As we step into September, many of us struggle with finding a healthy balance between work and personal life. Constant exhaustion, decreased productivity, and increased stress are all too common. You might find yourself worrying about not having a good work-life balance because it might mean missing out on precious moments with your family and never having time for hobbies. Or perhaps you worry about being constantly exhausted because you can perform at your best, make good decisions, or enjoy quality time with loved ones.
I hear you. These fears and pains are completely understandable. That's why this month, I'm focusing on supporting you to alleviate your worry and help you achieve your aspirations and intentions—things like having a better work-life balance, less stress, more family time, and improved personal well-being. Picture yourself enjoying hobbies, socialising, and pursuing personal goals. This is all possible when you focus on reclaiming your time. Here's five ideas about how to tackle this challenge.
1. Setting Boundaries: How to Say No and Protect Your Time
Let's start with boundaries. Imagine having a better work-life balance and less stress. How about being able to cross off a major task on your to-do list? Read on...
Learn to Say No Gracefully – Instead of agreeing to every request, practice saying no in a respectful way. You can use phrases like, "I appreciate you thinking of me, and I can't take on more responsibilities at the moment." This helps you protect your time and reduce stress, moving you closer to your goal of better work-life balance. Can you recall someone respectfully saying no to you? Reflect on how they did that. (A side note...writing this reminds me of when my daughter was a toddler, and I asked her to do something she didn't want to. She would look at me, smile and say, "No, thank you." - she's always been a great role model for me.)
Prioritise Your Tasks—This tip sounds easy, but it isn't when many things are grabbing your attention. Not all tasks are equally important. Have you heard of the Eisenhower matrix? It is a decision making matrix where you differentiate between urgent and important tasks.
This matrix can help you focus on what truly matters and experience that small joy of crossing off significant tasks on your to-do list.
What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important.
-Dwight Eisenhower
2. Time Management Strategies for Busy Professionals
I know that the busy leaders and professional I work with would like to have less stress and time to be with their family and do their favourite hobbies. They want to be able to give and receive undivided attention during family dinner. The only way this can happen when schedules are packed to the max, is to step back and get clear about where you want to invest your time and energy.
Plan Your Week Ahead—Spend a few minutes each Sunday planning your week. This includes scheduling tasks, setting priorities, and allocating time for personal activities and family time. Doing so lets you enjoy the small joy of undivided attention during family dinner.
3. The Importance of Self-Care and Personal Time
There is a lot of compelling evidence that led to 'care' becoming one of LifeStar's five points of wellbeing. It's a non-negotiable part of ensuring you have the energy and resilience to be a high performing leader and professional. Without it, you will be using up your energy and resilience reserves.
What that means is that allocating time for family, hobbies, social life, and your favourite healthy activities must become part of your every day life - rather than the exception. The joy you get from doing your favourite hobby (e.g., painting, playing an instrument), will feed your mind and body, and give you increased capacity to live and lead with impact and presence.
Schedule Self-Care Time – Treat self-care as a non-negotiable appointment. Block out time in your calendar for activities that rejuvenate you, whether it's a relaxing bath, a walk in nature, or a creative hobby.
4. How to Disconnect from Work and Enjoy Quality Family Time
What would you be doing if you could disconnect from work and enjoy family time? if you felt like you had more overall balance in your activities and attention?
Here was one of my things when I had younger kids. It was reading to them before bedtime. It became a ritual that we all enjoyed long after they were able to read to themselves. The three of us all sitting on one bed, taking in the next chapter of the book I read to them.
Set Clear Work Hours – Establish a specific time when you stop working each day. Communicate these hours to your colleagues and family to manage expectations. This helps you disconnect from work and enjoy quality family time, moving you closer to your goal of overall balance.
5. The Art of Delegation: Freeing Up Time for What Matters Most
One of the most effective productivity hack for leaders is releasing time to lead. That often means deciding what you can delegate to others. This includes tasks that are not critical for you to do personally or that can be handled by someone with the right skills. Delegating frees up your time for personal growth and helps you achieve overall balance.
Trust and Train Your Team – Provide clear instructions and resources for the tasks you delegate. Trust your team members to handle the responsibilities, and offer support and training as needed. Doing so lets you acknowledge your team members' efforts and experience the small joy of seeing their faces light up, fostering a positive team culture.
By the end of this month, you'll have a solid foundation for reclaiming your time and achieving a better work-life balance. Remember, it's a journey, and every small step counts.
Sue
P.S. As always, our content is designed to support a global audience, so whether you're enjoying the start of spring in the Southern Hemisphere or the beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, these tips and strategies are relevant and applicable to you.