How Do You Maintain Work-Life Balance for Yourself and Your Team?
We asked CEOs and founders how they approach maintaining work-life balance for themselves and their teams, and for a personal tactic they use. From using tech tools effectively to promoting asynchronous communication, here are twenty-two tips for finding a better balance.
- Use Tech Tools Effectively
- Set Clear Boundaries
- Set Clear Working Hours
- Promote a ROWE Culture
- Set Firm Boundaries on Work
- Prioritize and Set Boundaries
- Get Involved With the Community
- Embrace Automation and "Zoom Out"
- Take Regular Breaks
- Prioritize Well-Being
- Organize Innovation Retreats
- Integrate Work and Life
- Use the Sprint-Work Model
- Enforce a No-Overtime Policy
- Host Team Wellness Days
- Take Micro-Breaks
- Implement Flexible Scheduling
- Focus on Energy Management
- Prioritize Regular Check-Ins
- Promote "No-Meeting Fridays"
- Integrate Self-Care Into Routine
- Promote Asynchronous Communication
Use Tech Tools Effectively
We've really focused on managing our time more effectively in the team. It's not just about getting through a list of tasks anymore. Now, we make good use of tech tools to keep things organized, delegate more, and aren't afraid to turn down requests that pile on unnecessary stress. This approach has freed us up to be more creative and less stressed, making our workdays more fulfilling and productive.
Set Clear Boundaries
Maintaining work-life balance is crucial for sustainable success, both for myself and my team. Personally, I make it a priority to set clear boundaries between work and personal time, and I encourage my team to do the same. One tactic that’s worked well for me is time-blocking, where I schedule specific blocks of time for work, personal activities, and relaxation.
For example, I allocate time in the mornings strictly for focused work and team meetings, while late afternoons are reserved for personal activities like exercise or time with family. This structure ensures that work doesn’t spill into my personal life, and I stay more productive during dedicated work hours.
For my team, I promote flexibility and respect for personal time by allowing remote work and discouraging after-hours communication unless absolutely necessary. This empowers them to manage their own schedules and maintain balance, which has led to higher job satisfaction and productivity. A happy, well-balanced team is a more effective team, and it fosters long-term retention.
Set Clear Working Hours
Setting clear working hours and updating my status in Slack have helped me maintain a work-life balance for myself and the team. With a remote team, it's easy to blur the lines between work and personal time, so we make sure to set expectations on when we're available. This way, everyone knows when it's okay to reach out and when someone is offline for personal time.
Having these clear boundaries avoids unnecessary interruptions during off-hours or life events. It allows the team to be more productive when working and fully present in their personal lives when they're offline.
Promote a ROWE Culture
We've experimented with a results-oriented work environment (ROWE) where outcomes are measured based on productivity and not time spent in the office. In this type of culture, work is evaluated based on what is produced (i.e., results) and not the hours put in (i.e., time). This tends to shift the focus from the time put into the quality (i.e., the results). The ROWE tends to support the idea that rest leads to high quality. This is easy to accept when leaders model this approach.
Leaders at our company can be very productive because they send a message to those around them that when it comes to producing results, all that is needed is the output, and rest is valued. One example of this approach is leaders setting a good example, which includes logging off at a reasonable hour and self-care. (This assumes that results are being delivered.) This policy has been received well because it's in line with both our interest in employee well-being and high performance.
Set Firm Boundaries on Work
As Stallion Express's Director of Business Operations, I understand the need to establish a work-life balance for long-term success. A personal strategy that has worked for me is setting firm boundaries on my work hours. I've realized that consistently working long hours can lead to burnout, impacting productivity. Stallion Express promotes this approach with flexible schedules and wellness programs.
Interestingly, a 2022 survey found that employees with flexible work arrangements are 55% more productive. I've implemented team meetings focused on personal growth, allowing employees to share challenges and celebrate wins. These conversations foster a culture of mutual support, ensuring we all manage our well-being alongside our professional goals.
By encouraging downtime and personal development, I ensure my team thrives in and out of the office.
