Negotiating for Better Work-Life Balance

No one says "I wish I worked more" on their deathbed Reclaim your time for what matters Companies will always optimize for profit margins. While they optimize for their bottom line... You need to optimize for your lifetime. I learned this the hard way. For years, I chose work over my partner. So the love of my life ended things with me. And they were right to end things! They always came second to my career. But making "all the money" means nothing if: - You have no time to spend it. - You have no one left to spend it with. I quit that job within a few months. These are the new boundaries I put in place: 1/ Calendar block life FIRST ↳ Put in date nights, friend time, gym time 2/ Schedule hard stop commitments around 5pm ↳ Book your reservation for 5:30pm 3/ Put non-negotiables in the work calendar ↳ Make it visible so meetings don't creep in 4/ Stack focus hours before 3pm ↳ Late afternoons are for wrap-up only 5/ Create transition blocks ↳ 30 min morning & afternoon power up & close 6/ Set working hours in Slack/Teams ↳ No. work. apps. on. the. phone! 7/ Add buffer time everywhere ↳ 45 min meetings instead of 60 I hope they work for you, too. We got back together shortly after & are disgustingly happy. :) Work-life "balance" is a myth. But boundaries with work are possible. Optimize for where you're irreplacable. Which boundary can you put in place today? ♻️ Share to spread this important reminder 🔔 Follow Ashley Couto for daily careers

Most people believe Work-life Balance is a Myth. And I disagree with all of them; here's why: Because I believe it is really possible! After years of late nights and missed weekends, I've cracked the code of maintaining balance. Here's my secret: it's all about boundaries. Sounds simple, right? But it's not easy to follow this. Here's how I make it work: -> Make a to-do list When work hours end, the laptop closes. Period. No sneaky email checks! -> Calendar blocking I schedule everything - work, gym, family time. And I mean everything. Pro tip: Let your assistant know these blocks are sacred. Trust me, no one's going to die if that meeting waits till Monday. -> Do physical work-out regularly 3-4 gym sessions a week keep me sane. It's non-negotiable "me time." -> Friends & family first I carve out dedicated time for loved ones. No phones, no distractions when I am with them. -> Ruthless prioritization I review my calendar weekly. Is anything not aligned with my goals? Gone. Remember: in headhunting (and most jobs), few things are truly urgent. That "emergency" can probably wait. It feels weird at first, but it gets easier. Now, I'm not saying I've achieved perfect balance. Some weeks are crazier than others. But overall? I'm happier, more productive, and actually present in my personal life. So yes, I believe work-life balance is possible. It just takes practice, discipline, and the courage to say "no" sometimes. Have you found your balance? Or are you still struggling? #WorkLifeBalance #Corporate #Career #Life

As an agency owner, I always struggled with work-life balance. I felt like I was sacrificing one area of my life for another. Here are 3 ways I improved it: 1. Focused Work Hours: I aim to complete our main tasks during working hours. Setting specific timeframes for goals and removing distractions helps us prioritize and work efficiently. This way, we can truly switch off when we're off-duty. It's okay to do overtime occasionally, but making it a habit can harm our mental health. 2. Team Well-being: We're all responsible for our mental health and that of our employees. Regularly working long hours can lead to burnout. Simple things like a calm tea break, a short celebration of weekly success, or a surprise samosa treat can make a big difference. 3. Trust and Flexibility: We should trust our employees to manage their workload and take breaks without unnecessary questioning. If an urgent task arises, that's different, but generally, everyone should have the freedom to recharge. As an entrepreneur, I don't have set working hours and sometimes work on weekends or at night. However, I ensure to take breaks and prioritize my personal life. As an entrepreneur, how do you manage work-life balance for you and your team?

Balancing the scales between career and home isn't just necessary, it's empowering.💯 To me, work-life balance means integrating work seamlessly into my life, so neither feels overwhelming or neglected. With a schedule often dominated by work, I make a conscious effort to participate in family activities and personal pursuits. I identify small windows to recharge and reconnect, ensuring I'm not just physically present but also emotionally engaged! Whether it's accepting an impromptu dinner invitation from my spouse or catching a movie with my friends, these moments help maintain my balance. At Venwiz too, I advocate a culture where work-life balance is paramount. Some things that help us: - We consciously avoid scheduling recurring meetings on weekends to give everyone the freedom to enjoy their time, however they choose. - The team is supported to fully disconnect during vacations. Turning off our work phones, stepping away from business chats, and immersing ourselves in our holidays does not make us feel guilty. We believe, if it’s not urgent, it can wait. - We actively encourage our team to invest in their wellness with the same dedication they apply to their work. One way we do this is by providing benefits such as Cult memberships to our employees. - We provide necessary time off for important life milestones—weddings, the birth of a child, or significant birthdays, ensuring team members don't miss out on life’s memorable moments. - Our team members are encouraged to work on their holistic growth, one way we champion this is through initiatives such as the book reading club, running clubs(groups) and such developmental activities. - One cool-off period, sometime in the year allows everyone to unwind, reflect, and rejuvenate. For us, this is during the last week of December. What strategies have you found effective in integrating work with personal life without one overpowering the other? I’d love to hear your experiences.🚀 #worklife #entrepreneurship #teambuilding

