How to Improve Your Work-Life Balance as a Leader

A female employee learns how to improve her work-life balance as a leader

Do you find yourself always thinking about work in your free time? If you frequently answer work-related calls and emails at home or find that you put more time and effort into work than your relationships, you may struggle with maintaining a healthy work-life balance. 

In a recent study, 48 percent of employees considered themselves workaholics. As some industries grow and others downsize, you may find yourself taking on more responsibilities to meet the changing demands of your job. With the increase in remote and hybrid jobs, you may find it even harder to distinguish when work time ends and personal time begins.

However, if you can establish a healthy work-life balance, you can maximize your potential as a leader and set an example for your employees to follow. This can lead to a happier and healthier work environment for everyone. 

Here are five practices to improve your work-life balance as a leader. 

1. Set boundaries. 

Often, the first step to having a better work-life balance is to create boundaries between your personal life and work hours. Be clear about when and where you will work and have personal time. It is crucial to communicate these boundaries with others.  

Create boundaries with your workplace by not answering work-related calls or emails after hours. Silence notifications or unplug from professional devices when you finish for the day. Schedule meetings only within your working hours. Have a dedicated workspace if you work at home to help you stay disciplined and focused, and help you unplug when the work day is over. If you work in an office, let your work stay in your office and find somewhere else to go during breaks to avoid letting work drain your personal time. 

2. Maximize your personal time. 

If you struggle with maintaining your work-life balance as a leader, you may have difficulty making the most out of your personal time. Maybe you spend your days off stressing about your next work project, or perhaps you are so exhausted you find yourself doing nothing but watching TV and catching up on work around the house. You may occasionally have a day like this, and that’s okay. However, it’s important to do things that you find fulfilling. 

Use some of your time off to do things you’re passionate about, hobbies that you’ve always wanted to pick up, or to spend time in nature. Most importantly, consider those you love. Your relationships are the building blocks of your life and your leadership. Ask yourself how you can use your personal time to connect with others and take care of yourself. 

3. Use your paid time off. 

The hours between when work ends and when the next workday begins may not be enough time to take care of yourself and do the things you want to do. Make sure to use your vacation time and take personal days when needed. Allowing yourself even a few days of rest can help you recover from stress and return with a clearer mind

Encourage others to use their time off too. Remind them that they will not be penalized for taking advantage of sick days, personal days or vacation time. Doing so will show your team that you value them as people and respect their time.

4. Manage your time. 

You may find that you are struggling with work-life balance because you haven’t managed your time properly. Maybe you get distracted on the job and are unable to finish your work, causing you to take your assignments home. 

Put away distractions in the workplace so you can complete your tasks before your workday is over. Consider which tasks are important and which are urgent. Tackle the most important and time-consuming tasks early in the day, while your energy is still high. Then, move on to the smaller, less important tasks. 

Once in a while, you may have a week where your load is particularly heavy, and you may need to finish some tasks at home, but don’t make a habit of working after hours. Meet with your team to create a plan to divide the tasks in order to minimize everyone’s additional workload. 

5. Learn to say no. 

No matter how well you manage your time, you won’t be able to say yes to everything without cutting into your personal time. In order to maintain a healthy work-life balance as a leader, it is crucial that you learn to respectfully say no. There is nothing wrong with declining additional work or social events that interfere with your rest. Saying no is how you respect the boundaries you’ve set.  

When you say no to additional work, you may have to divide the responsibilities in a way that puts less pressure on one person. Communicate regularly with your team about what has been done and what needs to be done, and delegate responsibilities accordingly. 

Work-life balance isn’t always a perfect 50-50, and putting it into practice looks different for everyone. What matters is that you have the time you need to do the things you want to do with your personal time, and more importantly, that you are satisfied with your work-life balance. These practices can help you stay healthy and avoid burnout, allowing you to achieve your greatest potential. 

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