Greg Freshour, SHRM-CP, PHR’s Post

What helps me the most with work-life balance is planning out my week (for work and outside of work) and making sure to not engage with slack or email when I am away from my desk. On Sunday, I take the time to figure out how I think my week will go and plan accordingly with commitments at work and in my personal life. If I know I will be OOO for a few hours for an appointment on Tuesday, I will make sure to prioritize important tasks for that day on Monday or do a little extra prep Monday afternoon to make sure I don't feel squeezed or stressed day of. Also, meal prepping has been a game changer for saving time and eating well. On the flip side, if I know I have a meeting-heavy day at work or a project that is nearing a deadline, I make sure to get plenty of rest the night before and move social plans to another day so I can be as alert and efficient as possible. Now this last point can be controversial in letting your work life dictate your personal life, but I don't view it that way. The work needs to get done either way so why not set yourself up for success by making social plans the day after or a couple of days before a big day at work? This will reduce stress and will allow you to relax and enjoy life even more outside of work. It is being strategic in planning your week to maximize joy. Finally, when I am away from my desk, I am away from my desk. Yes sometimes I break this rule but 90% of the time I stick to it. Most things can wait till the next day or Monday. Just because your coworker or client contact likes to work at night or early in the morning, does not mean you need to match that. Be respectful with getting communication to them in a timely manner but also protect yourself from the "always-on approach". It's impossible to always be on in a good way if you never turn off. Cheers to everyone having their ideal work-life balance!

Work-life balance is a myth. It’s Sunday evening and most of us are prepping (or thinking, or fretting) about the work-week ahead. The social media tells us we should be drinking 3 litres of water a day, getting 8 hours of sleep, working out 5 times a week, taking care of our macros (and micros!), reading the news, upskilling ourselves, managing personal finances, keeping in touch with friends, maintaining a hobby, and vacationing at least every quarter. And then there are responsibilities - cooking, cleaning / tidying up, taking care of self or children or elderly parents or pets. But time kahan hai? (Where’s the time?) The truth is, on an average day, of the 16 waking hours, most of us spend 9 at work. Another 2 hours in commute (if you’re not working remotely). That’s ~70% of the day gone just in work or for-work activities. The remaining 30% time carries weight of too many expectations. Finding “balance”, therefore, is a lost cause. But there has to be a solution, right? The solution is a changed perspective. Work is life. No, I’m not glorifying corporate slavery. Even if you were an entrepreneur, you’d probably end up spending about the same time running your business, if not more. My perspective is that work is also life happening to us. As we go. As we grow. Same as how the remaining 30% is also life. Without having meaningful work, without a purpose, most people would end up being depressed. I’m not saying this. Research is. (Read up on existential vacuum) A life with a purpose is a life well-lived. Here’s to hoping that each of us finds that purpose in our work.

How To Maintain Work-Life Balance during the Holidays 1. Do it your way:   Don’t let the seduction of the holiday season cause you to relinquish your power.      2. Establish Boundaries:   Communicate your availability and boundaries, especially if you're taking time off. Let colleagues and clients know when you'll be unreachable.      3. Be an angel to yourself:   Put yourself at the top of your holiday gift list.      4. Sustain your exercise regimen:   Short walks or Microchiller meditations (three to five minutes) can help you unwind and clear your head.      5. Find intentional moments:    If you’ve been endlessly shopping in the crush of crowds, the last thing you want at the end of a long day is more noise and chaos.      6. Limit Screen Time:   Reduce time spent on electronic devices, especially if work-related. Set boundaries to create a clear separation between work and personal life.      7. Get ahead of job stress and burnout:   Make sure you realize you’ve hit your breaking point long before stress-warning signs set in. Avoid putting yourself under unrealistic deadlines.      8. keep it simple:   Tradition is part of the holiday season, but just because you’ve always done things a certain way—to excess and in a hurry—doesn’t mean you can’t adapt to the new normal. 

