If you ask any marathon runner, they will tell you that running as hard as you can the entire race is impossible. There may be moments for sprinting and pushing yourself, but what is really important is finding a pace that you can maintain for miles at a time. There are times to slow down, drink water and find your breath. It’s about using your energy in a sustainable manner. This is also true for our professional lives; working hard constantly will only lead you to run out of steam before the race is over, compromising your goals, mental and emotional health, and making you much more susceptible to injury. A person who prioritises work over everything will likewise face risks over time; this can cause stress on relationships and negatively impact one’s physical, mental, and emotional health. 

So, how do we find our own sustainable pace in our work life? How do we balance all the important aspects in our lives with our careers? Here are a few helpful tips to create a sustainable work/life balance: 

Know Your Priorities

When a person is consumed by their work life, working a considerable number of hours and putting all of their energy into work, someone is paying a price. Usually, the first people to feel the cost are that person’s loved ones. Family and friends recognise your absence in their life and see that when you are around, you are tired or distracted. It often takes longer to realise this, but you are also paying the price. You are missing out on key moments and the strengthening of relationships with the people who are most important to you. Your emotional and physical health will also suffer as you lose time to take care of your health and to pursue other interests outside of work. Your spiritual health will also suffer as you lack the time for prayer and reflection.

So, what do you value? Are you prepared to pay this price? Do you work to live or do you live to work?

Tip: It may feel counterintuitive, but scheduling personal activities, such as work events, can help a person be more mindful and prevent overcommitting. Give the same time and consideration for your personal life as to your work.

Your significant other is more important than your boss; do they show up in your calendar? Your family is more important than your boss; do they show up in your calendar? 

Add date nights, family dinners, your children’s school events and fun with friends into your diary. 

Create Boundaries

Boundaries help us to manage all areas of life so we can find a healthy balance. Creating boundaries around your work hours and sticking to them whenever possible allows you time to rest, recharge, and connect with loved ones. For example, unplugging after work hours; turning off email and text notifications from work. This allows you to be more present in every situation. 

Boundaries can help us to manage our output and input, depletion and replenishment in our lives. They can help to create a natural balance between work and the activities and people we love. If you are unsure about your inputs and outputs currently at play in your life, we can help you gauge them: https://vervelead.com/gauges/

Tip: It can be difficult for a person who deeply values their career and is driven by an important calling to stop working. I like to remember the four D’s: Do, Delay, Delegate, Delete. Review your work calendar and to-do lists, and ask yourself what needs to be done now, what can be delayed until later, what can be delegated to others, and what can be deleted. 

Rest and Recharge

We all need fuel for the journey ahead of us. God knows that this journey is long and difficult and knows that we need our time to rest. Without rest, we will burn out and be unable to accomplish what God wants us to do and to be what God wants us to be. God also created this big and beautiful world for us to enjoy. Our health and happiness matter to God! 

Vacations and weekends are great ways to rest and recharge, but we also should be intentional with how we spend our off-time. Sitting in front of the television might feel relaxing but is it restorative? Likewise, we may want to spend all our time out of the office dashing from one event to the next, but that can also be draining. Find a balance between fun and exciting activities and down time to decompress. 

Tip: A restorative hobby is a great way to recharge without exerting too much energy. For example, I love woodworking. Spending time alone working on a project is a way to clear my head, focus on what is in front of me and create something beautiful. This hobby will look different for everyone, but finding something that you enjoy doing and also brings peace to your mind can be a great way to rest and still feel invigorated. 

A reminder: 

Watch out for rigidity. Sometimes, people feel that their world is so chaotic that they become rigid and exclude friendships, cutting out things to cope. There will always be exceptions and emergencies that require you to change your schedule or compromise boundaries. This is just life. Balance isn’t about perfection—it’s about being intentional with your time and energy so you can thrive in all areas of life.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Reflection: Have a conversation with a significant person in your personal life about your work/life balance. Ask them, “How am I doing here? What could I be doing better?”

Discuss your priority list: People often prioritise God, family, work, and ministry. Is family more important than work? 

What’s next: Look at your weekly task list and ask yourself what you need to delegate, delay, delete or do. Have a conversation with a mentor/professional supervisor about decisions and work/life balance. 

Contact us: https://vervelead.com/