Managing Work Commitments During Life Changes

I used to walk through the door at 9 p.m., smelling like dust and concrete, boots still caked with mud. My kids were already asleep. My wife was tired of hearing me say, “Honey, it’s just a hard time right now.” Weekends? Gone. PTO? Didn’t happen. Balance? Forget it. That was me—working all the time as a Superintendent. What shook me was when Kate said one time, "It's always a busy time. We will just go without you." 😳 I was devastated. And decided to make a change. I went from missing family dinners to taking PTO, working standard hours, and actually being present for my kiddos. Here’s the pattern that made the difference: Top 10 Habits for Work–Life Balance in Construction ↗️ Schedule Your PTO at the Beginning of the Year - (Family time is a milestone. Put it on the calendar first and guard it.) ↗️ Create a Coverage Plan for All PTO - (Peace of mind comes when the project can stand without you. Build that into the culture.) ↗️ Prioritize Stability with Standard Meetings - (Fire drills steal your evenings. Rhythm and consistency with communication give them back.) ↗️ Make Planning Visual and Clear - (Get it out of your head. Put it on boards so others can lead in your absence.) ↗️ Time Block Your Days - (Protect deep work, meeting rhythms, and family transitions.) ↗️ Have Morning & Afternoon Routines - (Start with intention. End with a reset so you walk through the door calm, not chaotic.) ↗️ Go on a Weekly Date Night - (The foundation at home matters more than any foundation you place on site.) ↗️ Schedule Your Health Appointments (and Keep Them) - (Doctor. Dentist. Therapy. Don’t wait until you’re broken.) ↗️ Keep Leader Standard Work - (Daily, weekly, monthly checklists keep you proactive—not reactive.) ↗️ Create Buffers in Your Plan - (Don’t jam every minute. Leave space for calls, surprises, and just breathing.) Construction doesn’t have to cost you your family. It doesn’t have to cost you your health. If you drive your project with stability and a lot of discipline with planning—while protecting these habits—you can win both at work and at home. 💡 Which of these habits do you already use? Which one do you need most right now? Love, J$

Navigating dual roles of an employee and a caregiver is often challenging. As part of the caregiving community, I’d like to share a few strategies to lighten the load and maintain balance: 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗹𝘆: Inform your employer about your caregiving responsibilities. Most organizations value transparency and can provide resources or flexibility to support your situation. 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Flexible working hours, remote work, or part-time arrangements can help manage caregiving tasks alongside professional commitments. 𝗨𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀: Look for local support groups, online communities, or caregiver respite programs. Shared experiences can be comforting and informative. 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲: Physical health, mental wellness, and downtime are important to maintain your resilience and prevent burnout. Make time for yourself daily. 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆: Use digital tools to schedule tasks, order prescriptions, or set medication reminders. They can free up your time and reduce stress. Remember, you're not alone in this journey. Encourage your organization to foster a caregiver-friendly environment. Let's create workplaces where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to manage their responsibilities successfully. #WorkingCaregivers #CaregiverSupport #WorkLifeBalance #EmployeeWellbeing

My best business coach ever was a teenager. I was confusing dedication with workaholism. And he called me on it. I wanted to spend more time together with my son. So, I brought him along on a business trip. We were in a hotel lobby when I overheard this: "Oh, my mom is ALWAYS on her phone!" I turned. He was talking to a colleague, Who was trying, unsuccessfully, to get my attention. Gulp. That got my attention loud and clear. I knew something had to change. That's when I came up with the "Hard Stop" rule. If you need to break the cycle of constant work, and claim your life back, here how to use it: 🛑Schedule "Hard Stops" ↳ Block 2-3 30-minute non-negotiable slots weekly ↳ Do something that is NOT work (like talk to your kid) 💡Why it works: It creates short breaks that force you away from work. Add more slots, or make them longer, as you get used to it. 🛑 Announce your "Hard Stops" ↳ Begin meetings with "I have a hard stop at 3:00 pm" ↳ Set an alarm for 3 minutes before and remind folks 💡Why it works: It changes patterns and gives you space to breathe. 🛑 Systematize your "Hard Stops" ↳ Use DND to control your notifications ↳ Put an OOO on your email every day at 6 pm 💡Why it works: It resets people's expectations of you and forces a break. 🛑 Use a "Hard Stop" Replacement ↳ Pick something you love and turn to that instead of work ↳ It should be easy and available - a book, a walk, a hobby 💡Why it works: Workaholism is a habit. It's easier to break when we have an alternative. 🛑 Set your office calendar to "Private" ↳ If you share office calendars, mark only work commitments as visible ↳ You other items will show as “Busy” without details 💡Why it works: It keeps others from judging whether or not you are available . I'll admit I still struggle with workaholism. I have to remind myself that I don't work in an ER. Sometimes, I find myself pulled back to bad habits. It's usually a sign of a deeper emotional need. So, I give myself grace. If you relate, I'd love to know what strategies you use to address workaholism. Share below 👇 ♻️ Repost to help others break free from overwork! ➕ Follow Sarah Baker Andrus for more career advice and strategies.

Tracy was suffering. Between her new job and caring for her two kids, she felt like her health was always last on her list. → 4 hours of sleep the last 4 nights → body aches → that awful yuck feeling in her stomach She had to make a change. But she knew it was more than just one change she needed ↳ and she felt overwhelmed. So we talked. I told her that even though big lifestyle changes take time ↳ there were things she could do that would benefit her right now ↳ as well as in the long run. So we → identified the biggest health concerns → talked about the changes that were easiest for her → picked a place to start ☝️ She would focus on things within her control ✌️ Not let perfect be the enemy of progress Here was our initial plan: 1️⃣ Focus on getting more sleep. → This couldn’t go on ↳ so she had to make it a priority. We picked a “stop everything and get ready for bed” time. 2️⃣ Sleep planning → For 1 hour before bed: ↳ no screens ↳ lights down low ↳ calm (yet important) tasks like: –fold laundry –pick up kids toys –write out nonnegotiable tasks for tomorrow (on paper) 3️⃣ Improve sleep quality → make bedroom dark, cool and calm ↳ clothes-pin curtains closed so no light comes in ↳ keep baby monitor face down so screen is not visible ↳ keep smartphone in adjacent bathroom at night 4️⃣ Move more during the work day → she’s active with her kids but sits at a desk → put a big cardboard box on her desk, her laptop on the box, and stand while on video calls → 5 minute walk before going into work and at lunchtime 5️⃣ Better food choices → bulk healthy meal prep on Sunday → bring lunch to work (for more control) → start replacing highly processed foods with no drama healthy snacks: ↳ nuts ↳ fruit ↳ veg + hummus 6️⃣ Manage stress → husband takes on a little more responsibility → daily reflection at night → take a 10-minute break in the morning and the evening: ↳ no screens ↳ no kids ↳ sit outside and relax 7️⃣ 30-minute walk with kids in stroller on days she's off from work → outdoor family time that benefits both her health and her family's health (it's not either/or) It was a process. 3️⃣ & 4️⃣ were the easiest for her 5️⃣ was the hardest 1️⃣, 2️⃣ & 3️⃣ were the most impactful But she’s doing it. And feeling better already. And is more optimistic about the direction her health is going. Better health is possible ↳ even with a busy lifestyle. You just have to find it. 👉 Want clear, actionable guidance, specific to you and your fitness issues? 📱 Schedule a 1:1 with me and I’ll give you 3 healthy changes you can make RIGHT NOW! 💪 Check my featured section. Did you find this helpful? ♻️ Repost to share with others! Want more information on healthy living? ➕ Follow me Steve Schlenkermann 🔔 Ring the bell

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?