Finding Joy in Work Without Losing Personal Time

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?

I always put my career first above anything else. Even above my family. Over the first 15 years in my career, I moved my family seven times between jobs. Because I thought that was necessary to — - Get the next big title - Earn the big fat paycheck I remember spending over 500 nights in 3 years in hotels, leaving my family at home. - It made me feel alone - I always felt I was missing out - I kept pushing myself regardless Until it all started crashing down. And I was admitted to the hospital. Acute stress. Deteriorated health. BURNOUT. I knew I had to make drastic changes. And the first thing I did? I quit my job. In hindsight, it was the best decision I had made in years. But not because my work and team were not great. They were amazing. Because I wanted to understand job-related burnout, to not fall into that trap again. Here is how I navigate a fulfilling work-life balance without burning out — 1. I trust in my skills and abilities. No matter what is thrown my way, I will be completely fine in the future. 2. I prioritize myself first thing in the morning. Workouts, walking my dog or going to the sauna - my day begins with me. 3. I said goodbye to all the naysayers and complainers. Cut the energy-drainers from your life. 4. I follow the time-boxing technique for productivity. Everything is scheduled on my calendar, including self-time and family time. 5. I protect my creative time in the mornings at all costs. As much as possible, no meetings before lunch. 6. My time with my children is entirely dedicated to them. Phone in complete focus mode - ZERO exceptions 7. My wife and I do weekly date nights where we experiment with food, have a glass of wine and watch a movie. 8. I coach other people to overcome burnout and become highly productive executive leaders through my coaching program. That gives me great joy. 9. I created a system to understand the signs of burnout. This was the single most important thing to prevent burnout again. The first step to overcoming burnout is acknowledgment and taking action. How do you create a work-life balance in your life? Share in the comments below!

🔍 Want to love your work without sacrificing your life? Here's the equation that transformed my career, and might just transform yours. Fulfillment = (Relationships + Impact) - Cost. A few years ago, I had what many would consider a dream position. Great relationships, meaningful impact - but something wasn't adding up. The cost was too high. That's when I realized: high impact doesn't have to mean high personal cost. So I rewrote my equation. Starting my own company was scary. Initially, the impact wasn't there - but the personal cost dropped dramatically. Now, 15 months in, I've matched my previous impact at a fraction of the personal cost. The math finally works. Here's how you can apply this equation to your own career: 1. Relationships: The research is clear - having strong work relationships makes you twice as likely to feel satisfied with your job. I'm fortunate to have incredible clients and a supportive entrepreneurial community. 2. Impact: Do you feel your work makes a difference, honoring your unique strengths and rewarding you financially? Be patient. It might dip initially when making a change, but with intention, it rebuilds - often in more meaningful ways. 3. Cost: Everything has a cost. High personal cost can reduce the benefits of great relationships and meaningful work. Whether it's energy for family, creative pursuits, or time, this factors into your fulfillment. Sometimes a bold move can dramatically reduce personal cost while preserving other variables. Other times, you may need to take a temporary hit to increase your output across the other variables. 🎯 Ready to optimize your own fulfillment equation? Embrace experimentation to learn what works for you. Reach out to share and celebrate your wins! #WorkLifeBalance #Entrepreneurship #experimentation #CareerGrowth #Leadership #fulfillment 👋🏼 I'm Laura. I equip leaders with the skills and resources to build exceptional teams and lead sustainable change. Reach out for a free coaching consultation today.