Finding balance: tips for exhausted professionals
This is my first article in many months. Why? Because, like so many of you, I’ve been grappling with exhaustion. Earlier this year, my family welcomed a golden retriever puppy, Rose, into our home. While we have adored her from day one (you can adore her too in the photo below!), finding the time and energy to soothe, train, feed, walk, play and clean up after our little fur-baby has been a big adjustment. Truth be told, this single addition to our already-complex lives tipped the scales away from balance and towards exhaustion…
Image: Rose frolicking in the Southern Highlands' morning frost
Of course, it doesn’t take a puppy to throw things off kilter. In our modern world, we are inundated with more demands than we could ever meet. Between the mental and emotional strain of work, family dynamics, life admin and global crises vying for our attention, it's no surprise that our cognitive and emotional reserves are depleted.
But here’s the good news: It doesn’t have to be this way.
If you’re feeling exhausted by the relentless demands of modern life, there is hope. Below, we’ll explore some practical strategies for creating more balance, energy, and fulfilment—without sacrificing personal or professional success.
1. Define success on your own terms
Our culture tends to equate success with concrete achievements, and the more the better. It’s easy to measure (and thus congratulate oneself for achieving) a certain number of hours of work, winning a project or increasing revenue. Indeed, these may be important steps towards achieving your goals, but to what extent does the pursuit of concrete achievements boost vs drain your energy?
Keeping your ideal energy levels in mind, take a moment to ask yourself:
What does success look like to me? What are my standards?
To what extent am I living according to my definition of success/ in line with my own standards?
Where do I need to focus my attention more / less to better embrace my version of success?
The key to redefining success is to consider your core values and long-term well-being, rather than society’s endless push for more.
2. Reclaim your energy by staying in your lane
Many leaders fall into the trap of taking on responsibilities that aren’t truly ours—whether it’s offering unsolicited advice, seeking to manage others’ emotions or stepping in to solve problems that don’t require our intervention. While it may feel like helping, taking on others’ responsibilities drains our energy and disempowers others. Respecting others’ ability to navigate their own lives not only frees you from the burden of overextension, but allows others to step up and spread energy expenditure more effectively across the team.
Take a moment to reflect:
Where in my life am I assuming responsibility for things that don’t belong to me?
How can I better differentiate myself from others so I can stay in my own lane?
What would it feel like to trust in others’ capacity to think and act for themselves?
Reconsidering your responsibilities isn’t about stepping away from care or connection. Rather, it’s about empowering both yourself and others by respecting boundaries and freeing yourself from unnecessary burdens. This is just as true for personal relationships and responsibilities as it is for professional ones.
3. Prioritise what truly matters
Being busy isn’t the same as being productive, fulfilled or successful. Mindless busyness leaves us drained, reactive and stuck in a cycle of urgency. One powerful step you can take to exit the busyness trap is to ruthlessly prioritise.
Ask yourself:
Which activities and opportunities are true to my values and/or will help me achieve my most meaningful goals? (And which have crept up on me but are not self-congruent?)
Which activities or opportunities allow me to harness, and even amplify, my strengths?
Who or what am I afraid to say ‘no’ to, even though doing so would save me so much energy?
By focusing on values-aligned, high-impact activities, you’ll naturally feel more energised and fulfilled. Once you’ve identified what truly matters to you, the next step is to voice it. If you know this is an area you need to work on, I recommend this article to help build your assertiveness muscle.
4. Recharge with intentional rest
In a culture that glorifies hustle, rest is often seen as indulgent, but it’s far from a luxury—it’s a necessity. While mindful rest can enhance your productivity and creativity, returning you to work with greater clarity and focus, it’s important to remember that rest isn’t just about getting more done. You are a human being, not a machine. You deserve to enjoy rest for its own sake and, indeed, you need to rest to maintain your physical, emotional and mental health.
Take a moment to reflect:
What does rest look like to me?
Am I incorporating rest as an essential ingredient in my life or am I viewing it as something to be earned?
How can I incorporate more mindful rest to connect with myself and recharge?
The key to leveraging mindful rest is to embrace it as an essential part of your well-being, not just a tool for greater productivity. By doing so, you create space to recharge and grow at your own pace.
Summary
We all know that in a world that values constant hustle, it can be difficult to slow down. But the truth is, slowing down and finding balance isn’t about doing less—it’s about doing what matters most with clarity, energy and purpose. As a leader in our modern world, the most powerful thing you can do is to cultivate a life that aligns with your deeper values, where you have the energy and passion to show up as your best self.
If you're feeling exhausted by the demands of modern life, know that change is possible. By redefining success, understanding your responsiblities, prioritising your time and allowing time for rest, you can thrive in both your personal and professional life—without losing yourself in the process.
Next steps
Take a moment today to assess one area of your life where you're currently stretched too thin, and ask yourself what small shift you can make toward balance. If you’re curious about how coaching can support you with this, I’d be happy to speak with you. You can contact me here.