Work-Life Balance Tips

I struggled with work/life balance throughout my career. This is because the world has set a clever, two-part trap for us. I will explain the trap and how to escape it. Part One – Our own goals and ambitions. I wanted to be successful, to get more pay, and to be a part of bigger decisions. If you follow me here, I bet you are the same. You want to “be the best” and have a great career. Part Two – Corporate pressure. Companies have a simple goal of making profits for shareholders. This is most easily done by getting more work from the same people. The Trap: The two parts converge to destroy work/life balance because our healthy desire to do good work, earn a living, and find meaning is easily manipulated by corporate systems designed to maximize profits. Here is how they do it: 1) Most companies give bigger raises to “better” performers. What is better? Usually, doing more work. Sometimes you can be “better” by being smarter or more efficient, but over time even the best of us usually work harder 2) Competition. Since raises and promotions are limited in number, there will always be someone else willing to put in very long hours to come out ahead of you. Some of you will recognize this as “the prisoner’s dilemma” – if only one person works harder, they will get a lot of advantages for only a little extra work. But, when we all strive to be first it becomes a maximum effort race with no winners. Ways to Escape the Trap: 1) Set limits. Recognize the trap and decide what you will and will not give to your work. This may mean accepting some career tradeoffs, but unless you set the limits your body will do it for you over time. It is better to make the choices yourself. 2) Seek work only you can do. We are all gifted at some things, and you get two benefits from focusing on your gifts. First, you can stay ahead of others with less effort. Second, it is more fun to do things that come easily. 3) Choose companies and bosses wisely. Some leaders push you into the trap, some leaders try to keep you out of it. Seek those that keep you out. 4) Work for yourself. If you can be your own boss you can escape the corporate side of profit maximization, or at least have it under your control. 5) Redefine success. There is nothing wrong with wanting pay, promotions, influence, etc. But if the cost gets too high, remember that plenty of people are happy without corporate success. My own path was to climb the ladder, make the money, and then step off. I sacrificed many good years to work and high stress in order to get a set of years without it. A good trade? Time will tell. Readers, what are some other ways to escape the trap?

How do you transition back to work from vacation? Every time I return from vacation my email is flooded and my calendar is packed. It can feel overwhelming. Good news is that I’ve been figuring out my strategy over the years and I no longer stress about the ‘re-entry’. Here’s my process: First I triage my inbox. Use tech to your advantage, focus on what matters and clear out the noise. 🎯 Prioritize. Use filters to group messages by sender, subject, or project and identify emails from leadership, key stakeholders, and team members first. 🎯 Delete unnecessary emails. Skip the backlog of newsletters and other ‘nice to read’ messages. Also skip any threads where decisions were made without you. Those updates will come through team and project meetings as you reconnect. 🎯 Two minute rule. My favorite. Any email with a quick response or action, I knock out. For more complex emails, I flag them for later and group them into calendar time blocks for follow-up. Now I do a calendar review. Get a quick and clear picture of the day and week ahead. I do this review before I leave on vacation to ensure the first days back are focused. I do it again the first day back (within the first hour), and make any required changes. 🎯 Critical meetings. Look for meetings that need preparation and prioritize them. At the same time look for meetings where agendas have not been shared, reprioritize. 🎯 Block time for catch ups. Treat this time as a meeting with yourself and protect it. Schedule blocks for email, catch up with your team, to review project updates, and handle urgent items. I schedule these blocks on my last day before vacation so I’m set up for success when I come back. 🎯 Say NO. Cancel or decline non-essential commitments. It’s okay to say no to meetings that aren’t a high priority, especially in the first few days back. Now I reassess my week and perhaps reprioritize. What needs immediate attention? Have deadlines changed? Any new goals? A crisis? Understand current state and time block for critical path items and high impact work. How do you manage work when you come back from vacation? Please share your tips in the comments so we can all drop the stress in returning to work post vacation.