Prioritize and Set Boundaries
Balancing work and life as a business leader can be challenging, but I've found that it boils down to setting clear boundaries and priorities. A personal tactic I use is establishing "non-negotiable" time-blocks in my schedule devoted to personal activities or family time. For instance, I make it a rule to disconnect from work-related tasks during dinner hours to ensure quality time with my loved ones.
This not only recharges my energy but also sets a healthy example for my team. Encouraging my team members to identify and protect their own non-negotiable times fosters a culture of understanding and respect around work-life balance. In my experience, when leaders model this behavior, it empowers everyone to pursue a healthier balance, contributing to overall team productivity and satisfaction.
Get Involved With the Community
One method I encourage myself and my team to adopt to help with work-life balance is to get involved with the local community. At Superbee, we aim to encourage cooperation with locals in schemes and organizations, which benefit the wider community and also the work-life balance of those involved. Either by getting involved in schemes within the local area or attending a local event as volunteers, this takes you away from your daily environment and refocuses your attention on something more important—living life.
For me, this ties in nicely with the community and provides a great mental palate cleanser—a sense of accomplishment and camaraderie that bodes well for the team and benefits everyone involved. It fosters a collegial work environment where we can come together and support local needs, which can only strengthen our relationships and, in turn, our shared morale.
When you're out there in the community, it fosters a sense of pride in how you can make a difference beyond your cubicle or office building. It helps determine how you can balance what you do for a living with the other interests you have in your life—all great reasons why I engage in the community and give back. It really enriches your life and your work environment in many ways that your standard team-building retreat kind of falls short of achieving overall.
Embrace Automation and "Zoom Out"
Automating can be one of the ways to balance work and life as a business leader. This has been my experience at Life by Design. This is very important, not because it saves me time, but because it really enables my team to keep their work at the highest value possible.
ClickUp and Calendly are some tools that have really changed the game. For example, we use ClickUp for automating project management. It frees everyone up to focus on strategic tasks. Since then, my team is projected to avoid burnout since they are not bogged down with repetitive activities.
Personally, I use this strategy called "zoom out." So, when it all gets too hectic, I remind myself why I started this business. It's an important mental reset that keeps me passionate about work, even during hard times. It also helps me see the missing puzzle in a problem once in a while.
So overall, I think efficiency is really important for daily operation. Also, a broader perspective keeps me grounded in my personal goals.
Take Regular Breaks
To maintain work-life balance for both myself and my team, I emphasize the importance of taking regular breaks and encouraging social interaction during the workday. One personal tactic I use is to go out for lunch or enjoy lunch with co-workers. This practice not only provides a necessary break from work but also fosters team bonding and relaxation. By stepping away from our desks and engaging in casual conversations over a meal, we create opportunities to recharge, reduce stress, and strengthen our working relationships. This simple habit has proven to be an effective way to promote a healthier work-life balance and boost overall team morale.
Prioritize Well-Being
When leaders prioritize their well-being, it sets a positive tone for the entire organization, boosting morale, productivity, and engagement. By taking time for myself, I show my team that work-life balance is a necessity, not a luxury.
Personal Tactic: Every weekend, I disconnect. No emails, no calls, no work. It's my sacred time to recharge, spend quality moments with loved ones, and explore hobbies. This digital detox has been instrumental in preventing burnout and maintaining perspective.
Remember, a balanced leader is a more effective leader. Prioritize your well-being, and watch your team follow suit.
Organize Innovation Retreats
I promote work-life balance for myself and my team by organizing innovation retreats outside the office. Often, companies will take a day out to do team-building activities, but instead, we'll go to a nature spot or a venue where the day revolves around generating ideas and brainstorming while also relaxing. It's about mixing work with leisure so that we can be more creative while also taking it easy.
At these retreats, we have designated periods of brainstorming, but we also allow abundant time for unstructured activities so that the team can explore the area, spend some time in outdoor activities, or just go on vacation to de-stress. The fact that we are getting out of the office environment helps everyone think outside the box and also develops a sense of teamwork in refreshing surroundings. It rids everyone of the stress and monotony and helps them come back to work recharged with new energy and enthusiasm. This blend of work with play helps promote bonding and also provides a balanced environment for the team, as everyone is now refreshed and raring to go, creating an ambiance that helps them feel more engaged at work and in their personal lives.
