorkLifeBalance #Leadership #Boundaries #ConfidentLeaders

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