A few years back, I found myself buried under a lot of work, neglecting my family and personal health. One evening, I noticed that many events related to my family had passed unnoticed. That was my wake-up call. Determined to change, I set firm boundaries: No work while I am at home. And weekends reserved for family. I started using a planner, prioritising tasks and delegating more. I embraced the power of saying "no" to unnecessary work that didn't align with my goals. Every morning, I dedicated time to exercise, which rejuvenated my mind and body. Evenings were for family dinners and stories. These changes didn't just improve my personal life; they made me more focused and productive at work. This balance isn't perfect, but it's a journey worth taking. My family is happier, and I feel more fulfilled than ever. What are your opinions on this? What do you do to ensure a balance between professional and family life?🙏 #worklifebalance #familylife #entrepreneurship #appletech

Most people get work-life balance completely wrong. Here's how to actually fix it: ↓ I spent a decade treating exhaustion as proof I was serious about my career. My son proved me wrong when he asked why I cared more about my laptop than him. ❤️🩹 That question broke something open in me. So I built 7 boundaries. Not rules. Not restrictions. Practical lines that protected my time and my energy. 1. Email Curfew ↳ Nothing sent or read after 7pm or before 7am ↳ Your urgency is yours, not theirs 2. Weekend Fortress ↳ Airplane mode every Saturday morning ↳ Clients adapted, and stayed 3. Lunch Away From Your Desk ↳ 30 minutes, non-negotiable ↳ I got more done when I actually took lunch 4. Meeting Buffers ↳ 15 minutes between every call ↳ Stops the day becoming one long crisis 5. The No Script ↳ "My plate is full right now" ↳ Saying no to average makes room for better 6. Schedule Audit ↳ Review your calendar monthly and cut anything that doesn't fuel you ↳ If it drains you and doesn't move things forward, it goes 7. Protected Mornings ↳ First hour belongs to you: move, read, think ↳ Grounded starts produce better days Revenue doubled after I set these limits. I was sharper, not just busier. My team started copying them. My family got more than my time. They got my attention. Balance isn't a 50/50 split. It's full presence, wherever you are. Which of these will you try first? Drop it in the comments. --- 💾 Save & share this with someone who needs better boundaries. 🔔 I share more career frameworks like this in my free newsletter — plus you get my award-winning #1 book as a welcome gift. Join 37,000 others just like you 👉 https://www.harvey-lee.com

I usually don’t believe in using LinkedIn to call people out. I believe in using our voices to make a difference, not just a point. But sometimes, you have to speak up, especially when someone in a position of influence says something that’s not only wrong, but harmful. Reid Hoffman, one of LinkedIn’s co-founders, recently said in an article: “Work-life balance is not the start-up game. If I ever hear a founder talking about that ‘this is how I have balanced life’ they are not committed to winning. The only really great founders are the ones who say ‘I am going to put literally everything into doing this.’” Let’s be clear: this mindset is outdated and dangerous. Blanket statements like this ignore the reality that not everyone can put everything on the line for their business, especially working parents, and especially working moms. Many of us have to find balance. And guess what? We’re still building successful companies. This is exactly why I became an entrepreneur because I was tired of being told there’s only one path to success. And here’s the truth - I've had incredible success building my business. We’ve hit milestones that only 4% of startups ever reach. And I did it while pregnant, with a toddler, in the middle of a pandemic, all while maintaining work-life balance. I’m not saying that to brag. I’m saying it to prove to you that balance is possible. I’m not saying you won’t have to make sacrifices, or that building a business is easy. It’s not. But the idea that you have to give up everything in your life to win? That’s just not true. In fact, I’ve often found that people who glorify this "all or nothing" mindset are often just trying to justify the damage they did to their relationships, their health, or their teams in the name of success. Let’s talk about what it really takes to build something sustainable: time management, organization, emotional intelligence, resilience, attention to detail, and the ability to execute. These are strengths many women and many parents bring to the table every day. We don’t just need more entrepreneurs. We need more women entrepreneurs. More founders who know that success doesn’t have to come at the cost of everything else. More examples that show there’s more than one way to build something meaningful. So if you’ve built a business while also building a life, I hope you’ll speak up. Because narratives like this one need to change. Our economy depends on entrepreneurs, and we need more inclusive, honest stories about what success actually looks like. And to Reid Hoffman - I am a great founder by every meaningful definition out there. I built a successful company with work-life balance, not in spite of it. So maybe next time, be more mindful before making blanket statements about what it takes to win.

