Finding Your Balance: Approaching Wellbeing with Intention

Are you responding to emails when you should be sleeping? Catching up on projects on weekends? Putting off exercise (again) to attend an urgent, unscheduled call?

Hybrid work has given us incredible flexibility, but at the same time, it’s also blurred the lines between work and home life. When not managed with intention, this overlap can erode our health and wellbeing.

Deloitte recently surveyed 2,100 employees and C-suite executives to assess the state of wellness. Only 65% of employees reported good or excellent physical wellbeing, and 59% reported the same for mental wellness. Furthermore, greater than 40% of employees say they are always or often exhausted or stressed. And nearly a quarter say they are always or often depressed.

We’re facing a crisis. As employers and HR leaders, we must invest in and enable a supportive environment for employee health and wellness. It’s a major priority for me at Intel. These statistics should also be seen as a reminder to prioritize our own wellness.

As a working mom of four and a person who tends to overwork, I understand the challenges of balancing work with home life and finding time for self-care. In fact, my own wake-up call came several years ago when my lack of balance put me in the hospital (more on that later).

Since that time, I have learned that giving 100% at home and work means that I must invest in my own physical and mental health—sometimes that means approaching my day as a series of micro-steps, but it’s always about keeping my eye on the big picture. It’s important to remember that balance looks different for each of us. With this in mind, I thought I’d share how I approach wellbeing and try to maintain balance in my own life in hopes that it might help with wellbeing and balance in yours.

Set firm boundaries

It’s so easy to let work bleed into home life, especially when, like me, you love what you do! But I also love spending time with my family and doing other things, which means I try to set boundaries.

Establish a schedule that works for you

I can’t tell you how often I’ve found myself sitting down to catch up on a couple of emails in the evening only to find myself at the computer two hours later. While having the flexibility to work from home can help us manage other details in our lives more easily, it requires diligence in setting a reasonable schedule and following a routine to know when to turn work off.

Just after I had my fourth child, I was promoted into a CHRO role. At the time, all four of my children were under the age of eight. Being a mom is a priority for me. They need and deserve my full attention outside of work, which meant I had to set boundaries that worked for me and my family. So, from 6 PM until 10 PM during the work week, I focused on my kids: eating dinner together, spending time as a family, and getting them to bed. While I often worked after my kids’ bedtime, I also avoided going into the office on weekends, so I could spend that time with my family.

In order to do that, I communicated with transparency to my supervisor and colleagues, who respected these boundaries, enabling me to give 100% at work and home. In fact, my reticence to clarify these boundaries may have been the greatest barrier to overcome. Of course, occasional exceptions were made. But setting goals and boundaries helps ensure those exceptions don’t become the rule. ?

Know your priorities

There will always be more work to do, details to attend to, and improvements to be made. It can be difficult to say no. As our responsibilities grow, we often respond by working harder and putting in longer hours. Unfortunately, this takes a toll on our physical and mental health and slows our progress.

This rings true for women in particular. According to research by author Linda Babcock , female employees spend 200 more hours doing non-promotable work every year than our male counterparts. Managers tend to ask women to do these non-promotable tasks. Why? Because we’re more likely to say yes.

I learned this lesson the hard way. I’m the type of person who doesn’t want to let anyone down, which means that I often was that person who always said yes or agreed to take on an extra task or project. Several years back, I worked so much that my health suffered. I ended up in the hospital for an emergency surgery which was lifesaving. During my seven-day hospitalization, I took stock of what I was doing to myself and how I needed to change. The experience taught me the importance of balance and self-care. Crisis mode is not sustainable. While I don’t know what led to the emergency, I do know I may have missed valuable clues my body was telling me in my state of imbalance.

That’s why we need to know our priorities. Establishing priorities provides a roadmap for the most critical things and helps us focus on what truly matters. Knowing our priorities helps us keep the big picture in mind and make daily decisions around what to focus on. Today, nearly everything I tackle snaps back to one of just a few big priorities. Prioritizing allows me to use my energy where it’s needed most to maximize my impact. It also helps me to push back with confidence when needed.

Put your phone to bed

Half of Americans start the day by checking email—17% as soon as they wake up. While we might think this helps us get a good start on the day, it simply increases anxiety. Furthermore, we’ve known for years that blue light from electronics inhibits sleep. And who needs that?

