It‘s imperative for leaders to have a life outside of work in order to stay grounded and happy. But finding ways to do this as a leader can be challenging. Being a leader of a company takes a lot of time. People constantly rely on you, and you can feel like you are always on call. Here are some tips to help you figure out how to create a life outside of work.
1. Establish a routine. Routines give you a clear idea of what your day will look like: when you will be doing your work, what your work will look like and when you will be off of work. This means you can prioritize what you should be doing at any moment in time because you know, based on your routine, what your priorities are and what works best for you. Once you know what works best for you, it’s much easier to have that life outside of work.
2. Delegate to others. As with so many aspects of leadership, delegation is key. Just as your employees rely on you, you can rely on them. When you create a team, choose people you trust who can make decisions when you are off the clock. While there is obviously a lot you have to do as a leader, remember that if you have a good and cohesive team, there is a lot your team can do without you constantly being present.
3. Model a healthy work-life balance. As a leader, you serve as a model for the company culture. When you model a healthy work-life balance, you help to create a culture in your company where having work-life balance is valued. That value in the company culture then further enhances work-life balance for everyone.
4. Follow your interests. What do you like to do? What interests you? Forget about impressing others. How do you want to spend your free time? Avoid the urge to just be social. You can be social while doing something you love. Or, maybe you like spending time by yourself but want to do it in a more meaningful way.
5. Unplug. Stop wasting your time on the big timewasters: the internet, your phone, the TV or video games. You can find other things to do that won’t leave you feeling empty and annoyed that you wasted so much time.
6. Ask others to spend time with you outside of work. Be proactive and ask a few people to do things with you. Or reconnect with old friends. It’s common to lose track of your friends over the years, even friends that live close by. Pick up the phone and reach out to them.
7. Make a schedule. By the time you go to bed on Sunday night, try to have plans to do something outside of work at least once over the next week. Create plans and put them on your schedule. Work is important, but it’s only one aspect of life. A balanced life includes meaningful activities and socializing outside of work. Start building a wonderful life outside of work that brings you greater fulfillment, joy and life satisfaction.