As I sit here reflecting on my career journey, I'm reminded of a pivotal moment that forever changed the way I approached work-life balance. I glanced at the clock—4:30 pm. My colleagues were still immersed in their tasks, but I was already packing up. Why? Because I was determined to beat the traffic and be home in time for dinner with my family. 👨👩👧👦 Weekends? Those were sacred—reserved for family and recharging my spirit. 🌳 You might wonder, wasn't I worried this would impact my career or tarnish my reputation? The truth is, I wasn't. I knew I delivered results on time as required. 💼 My day started at the break of dawn, up at 5 am, and in the office by 6. By 9 am, crucial decisions were made, and my desk was clear of pending tasks. 🌅🕕 Breaks? Hardly. Working lunches became the norm. Each evening at home, I’d spend a focused 30 minutes preparing for the next day, ensuring I was in bed by 10 pm, ready to tackle the morning with a sharp mind and a rested body. 💤📋 You can have it all if you excel at what you do, set firm boundaries, and communicate what you will and won't do. 🗣️ I never shirked responsibilities, refused work, or let my team down. I simply found a way to get things done that honored both my career and personal life. 🏆 I don't just get work done. I get work done my way. 💯 How You Too Can Achieve Life-Work Balance: ➡️ Set clear boundaries: Define your working hours and stick to them. ➡️ Communicate these boundaries with your team and family. ➡️ Prioritize tasks: Focus on high-impact tasks first thing in the morning when your energy levels are highest. ➡️ Plan your day: Spend a few minutes each evening planning for the next day. It helps you stay organized and reduces stress. Actions you can take today: ➜ Identify your top 3 priorities for tomorrow: Write them down and tackle them first thing in the morning. ➜ Schedule a family activity: Make time for your loved ones this weekend and fully disconnect from work. ➜ Take a break: Use your vacation days. Rest and recharge to come back even more productive. If we haven't met: I'm Rudy Malle a clinical researcher, avid entrepreneur, podcaster, storyteller, and career adviser. Let's #connect! #CareerBalance #WorkLifeIntegration #ProductivityHacks #FamilyFirst #ProfessionalGrowth #ClinicalResearch #tgif #20daylinkedinchallengewithhaoma #CareerAdvice #ConnectWithMe #MyWay

Why does work-life balance feel like an elusive dream? In today's world, where work and personal life blur more each day, achieving true work-life balance can feel like chasing a mirage. Yet, it's more crucial than ever. A few months ago, I found myself answering emails at midnight, caught in the whirlwind of recruitment deadlines across Israel, the UK, and the US. It hit me then: if I, a Talent Acquisition Partner who preaches balance, can't find it, how can I expect my candidates to? Curious, I started experimenting with small changes. I began setting boundaries, like no work emails after 7 PM and dedicating weekends to family and hobbies. The result? My productivity soared, and my overall happiness and job satisfaction improved dramatically. What if we prioritized work-life balance not just as a perk, but as a necessity? Imagine the benefits: Enhanced Productivity: Well-rested and happy employees are more efficient. Better Talent Retention: A balanced work-life environment makes employees want to stay longer. Improved Mental Health: Reducing burnout leads to a healthier, more engaged workforce. As someone deeply embedded in the recruitment process, I see firsthand the impact of work-life balance on candidate engagement and employer branding. Candidates today seek a workplace that respects their personal time and well-being. How are you fostering work-life balance in your organization? What small changes have made a big difference for you or your team? #WorkLifeBalance #TechIndustry #EmployeeWellbeing

𝐀𝐭 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐣𝐨𝐛, 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 20 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐚 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤—20 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔—𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 150 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐭𝐞. 🚗💨 These days, my commute looks a lot different. I go into the office just one day a week, driving 16 miles each way. That’s over 900 hours of my life back every year—time I now use to be more productive, creative, and balanced. With the extra time, I’ve been able to deepen my involvement in community service, serve as a mentor to emerging professionals, and sit on non-profit boards. These activities have not only enriched my life beyond the day job but have also allowed me to give back in meaningful ways. The fulfillment I gain from these roles energizes me and enhances my leadership skills, which I bring back to my work with renewed purpose and perspective making me a more effective leader. The reduction in commute time has also meant less stress and more energy to bring my best self to work and home. The balance that hybrid work provides is invaluable—it’s not just about time saved; it’s about well-being gained. The numbers speak for themselves: a 95% reduction in commute time means I can now focus on what truly matters—leading with intention and driving results. What have you achieved with the extra time from hybrid work? Let’s share our successes and strategies—how are you making the most of it? #Leadership #HybridWork #WorkLifeBalance #CareerJourney #SumGems💎