The post-vacation overwhelm is real, and it's getting worse 📱 As many of us return from extended summer breaks, we're having an interesting conversation internally about "notification bankruptcy" - that moment when you come back to hundreds (or thousands) of messages and feel completely overwhelmed, and you consider nuking the inbox 🙅🏻♂️ This challenge is particularly serious for companies like Doist that collaborate primarily through chat tools and async communication. The very systems that give us flexibility at work also create this crushing wall of information when we return from time off. Here's what makes it so painful for me: - Everything feels "urgent" when you're catching up - You lack context on conversations that evolved while you were away - The fear of missing something important keeps you scrolling endlessly - Wasted time reading comms that have already been solved or are no longer relevant - It can take days just to get back to a baseline, much less move forward We're exploring several approaches to minimize this pain internally, sharing in case it's useful for others out there: - Notification bankruptcy - Encouraging marking all or at least large chunks of comms as read and trusting that truly important items will resurface. Only read @mentions and direct messages. - Structured triage - Dedicate specific time blocks to different message types. Start with DMs, then recent squad/team updates, then general channels. Set time limits to avoid rabbit holes and add long threads as tasks for later dates. - Email deletion strategy - Set an auto-reply saying you'll delete all emails when you return, so people should follow up after your return date if still relevant. Side note - I've been doing this for many years and have found most issues resolve themselves during your absence. - Temporary delegation with handoff projects - Create a centralized Todoist project where covering team members add (only) critical updates and decisions that need your attention (with links and context, very important!). Much more focused than scrolling through hundreds of messages. - Selective catch-up calls - Cancel all non-essential calls during your return week and schedule brief syncs with key team members to get updates on complex situations. The reality is that most of the "urgent" stuff from while you were away either got resolved without you or isn't actually urgent anymore, and very likely, your absence created an opportunity for another teammate to step into that space and grow from it. We tend to think we have to read and reply to everything, but declaring bankruptcy might actually be doing your team (and yourself) a service. I'd love to know how others are dealing with the post-vacation message flood, and any strategies that have worked (or failed) for your team? Always looking for better approaches to this modern workplace challenge 🤝 **Photo of Koda monitoring my approach to post-vacay inbox management 🐶

When I was 30, I was a savage. 16-hour days, constant hustle, and no vacations and I don’t regret it one bit. But, now at 45, as a founder and parent of 3, I’ve traded grind for intentionality. Here’s how I balance work and life without sacrificing either: == 1) Skip alcohol and THC. I used alcohol to blow off steam after long days. I thought I deserved it. Now, avoiding those crutches has transformed how I sleep, wake up, and show up for my kids. 2) Sleep is a superpower. I’m in bed around 9:30pm and wake up around 530am. Better recovery leads to thinking clearer, leading better, and showing up fully. 3) Carve out personal space. I go for a 30-60 min run first thing. My biggest breakthrough thoughts come during my morning run. 4) Involve the kids. I used to compartmentalize “work” and “family.” Now, I bring my kids into what I’m doing whenever possible. Whether it’s having them sit on my lap during a podcast or showing them what Dad’s working on, it’s a way to connect and bring them into my world. 5) Outsource house chores. Mowing the lawn? Deep cleaning the house? This is like stepping over dollars to pick up dimes. I’m sure you enjoy it to a degree, but free yourself for what truly matters: family, health, and the work that moves the needle. 6) Use time blocks. I timebox everything—whether it’s deep work, family time, or even downtime. Setting alarms and blocking time on my calendar keeps me focused and prevents the day from running away from me. 7) Be ruthless about what matters. At 30, everything felt urgent. At 45, I know the difference between important and noise. For me, balance doesn’t mean doing everything—it means doing the right things. == The key is this: Seasons of life change. When you’re young, embrace the grind. Push your limits. Be unbalanced. But as life evolves, so should your approach. This is what works for me—what would you add to the list?

