Trying to find the right work-life balance can be very stressful. Many leaders say that it actually doesn’t exist. You are either more invested in your work or, in your private life but in both at the same time.
So, how can you have both at the same?
A decade ago the popular idea was to create sharp boundaries between personal and working life. But at the highest level, many leaders report that their thinking about the business is non-stop.
In the latest interview with Lex Friedman, Marc Andreessen explains the isolation that comes with leadership, where a CEO deals with complex issues and a tremendous amount of emotional burden on a daily basis. Andreessen says, that they (CEOs) can never really switch off and feel like discussing business matters even at home. But, due to the asymmetry of information (as Satya Nadela calls it), a few people understand the context that they are in.
The truth is that work and life represent a mutually reinforcing cycle. When you are happy at home, you function better at work and when you are happy at work, you are more present and engaged at home. The key is to find the work that you enjoy and are passionate about and, have a family that support you.
And what ties work-life balance together is the art of an ongoing self-care – emotional, mental and physical.
To better deal with the so called ‘work-life balance’:
- Be honest with yourself about what interferes with your work and life and find ways to manage those situations
- Prioritise quality times over quantity with your family, where you can be fully present and engaged
- Know that there is a common purpose to your work and life, so that you can feel less stressed by not trying to separate the two. Many CEOs have a mindset that building a successful career is so all-encompassing, that they don’t even attempt to separate their work and life.
And, how can you best deal with the isolation?
Build a diverse group of people outside of your management team and your board, whom you can turn to on a regular basis. This group can help you get an honest, thoughtful advice on your leadership style, business problems and even private matters. They can also act as a platform for bouncing off ideas.
To stay consistent around your daily self-care decide on your non-negotiable’s.
In this article I write on the importance of sleep, exercise and meditation.
Further, incorporate short breaks throughout your working schedule that include walking, nature and ‘social recovery’.
The easiest way to incorporate exercise and clear your mind is by walking.
The latest science shows that taking just a 2-minute walk every hour is protective against many of sitting’s ill effects. In addition, just a 6-minutes walk outdoors increases creativity by more that 60%. Walking occupies you just enough to help you stop thinking about whatever it is you are working on, but not too much as to prevent mind wandering.
Whenever possible, expose yourself to the nature. Nature inherently makes us feel good and improves mood, and helps us transition from stress to rest quicker. The science shows positive correlation to lower inflammation and increased creativity.
Last by not least, use ‘social recovery’ throughout the day and, especially during stressful periods. The positive effects of social connection include increasing heart rate variability, shifting the nervous system into recovery mode, and releasing anti-inflammatory hormones.
So, connect with trusted colleagues and good friends in your daily life, and not just on the weekends.
To be well at all times let go of trying to achieve ‘work-life balance’. Rather, find common purpose to both your work and life. Enjoy the work that you do, find people to support you and create daily rituals of self-care.
Source:
CEO Excellence, Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller, Vikram Malhotra, (2023). McKinsey.
The Journey of Leadership. How CEOs Learn To The Lead From Inside Out. Maor Dana, Kaas Hans-Werner, Strovnik Kurt, Srinivasan Ramesh. Senior Partner, McKinsey. 2024. Portfolio | Penguin.
Peak Performance, Brad Stulberg, Steve Magnes, Rest Like The Best (2017). Rodale Books.
Image:
Image: Flickr, Ida Liu Milken Institute Global Conferences, 2023.