How Executive Women Can Find Work-Life Balance
Women at the director level and higher face some unique challenges compared to when they were middle management or individual contributors. In a 2022 Deloitte survey, 77% of executive women reported burnout at their current jobs, largely due to trying to balance home life and work. Managing relationships (both platonic, romantic, and familial) and making time for self-care can seem impossible in the face of hard deadlines, high-stakes projects, and needing to be in every room.
We don’t live to work, we work to live, so even you, a busy executive, can make time to do what you were meant to. You can spend time with friends and family, travel and see the world, rest and relax and still finish a stellar presentation, hold in-depth one-to-ones for your team, and create strategies for your department.
Here are five ways to find work-life balance as a high-performing executive.
1. Learn to Value Yourself
This is the long game for many of us. Self-love and appreciation are skills we gain — often despite what we’re surrounded by. Be sure to silence the negative voice in your head that tells you you’re undeserving. If you don’t value yourself, it will be impossible to advocate for yourself, since deep down you don’t really believe you deserve the balance you seek. A healthy state of mind is encouraging, safe, loving and warm. That is the environment that breeds success.
2. Prepare to Discuss Boundaries
Boundaries are a MUST if you want to prevent burnout. Regardless of whether or not this is difficult to do, it simply must be done. You’re one person with a finite energy source. Treat that source as preciously as it truly is. Nervous about telling your boss you don’t want to do 9am meetings? Propose a new schedule and pair it with the projected results. Let your manager know your new schedule and boundaries and working style will only contribute to the company in the short and long term.
3. Understand Your True Challenges
Sometimes the challenge we think is our opponent isn’t the issue. Is your schedule too busy or are you a people pleaser? Is your work not up to par or is your perfectionism running you ragged? Is your workload appropriate or do you tend to bite off more than you can chew? Of course, many of you may find your work environment is the challenge, or the people on your team make work more stressful. By understanding the challenge and naming it, you now have an opportunity to tailor-make a solution to the issue.
4. Empower Your Team & Delegate
Delegation can be intimidating, especially for new leaders. It can be uncomfortable to ‘boss’ someone around. But consider a change in perspective. I’ve managed teams for nearly ten years and I always prefer terms like “team lead” over manager. I’m head of the department but, without my team, the department could not run! Delegation is the practice of empowering your peple to do more. This is how they’ll learn and grow. So remove the stigma that you’re bossy and consider yourself contributing heavily to your team’s professional development.
5. Cultivate a Support Network
According to a 2020 Harvard Business review about 70% of women leaders discuss professional matters with their peers. Community is a stress-reliever. Community provides people who can listen, advise and help. Community provides encouragement, growth and positivity. If you’re feeling burnt out, discouraged, and ready to throw in the towel, your community has the potential to life you back up. Consider forming a tight network of women in positions like you. Having people who understand can go a long way.
Work-life balance is attainable with proper commitment and organization. You can form new habits centered around balance and professional self-care. And if you ever need an accountability partner, I’d love to chat.
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