Integrate Work and Life
There are two ways to achieve work-life balance: One is to keep them completely separated from each other, and the other is to blend them into each other. We actually went for the latter option, promoting the idea of work-life integration. The reason why we do this is that it gives people more freedom to structure their lives as they see fit; to prioritize personal or work as required. As long as productivity is maintained and the results are there, there’s no need for a rigid work-day.
How this works in practice is team members adjust their hours based on personal needs, whether that’s taking an afternoon off for family time and finishing up work later in the evening. We have a ‘take as much annual leave as you need’ policy, which switches the focus from obsessing over holiday days to actually taking breaks when needed. I personally follow the same flexible work style and will often schedule important work tasks during my most productive hours so that I can integrate family time or hobbies during the natural breaks in my day. This approach creates a more fluid balance, and it also makes it much easier to adapt to a partner’s or a family’s schedule.
Use the Sprint-Work Model
The sprint-work model helps me keep work travel to a minimum and maintain an appropriate balance between work and life, much in the way that it works in the gym. You could have a trainer who has you run for 20 minutes, and then, while not at the same level of intensity, you do something else. You can intensely hit the wall for 20 minutes, then do lots of other different things during the rest of your workout time. It's like that — you don’t burn out, you have less impact during that short period of time, and you get more out of it than you would if you just did a long, slow exercise session.
When I'm on the road for work, that's my sprint: I get up early and I try to finish late. When possible, I work on the plane as soon as it’s legal (that is, after the ‘ding’ at 10,000 feet). But at home, the shift changes: I keep regular hours. I close my laptop early enough to pick up the kids from school and spend my evenings fully immersed in being with them until they go to bed. I still respond to urgent emails and texts, but my laptop is mostly out of sight and, thus, I’m mentally there with my family.
Moreover, I schedule my travel so that I’m home for four or five days in a row where I’m able. Client meetings and conference schedules don’t always cooperate, but being mindful of how I spend my time at home helps me stay alert and fully engaged with my work (and my family) while resisting the sense that I’m being pulled in too many directions at once.
Enforce a No-Overtime Policy
Our approach to work-life balance is grounded in the belief that significant rest leads to substantial work. We enforce a strict no-overtime policy unless absolutely necessary and, instead, focus on enhancing our operational efficiencies during regular working hours. This policy helps in reducing burnout and maintains enthusiasm and engagement across our teams.
One effective tactic I use is planning leisure activities that are completely unrelated to my work, such as painting or attending live-music events. These activities not only serve as a creative outlet but also remind me there's a world outside the office, keeping my work and personal life distinctly fulfilling.
Host Team Wellness Days
We host quarterly team wellness days at Mirador Living, focused on mental health and relaxation techniques that our employees can incorporate into their daily lives. As a former news producer, I've learned the importance of unplugging, so I make it a habit to take a full-hour lunch break away from my desk each day, encouraging my team to do the same.
Take Micro-Breaks
I've developed a practice I call 'micro-breaks' that has transformed how I manage stress and maintain balance. Every 90 minutes, I step away from my desk to either walk around my garden or play a quick game of chess online. These breaks aren't just pauses—they're moments to reset my mind and spark creativity. I encourage my team to find their own micro-break rituals, which has led to a more energized and innovative work environment. It's a small change, but it's made a big difference in our collective well-being.
Implement Flexible Scheduling
As a business leader in the floral industry, maintaining a work-life balance is something I prioritize for both myself and my team. One personal tactic that has worked wonders is implementing flexible scheduling within our shop. During peak seasons, when we’re busier than usual—like Valentine’s Day—I allow team members to choose shifts that suit their personal schedules better. This flexibility helps them manage their responsibilities outside of work while still contributing effectively during busy periods.
