Whether your name is on the business or you merely run a high-performing team within it, you’re accustomed to getting results. You expect the same of others. And you’re great at what you do. You undoubtedly feel the crushing weight of your expectations for others though — and more importantly, for yourself. Peak performance takes a great deal of emotional and physical energy. For many outwardly successful people, burnout is the inevitable result. It’s on you to recognize the signs of burnout and take action to prevent it before it’s too late. Take these seven steps to restore the work-life balance you remember from your more carefree days, without giving up your reputation as someone who gets results.
1. Find Fulfillment Outside of Work
Hopefully, you’re passionate about what you do. If not, see #8.
No amount of passion for your profession substitutes for a well-rounded life outside work, of course. So before doing anything else, take a beat to think about the activities you really love doing when you’re not plugged in.
For many high performers, those activities involve giving back. And if you’re in a position to build something with your own financial and sweat equity, why not start an organization that does exactly the sort of “giving back” you enjoy?
That’s what serial entrepreneur and former Green Dot CEO Steve Streit did when he founded Patti’s Way after a long career in the financial industry. Not that you have to step back from your day-to-day to run the organization — you have plenty of experience as a delegator.
2. Focus on the Journey, Not the Title
Work-life balance is best thought of as an ongoing journey, not a destination and certainly not a sprint. Like so much else in work (and life), it’s something you work on over the years.
The secret to regaining work-life balance after years of focusing only on the former is putting one foot in front of the other and enjoying the experience. Focus on incremental improvements: an extra hour with the kids on Saturday here, a leisurely Wednesday afternoon walk there. Small changes add up.
3. Keep in Tune With Your Emotions
Check in with yourself frequently along the way. As a leader, you’re probably more accustomed to keeping tabs on others than staying in tune with yourself; maybe you think you can’t spare the time. But remember, you’re doing all this for you and your loved ones, not the people who report to you.
4. Know When to Take Time Off
Keeping tabs on your emotions is only effective when you follow through and actually listen to them. You can pick up all sorts of cues when you listen to what your heart and mind are telling you, but the biggest one to watch when your work-life balance is out of whack is that nagging feeling that tells you it’s time to take a break.
Sure, breaks are taboo for high performers. That doesn’t make them any less important.
5. Don’t Settle for a Long Weekend
“Logging off at 1pm Friday” does not count as a break. Neither does “flying out on Thursday night,” for that matter.
When it’s time to disconnect, disconnect. Try taking two consecutive days off, then three, then a whole week. Before you know it, you’ll be planning your sabbatical and training up your (temporary) replacement.
6. Observe “Do Not Disturb” Hours (And Expect the Same of Your Team)
Nice as it might sound by now, you’re not ready for a permanent vacation (yet). You need to come back to the real world at some point.
But when you do, you can sing a different tune. Make it known to your team that you, personally, will observe “do not disturb” hours in the evening and overnight. Set them as you see fit — it’s reasonable to work until 9pm or 10pm and get back online at 6am or 7am — but do honor them. Encourage your team to follow suit.
7. Consider Your Alternatives
The “four hour workweek” popularized by bestselling author Tim Ferriss falls flat for many high performers, for whom even the ideal work-life balance skews heavily toward “work.” So if you find yourself dreading the workday after trying all of the above, you might be onto something. Pull on that thread and think about what else you might want to do with your time.
Every Day Counts
The days always seem to fly by when your nose is to the grindstone. Maybe you like it that way. It’s easier than slowing down and picking your head up. That’s one way to get dizzy.
But you can’t keep going like this forever. Life is too short, and the best time to make a change is before it feels necessary.
So, go ahead. Restore the work-life balance that you know you need. And make every day count, because you only get so many.