When I separate myself from my phone, I relax more easily. I started my own ritual of putting my phone to bed before I go to bed. I spend five minutes at the end of each day without my phone and email, reflecting on the day. I think about what I did, what brought me joy, and what I could do better tomorrow.

Then in the morning, before I pick up my phone, I spend five minutes reflecting on the day ahead: my hopes, what I need to accomplish, what I will do for myself, and what my family needs. It helps me mentally prepare for my day and keeps me centered on what matters most, without the distractions and potential stressors that await on my phone.

Prioritize self-care

Self-care is all about focusing on our physical and mental health. From attending healthcare appointments to proper nutrition to simply doing things that alleviate stress, self-care enables us to be more effective at work and at home.

Schedule self-care

Many of us are accustomed to a highly scheduled life, attending back-to-back work meetings, transporting our kids to school and activities, preparing meals, doing chores—the list goes on. Frequently, we’re so overscheduled that self-care gets put aside.

Just as we would schedule a meeting, we also need to schedule self-care, whether it’s meditation, a walk, or a nap. It’s too easy to get caught up in work and forget. And medical needs should never be put off—trust me, I know! Make that chiropractic, dental, or therapy appointment. Block out time on your calendar. Invest in yourself. Scheduling self-care and preventative care is so important for all of us.?

Self-care includes how we nourish our bodies. I’ve been a vegetarian since the age 18, so for me, self-care includes planning and preparing fresh, healthy meals for myself and my family. I’m also currently focused on increasing hydration and try to drink eight glasses of water daily.

Schedule time for exercise, too

Exercise is one of the best things we can do for ourselves. Exercise releases endorphins, which block pain and increase sensations of pleasure . Regardless of how we exercise, getting our blood pumping and muscles moving can help alleviate depression, stress, and anxiety.

For me, heading outdoors for a daily walk is non-negotiable. I need this time in the fresh air as part of my self-care routine—it keeps me grounded and helps me maintain a positive attitude. On National Walking Day, I posted on LinkedIn about my walking habit , and several of you chimed in on how you make the most of your walks. Comments ranged from listening to music and podcasts to taking in the sounds of nature. Some of you walk solo, and others walk with friends and family. It was so encouraging to hear from you! However you choose to exercise, try to make it enjoyable, and remember that you’re doing something positive for your brain and mental health.

Take meaningful breaks

We all need breaks. Our batteries need to be recharged, even for a short time. But so many of us ignore breaks, thinking we don’t have time, when in reality, the opposite is true.

Use those vacation days!

According to the US Travel Association , the average American leaves 6.5 days of paid time off on the table each year. This is a travesty. Time away from work is vital to our wellbeing. Vacations improve our physical and mental health and decrease burnout. Not only that, when we return from vacation, we tend to be more focused and productive.

Employers benefit by encouraging employees to take time off. At Intel, we offer one of the industry’s most generous vacation benefits, which includes an eight-week, fully paid sabbatical every seven years, as well as discounts and perks to make time away even better.

I love to travel—it’s my favorite thing to do. I treasure the time away exploring new destinations, building memories, and reconnecting with family and friends. I always come back rejuvenated and filled with joy.

Whether you retreat to the tropics, the mountains, or your own backyard, it’s essential to use your vacation days to step away from work and spend time doing something that recharges you and reconnects you to the people you love.

Embrace breaks, including microbreaks??????

How often do you work through your lunch? Or forget to take a break in the afternoon? It’s so easy to do, but one of the most important ways we can stay energized, focused, and productive is by taking breaks, including microbreaks .

Microbreaks get us away from our desks for a few minutes—grabbing a cup of coffee, stepping outside for fresh air, or even doing a few breathing exercises. For me, it’s playing with my dog Luna. Whatever it is, embrace it. Just make it something YOU choose.

Do I balance work and home life with precision? Nope. Do I ever feel burned out? You bet—but it doesn’t last and it’s increasingly rare.

The reality is that there will be times when we feel out of balance. Plus, balance looks different for all of us. But when we take steps to prioritize our own wellbeing and self-care, we’re happier, healthier, and more productive all around. And when we do get off balance, we can navigate back to center more quickly.

So, schedule that massage! Take that vacation! Go for a walk! Manage your wellbeing with intention to find balance and be the best version of you.

What are some things that you do to prioritize your health and wellness? Please share in the comments below—I would love to hear your thoughts!