I also make it a point to lead by example when it comes to work-life balance. For instance, I ensure that I take regular breaks throughout the day and encourage my team members to do the same. We have a culture where taking time off for mental health or family commitments is not only accepted but encouraged. By fostering an environment where everyone feels comfortable prioritizing their well-being, we create a happier workplace overall.
Moreover, we hold monthly team meetings where we discuss not just business goals but also personal achievements outside of work—whether it's completing a marathon or spending quality time with family. Celebrating these moments together strengthens our bond as a team and reminds everyone that life outside of work is just as important as our professional commitments.
Focus on Energy Management
One specific tactic that has worked well for my team is focusing not on time management, but on energy management: we structure the day around when each of us feels most productive, instead of having to be bound by the nine-to-five. Some of my team members are morning larks and are at their best early in the day; others are night-owls and perform best later in the day. Therefore, I encourage them to shift their work hours accordingly.
For me, it's made the biggest difference: thinking about what I have to accomplish, then deciding when to plan and tackle my most important tasks during my peak times of day, which are usually in the late morning, and when to save the more routine or less difficult work for when energy dips in the afternoon. Helping my team to find their windows for working effectively is, I think, the best thing for productivity, but it has also helped to create a system that's flexible for everyone, and that allows for a better balance between work and personal life. In the end, it's working smarter, not harder, and being mindful of when our brains and bodies are on.
Prioritize Regular Check-Ins
At Minty Digital, we prioritize regular team check-ins to gauge workload and stress levels. I've found that encouraging flexible hours and 'mental-health days' has significantly boosted team morale and productivity. Personally, I swear by my '50-10' rule—50 minutes of focused work followed by a 10-minute break to recharge—which has been a game changer for my own work-life balance.
Promote "No-Meeting Fridays"
We do this cool thing called 'No-Meeting Fridays.' Exactly what it sounds like: zero meetings. It’s a day for everyone to catch up or dig deep into projects without anyone bugging them. People seem to love it, and it’s helped us all feel less fried at the end of the week.
I try to keep things real with everyone at work. We chat a lot, not just about work but about how we’re all doing, you know? If someone’s feeling the heat, we figure out how to help, like maybe shifting deadlines around or just giving them a day to breathe when they need it. It’s all about making sure no one feels like they’re going it alone.
And here’s the kicker—keeping a good work-life balance is kinda like gardening. It needs regular tending and tweaking. I always take some time to think about what’s working and what might need a change. Sometimes, a little fix here or there can make a big difference.
So, that’s my take on keeping things balanced at Whits. It’s not just about getting the job done but making sure we all stay happy and healthy while doing it. After all, what’s the point of succeeding at work if you’re not enjoying life, right? Here’s to making it all work, one day at a time.
Integrate Self-Care Into Routine
As the owner of a criminal-defense firm, we are in a demanding field where the intensity of cases can easily extend beyond traditional work hours. It's important to set clear boundaries between professional and personal life. I encourage a culture where respecting these boundaries is a shared value, which includes establishing defined work hours and promoting time off. I conduct regular check-ins to address any workload concerns and support individual well-being, ensuring that everyone feels heard and valued.
I make it a point to integrate self-care into my daily routine—whether through exercise, healthy eating, or taking brief, restorative breaks throughout the day. This helps keep me focused and energized while also setting a positive example for my team. Encouraging time off and actively promoting a healthy work-life balance helps maintain a motivated and resilient team, which is essential for managing the high demands of our work.
Promote Asynchronous Communication
For me, maintaining work-life balance is not just nice; it's a must. I've implemented a series of policies that essentially push my team to get their much-deserved personal time. We're an international business with team members distributed across multiple time zones. With that in mind, we've adopted a well-defined and transparent async comms strategy. Not having the stress to check messages and respond almost immediately is essential to switching off.
I have a very clear work ethic. I work hard but within set timings, never working weekends or late nights, unless absolutely necessary, and I expect the same of my team. We've built a culture where people are not revered for their long hours but for what they produce. I think this is really key. Wherever possible, we break down tasks into deliverables with deadlines. For me, if you've met your deadlines, great—get off early.
