Balancing Health & Wealth: Work-life balance

The traditional 9-5 structure has become increasingly blurred, and the line between our personal and professional lives are more porous than ever.

I began my career in the pre-internet age. Personal computers were non-existent in the workplace. Things have evolved dramatically since then, and while I’m still learning, navigating 35 years of intense and consistent change have taught me a few lessons about finding and maintaining balance.

Unlike many young professionals today, I delved into the world of work when I was still a teenager. At the time, I felt that the only way to become truly successful at work was to be, literally, constantly at work. Those early years were a whirlwind of long hours and relentless effort. And even when I pursued higher education further down the line, I prioritised my studies above everything else.

As you may imagine, life eventually taught me that this attitude isn’t sustainable over the course of a career. Twice I experienced burnout, triggered by personal loss and professional setbacks – both periods forced me to re-evaluate my approach to work and prioritise the ‘life’ part of our elusive work/life balance.

Today, I champion the concept of “working smart.” It’s not just about how hard you work, but how effectively you work. The higher up the corporate ladder you climb, the fewer (but more important) decisions you should be making.

This means:

Learning to say ‘no’: Say no (or at least ‘maybe’) to unnecessary meetings. Focus on high-impact activities that align with your goals. Block your calendar for at least 30% of your day.

Not being stubborn when it comes to tech: Use and test new tools and automation to streamline your workflow. I get hundreds of inbound requests per week. I used to only read about half and respond to about a quarter. AI now summarises these and helps me prioritise the essential ones.

Surrounding yourself with talent: Build a strong team of like-minded individuals who can share the workload and bring diverse perspectives.

Setting clear boundaries: Establish clear boundaries between work and personal life, and stick to them. Especially when working remotely.

Speaking of remote work, it presents its own set of challenges alongside its many benefits. When your home is your office, it’s easy to feel “always on.” Here are a few non-negotiables have kept me in check:

Dedicated workspace: Create a designated workspace to mentally separate “work you” from “home you.” Always allow some time to acclimatise when moving between the two.

Structured schedule: Stick to a regular work schedule, even if it’s flexible, to create a sense of normalcy. Turn off certain work notifications on your phone if you have to.

“Switching off” rituals: Develop routines that signal the end of the workday, like going for a walk or spending time with family.

I often say, “I feel like I’ve won the hard work lottery,” but I also caution, “Don’t spend your health on your wealth, otherwise you will end up spending all of that wealth on your health.”

Work-life balance is a continuous journey and a constant work-in-progress. It requires self-awareness, discipline, and the willingness to adapt. In the digital age, it’s more important than ever to prioritise our well-being and create a sustainable work life.

After all, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Link to Linkedin insight article by Richard Dennys.