Monday, January 13, 2025
I never believed in work-life balance. It always felt like an impossible dream—a goal that was constantly out of reach. For most of my career, I gave everything to work, telling myself I’d make it up to my family someday. I thought I’d take time off when things slowed down, but the never-ending emails, unexpected crises, and constant demands made that day feel like it would never come.
I felt like I was spinning my wheels without making real progress—without ever giving back to my family or myself. The turning point came for me when my body wouldn’t go anymore—when I didn’t have any more to give—and that’s when I finally realized that the solution wasn’t about doing more. It was about setting boundaries, being intentional, and believing that I was doing the right thing by prioritizing what mattered most.
What I’ve come to believe—and what I’ve seen firsthand—is that a lack of boundaries and clarity will erode your personal time and constantly drain your energy. The truth is, balance isn’t a perfect 50/50 split between work and life. It’s a constant balancing act. And that act doesn’t happen by accident. It’s created when you choose to lead your life with intention—when you set boundaries, stick to them, and focus on what truly matters.
I was reminded of this when I heard Arianna Huffington’s story. At the height of her career, as co-founder of The Huffington Post, Arianna collapsed from exhaustion due to the relentless demands of her job. Her wake-up call didn’t come from the success she achieved, but from the realization that her health and well-being were at risk. Instead of walking away from her career, she changed how she approached it. Arianna became intentional about prioritizing rest, health, and boundaries. This shift allowed her to lead a more balanced life while continuing to achieve professional success.
The same is possible for you. You don’t have to choose between being a successful leader and having a life outside of work. By taking small, intentional actions, you can start to shift the balance and take back your time. Let’s explore how, through Rise, Connect, and Discover.
Now let's take Massive ACTION!
Create Space for What Matters – Being intentional with your time starts with knowing what’s important. When you set clear priorities, you can focus your energy on what will have the greatest impact, instead of getting lost in busywork.
Action: Take five minutes this week to write down your top three priorities for the day ahead. Let these guide your decisions and help you say no to distractions.
Protect Your Time by Letting Others Know – Setting boundaries is one thing, but communicating them is what makes them effective. When you let others know your availability and priorities, you create clarity and reduce unnecessary interruptions.
Action: Choose one recurring interruption or "time sucker"—whether it’s after-hours messages or frequent drop-ins—and communicate a boundary this week. Let others know how and when you’ll be available, and don’t deviate from it.
Awareness Is the First Step to Change – You can’t be intentional with your time if you don’t know where it’s going. Tracking your time gives you insight into patterns, helping you spot time-wasters and make adjustments that align with your priorities.
Action: Track your time for one full day this week. Write down how you spend each hour and reflect on where you can be more intentional about aligning your time with your goals.
Work-life balance isn’t about perfection. It’s not about splitting your time evenly between work and life. It’s about intention. By setting clear priorities, communicating your boundaries, and tracking your time, you can take back control of your day and start leading with purpose.
Remember, The Lively Office is always here to support you in making these shifts so you can lead with confidence, connect with those who matter, and discover a life of peace and purpose.
Let’s take these steps together. You deserve it.
"It's not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?"
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