Hey there, LI... I see a lot of chatter about work/life balance. It's not work/life balance, it's personal/professional balance. It's part of the problem to pretend that work isn't part of your life. I've been fortunate to have managers who (mostly) understood this and were (always) supportive of helping find the balance. And part of the balance might be: A.) Being able to "get away" to deal with a sick child AND/OR ALSO to be present at work even if another care giver is handling a sick child.  B.) Being present at work even when there's stress at home AND/OR ALSO being present at home when there's stress at work.  C.) Being able to pour yourself into something you love, whether it's your profession or not. D.) It means having a conversation with your manager to set aside a window for coaching your kid's team AND ALSO actually being present (undistracted) to coach the team with your whole heart -> and if you can't, recognizing that and finding a balance in other ways.  It's also recognizing that the balance changes from day to day and season to season. And this doesn't mean hiding or ignoring stress. It means addressing it in a healthy way so it doesn't consume you.   And what it's not is leaving someone high and dry who is depending on you - whether that's personal OR professional. That may mean that you need to build some redundancy/resilience into either your personal or professional expectations -> including leaving a job that refuses to have any backup or support for you. It all comes down to trust - can you be depended on to enthusiastically perform well. Will you be present in both your personal and professional life in mind, body, and soul?

Do you ever finish a long day of work and wonder where all the time went? It happens to all of us. Life can feel like a hectic balancing act, trying to manage work and personal time. So, why is finding this balance so important? Think about times when you've been so focused on work that you missed out on family or friends, or when work thoughts wouldn't leave you even during personal moments. We've all been there. Work-life balance isn't just about your work hours. It's about enjoying life's moments. It's when you can do your best at work and still have energy for your hobbies and family. It's about avoiding burnout and having both your work and personal life thrive. To my fellow workers, here's the plan: Picture a life where Mondays aren't dreadful and Fridays aren't just about waiting for the weekend but celebrating a well-balanced week. Set boundaries, take breaks, and switch off when you can. And to managers, imagine a team that's not just working for the paycheck but because they have time for their loved ones. Happy employees are more productive, right? Encourage flexible schedules, manage tasks well, and create a culture that values both work and personal time. The best memories aren't made at work. They happen during family time, vacations, and relaxing weekends. So let's aim for that balance, value our time as much as our work, and create a life that's about more than just our jobs. 👍 Like this post, if you agree! 🔁 Repost to share this with your network, spreading the importance of Work Life Balance. 💬 If you've ever felt the struggle, share your story in the comments. ✍ Follow Pravin Soyal for more amazing content on navigating the #corporatelife! #WorkLifeBalance #OfficeLife #OfficeCulture #Productivity #WorkCulture

I’ve seen a lot of posts on work/life balance and what that looks like, and how you should go about setting aside your time. Is personal time good? yes Is family time good? Oh heck yeah Should you have a hobby? Yes Do you need to work? Now more than ever Work can be your personal time, work can be your hobby, and work can be you taking a break. If you enjoy what you do, or enjoy the “why” you have in your life that motivates you to work then why not keep going? You can’t supplement work for family time, but when you’re single and away from home it definitely is a little different. Everyone says “you need to live in the moment more” “life’s not about work” “it’s about the little things” If you take a look at your average 20 year old, what are the “moments” or the “little things” they have in their life. Most don’t have the money to travel, to take a day off, to be out of school, or to leave the parents basement. Drunk on the weekends, stressed with school or low paying job during the week, then back to it again the next weekend dreading every Monday. (Sadly that’s some adults life’s too.) Those “little things” and “moments” people want me to live or maybe even suggest you to live would be little to nothing compared to what it can be in 3-5 years of solid consistent work. Work life balance is what you make of it. If work gives you dopamine, get after it. If your “why” keeps you up at night until you get it, work on. And vice versa If work keeps you from family and that tears you up, spend it with them. If your hobbies and little moments are something you cherish deeply then go live em up. Life’s about choices. Make them, but don’t complain when it was your decision all along.