The Silent Productivity Killer No One Wants to Talk About As we mark Stress Awareness Month, I'm calling out the elephant in the professional room: the toxic dance between #stress and #anxiety that's destroying our potential. Here are three radical ways to reclaim your mental space: ✅ 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿. Constant availability isn't hustle. It's self-destruction. When you protect your time and energy, you're not being difficult - you're managing your anxiety and preserving your mental health. 👉 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Create dedicated focus blocks in your calendar where meetings are off-limits. This is your time for deep, meaningful work that actually moves the needle and provides relief from mounting professional anxieties. ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵. Your value isn't measured by how quickly you respond or how many meetings you attend. Anxiety thrives in constant comparison and perpetual performance mode. 👉 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Carve out regular reflection time to review your genuine progress. Disconnect from the noise, challenge your anxious thoughts, and reconnect with your actual goals and achievements. ✅ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗜𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿. High performance isn't about endurance. It's about sustainable energy and protecting your most valuable resource - your mental clarity and emotional well-being. 👉 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Establish clear boundaries between work and personal time. Create a shutdown ritual that signals the end of your workday, helps quiet anxious thoughts, and allows you to disconnect and recharge truly. -- Burnout does NOT make you stronger. Anxiety does NOT define your worth. They drain your potential. Productivity isn't about doing more. It's about doing what matters while protecting your mental health. Coaching can help; let's chat. | Follow Joshua Miller #StressAwarenessMonth #MentalHealth #ProfessionalGrowth

Ever returned from a much-needed break only to be greeted by an inbox that resembles a game of Tetris—just when you think you’ve cleared one, five more drop in? That’s exactly what happened when I returned from a two-week mission trip in Guatemala. While the trip was incredible, the email avalanche that awaited me was anything but. As leaders and executives, taking time off is essential, but the transition back to work can feel overwhelming. Here are my top 5 strategies to keep your sanity and stay on top of things after time away: 1-Prioritize Ruthlessly Not every email or meeting is a fire. Spend the first hour back triaging what needs immediate attention, what can be delegated, and what can wait. Trust me, the world won't end if you don’t reply to that group thread about last month's team lunch. 2-Set Expectations Before You Leave Before you pack your bags, make sure your team knows what to handle and when to escalate issues. This creates a buffer and keeps your inbox from becoming a disaster zone. 3-Use the 'Vacation Debrief' Meeting Schedule a meeting with key stakeholders to get a quick download on what happened while you were away. This avoids the back-and-forth email chains and gets you up to speed faster. 4-Embrace the 'Two-Minute Rule' If an email will take less than two minutes to address, do it immediately. This clears the quick tasks out of the way and gives you mental space to tackle bigger issues. 5-Pace Yourself It’s tempting to try to tackle everything on your first day back, but pace yourself. Block off your calendar for deep work time and allow yourself a few days to fully catch up. Returning from Guatemala was a stark reminder of how easily work can pile up, but these strategies helped me regain control without losing my post-vacation zen. How do you handle the post-vacation chaos? If you have any tips or want to learn more about how I maintained some of my daily routines during the mission trip, click like, share your thoughts, or ask a question in the comments below. Let’s keep the conversation going! #healthcareonlinkedin #litrendingtopics #productivity

