Newsletter #3 - Balancing Work and Life: My Strategy as a Change Consultant
Balancing Act: How I Maintain Work-Life Harmony as a Change Consultant (5 min.)
My Journey to Work-Life Harmony as a Change Consultant 🤹
Bottom Line Up Front -
⚖️ Balance improves job effectiveness and satisfaction, enables innovative client solutions, and prevents burnout.
📝 My advice for similar professionals includes planning priorities, setting clear work boundaries, delegating tasks, and consistently practicing self-care.
🏖️ Mindful mornings, time blocking for activities, digital detox periods, and maintaining a self-care routine.
In the fast-paced world of management consulting, balancing work and personal life is essential. As someone who helps big companies adapt to change, I've learned something about balancing my life. Here's how I manage the juggling act.
My Game Plan for Balance
To keep everything in check, I stick to three main strategies:
- Setting Boundaries: I carve out specific times for work and chilling out with my family. It's all about ensuring I'm fully there, whether at work or home.
- Choosing Wisely and Delegating: I focus on the tasks that need my attention and pass on other stuff to my team. This helps keep my workload manageable.
- Making Time for Me: I've started to block out time just for self-care. This could be anything from winding down at the end of the day, having dinner with my wife, exercising, or just doing something fun for myself.
Tackling the Challenges
Finding balance can be challenging. Consultants like me often deal with unpredictable hours, lots of travel, and the pressure to always be "on." Here's how I handle these hurdles:
- I've gotten better at organizing my day and setting priorities.
- I clarify my availability to my clients, so they know when I'm working and when I'm not.
- I use tech to handle repetitive tasks and keep my schedule straight.
- I have a network of other consultants I can call on to help share the load.
Taking care of my mental and physical health has become my big focus. This means planning my days, reflecting on what's working, and doing yoga to stay grounded.
The Payoff
Striking the right balance has made me better at my job and happier overall. For example, I took weekends off to recharge with friends and family during a bustling project. This break allowed me to delegate more and return to work with fresh ideas, leading to a breakthrough with the client. It's a win-win: I avoid burnout, and my clients get my best work.
Advice for Finding Your Balance
If you're trying to find your balance, here's what I suggest:
- Determine what's most important to you and plan your time around those priorities.
- Be clear about when you're working and when you're not and stick to it.
- Trust your team and let them handle things they're good at.
- Use tech to help you, but don't let it take over your life.
- Make sure to schedule in time for activities that recharge you.
- Keep checking in with yourself to see how the balance is going and adjust as needed.
- Your example can inspire others, so don't be afraid to lead the way.
- And remember, it's okay to ask for help when needed.
Looking Ahead
I'm always looking for ways to improve my work-life balance. Here are a few things I'm working on:
- We start each day with something that centers on me, like meditation or a workout.
- I'm blocking out time for different activities to ensure I'm focusing on what matters.
- I am taking regular breaks from my phone and computer to help me unwind.
- Keep up with activities that help me relax and have fun.
I take it one step at a time, and each little change helps. The goal is to make these habits a regular part of my life, just like any vital meeting.
Finding balance is a journey, and it's all about adjusting to fit your life and needs. By sharing my story, I encourage others to find their path to balancing work and personal life. It's possible and makes a massive difference in your life 💖.
I invite you to join me in this journey towards a balanced life. Share your strategies, challenges, and successes. Your story could be the beacon guiding others to find their balance.
Miguel Guevara
When you are ready, I can help you in three ways:
📞Book a 1:1 Planning call with me (Miguel)
👀 Follow me (Miguel) on LinkedIn
🎥 Take our free Change Management Fundamentals for Project Managers Course
I help business leaders deliver complex projects and write about how to:
- Navigate difficult changes confidently using battle-tested strategies to plan, implement, and win.
- Lead resilient teams by building change management skills and strategies to facilitate change and thrive.
- Reduce risk and boost outcomes using a simple and proven change management framework.
- Excel in your role by gaining insider perspectives and powerful strategies about the corporate world.