Why nobody cares about your work-life balance struggles (and what to do about it) Your work-life balance is YOUR responsibility, not your employer's or family's. Do these: • Take ownership • Stop complaining, start acting • Your choices shape your reality • Balance is personal, not universal • Change is possible at any time This was my Wake-up call: 1. No one else can balance your life for you 2. Complaining doesn't change anything 3. Your actions speak louder than words 4. Others are dealing with their own struggles 5. You have more control than you think Action steps to get this sorted: 1. Assess your current situation honestly 2. Define what balance means to YOU 3. Make small, consistent changes 4. Communicate your needs clearly 5. Celebrate your progress, no matter how small Taking responsibility for your work-life balance is empowering, not overwhelming. Personal revelation: I used to blame my job for my lack of family time until I realized I was the one saying 'yes' to every project. Taking ownership allowed me to make the changes I needed. What's one area of your work-life balance that you can take ownership of today? Ready to take control of your work-life balance? I've shared some transformative marketing resources in my profile. Don't wait - check them out now!

Work/life balance is BS. In fact - every time I hear the phrase “work/life balance” it’s like nails on a chalkboard. The reason there are a million trainings on how to achieve WLB is because it’s not achievable. Plus - when you try to achieve WLB, you’re never where your feet are. You’re at work and you feel guilty that you’re not with your family - or you’re with your family and feel guilty that you’re not working. Life is lived where your feet are - and WLB steals that from you. Instead of WLB - I use the term “work/life boundaries.” This allows me to prioritize my life instead of trying to balance my life. Plus - it’s more realistic. It gives me permission to NOT be all things to everyone all the time. It gives me permission to be 85 percent vs 100 percent. It gives me permission to not be super mom, super CEO, super wife, or super friend every day. It gives me permission to drop the workout if I need to rest instead. Some weekdays - I’m going to work until 10 pm and not be super mom, and other days I’m going to forget about work and be all in with my family. Stop setting yourself up for failure with the unachievable WLB. Instead - start prioritizing. Find what work/life boundaries work for you and change them when you need to. I’m in a season of life right now where work and family are getting all my attention. June was as highly scheduled as ever with work, and in July I’m going to focus more on recharging and spending time with my boys. Make your life work for you - and schedule your life around your priorities. You’re allowed you change. Your needs can change. Stop the unnecessary pressure to achieve WLB. Give yourself permission to be where your feet are. ❤️ How are you going to spend your time this holiday week? And in full transparency - this post is a partial repost from last year because I’m practicing boundaries this week to not spend as much time on social media lol.

Does work-life balance improve when you're self-employed? Many assume so. The truth is, I’m not sure founding a business has improved my work-life balance 😅 Well, not in the stereotypical way anyway. Do I work less than when I was employed? Certainly not. Do I now shoulder more weight of responsibility? Absolutely. So at first glance, it might seem as if my work-life balance has actually worsened, but that isn’t the case. My overall happiness has increased ten-fold. → I have a bigger fire in my belly. → I feel greater sense of achievement. → I feel infinitely more motivated. → AND I don’t feel that sense of Monday dread on Sunday evenings anymore. Why? Because I’ve found (excuse the pun) something that I truly believe in. Because I’ve found people that I truly believe in. Work-life balance? I don’t have one 😂 but I wouldn’t change it for anything.

Does the mere thought of getting out of bed at the start of the work week tie up your stomach in knots? Do you find it hard to “turn off” work even after coming home to your family? Are you getting the cold shoulder from your spouse because you’ve missed too many of the kids’ recitals and ball games? Is your to-do list now longer than a CVS receipt??! Do you constantly stress about work even when you’re not there?   If any of these sound familiar to you, I feel your pain. I lived this life, if you could even call it that, until one day, I hit my limit.   I was working on my laptop at the kitchen table and had just finished an assignment – which was originally someone else’s. It was 11:30pm and I had already worked over 50 hours that week and it wasn’t even over yet. This was not sustainable, and I knew if I wanted it to change, it was me who had to change it.   Since then, I have made it my mission to help people manage work-related stress and overwhelm while learning how to build and protect the healthy work/life balance we all deserve.   Currently, I am conducting market research and offering a few free 20-30 minute calls where I can provide actionable strategies on how you can break free of your everyday work stress, actually feel calmer and lighter during your workday and finally detach from work before you step through your front door, in exchange for answering a few questions about your current workplace environment and why it’s not “working” for you!   Please shoot me a DM if you’re interested in taking your first step toward making a positive change in your professional life.