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 a manager or aspiring leader, you’ve likely felt the tug-of-war between work and personal life. It’s a challenge that doesn’t come with a one-size-fits-all solution, but it’s one that demands intentionality and self-awareness. Let me share a bit of my journey and some strategies that have helped me navigate this delicate balance. The Trap of Autopilot There was a time when my work calendar dictated my life. I’d say “yes” to every request, every meeting, and every task without pausing to ask: “Is this the most important thing right now? Can I delegate this? Do I even need to do this at all?” This autopilot mode led to burnout. I realized that balancing work and life isn’t about splitting time equally; it’s about prioritizing what matters most in each season of life. The Power of Alignment One of the most transformative tools I’ve adopted is color-coding my calendar. It’s a simple yet powerful way to visualize how I’m spending my time. Here’s how it works: At a glance, I can see if I’m in alignment with my priorities. Defining Success Success looks different for everyone, but for me, it’s about ease and impact. - In my career: Success isn’t just about climbing the ladder; it’s about creating flow and space. It’s about helping my team have “ah-ha” moments and seeing things from new perspectives. - In my personal life: Success is about creativity, self-care, and meaningful relationships. It’s about traveling and spending time with loved ones without worrying about missing something at work. Morning Rituals for Grounding I’ve learned that how I start my day sets the tone for everything that follows. My morning routine includes: - Journaling: To clear my mind and set intentions. - Meditation: To center myself and cultivate calm. - Movement: Whether it’s yoga, a walk, or a quick workout, moving my body energizes me. These practices help me stay grounded and focused, even on the busiest days. The Art of Brain Dumping I’ll admit, I haven’t found the perfect system for staying organized. It’s a mix of paper, online tools, and memory. But one practice that has been a game-changer is **brain dumping. Every few days, I take 10 minutes to jot down everything on my mind—tasks, ideas, worries, you name it. It’s a way to declutter my thoughts and ensure I’m not forgetting anything important. A Call to Action If you’re feeling overwhelmed or out of alignment, I encourage you to take a step back and ask yourself: - What does success look like for me right now? - Am I prioritizing what truly matters? - What’s one small change I can make today to create more balance? Remember, work-life balance isn’t a destination; it’s a journey. It’s about making intentional choices and being kind to yourself along the way. What’s one strategy you use to balance work and life? Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear from you!

Work-life balance isn't about splitting your time 50/50. Here's what nobody tells you. I spent 10 years trying to "balance" everything perfectly. 8 hours work. 8 hours life. 8 hours sleep. Like a robot programmed for equality. It nearly broke me. Because life doesn't work in neat little boxes. Some weeks, your daughter needs you at every doctor's appointment. Some weeks, a clinical trial is failing and needs your full attention. Some weeks, you're just trying to survive. The truth about balance? It's not daily. It's seasonal. Here's what I learned after 10+ years in clinical research: THE OLD WAY: → Equal hours every day → Rigid boundaries → Guilt when work bleeds into life → Shame when life interrupts work → Exhaustion from trying to be perfect THE REAL WAY: → Some days are 70% work, 30% life → Some days are 20% work, 80% family → Clear priorities for each season → Communication with everyone involved → Grace when things don't go as planned I remember when my wife had our second child. For 3 months, I was maybe 30% at work. Emails piled up. Projects moved slower. But you know what? My team understood. My manager supported me. And when I came back fully, I gave 150%. Because that's how real balance works. You don't owe anyone a perfect split. You owe yourself an intentional life. 3 questions that changed everything for me: → What season am I in right now? → Who needs me most this week? → How can I communicate my priorities clearly? Stop trying to balance daily. Start balancing over time. Your career won't collapse if you take your kid to the ER. Your family won't fall apart if you work late on a submission deadline. But you will fall apart trying to give 100% to everything, every single day. Balance isn't about the hours. It's about being fully present wherever you are. Who else is redefining "balance" in 2025? Drop "BALANCE" if you needed to hear this today. #WorkLifeBalance #ClinicalResearch #Leadership #MentalHealth #CareerGrowth #Parenting

Prioritizing wellness is essential for thriving in tech. How do you take care of your well-being? As we celebrate National Wellness Month, I’d like to share three wellness tips that have helped me stay focused and balanced in our fast-paced industry: 1. Set Boundaries: It's easy to let work spill into personal time, but setting clear boundaries has been crucial for maintaining my well-being. I make sure to disconnect and recharge, which helps me stay productive and energized. 2. Practice Mindfulness: Incorporating mindfulness into my daily routine has been a game-changer. Whether it's a few minutes of meditation or simply taking a walk, mindfulness helps me stay present and reduces stress. 3. Foster Connections: Building strong relationships with colleagues and friends has been vital for my mental health. Having a support network to lean on during tough times makes all the difference. These practices have not only improved my personal life but have also enhanced my leadership at RingCentral. I've found that a well-balanced leader can better support their team and drive innovation. What are your top wellness tips for balancing life and work? Feel free to share in the comments below.