If we’ve learned one thing from working at home, it’s the importance of establishing work-life balance (and boundaries, because you try telling a toddler she can’t have a snack because Mommy is in a Zoom meeting). Balance just got crazy difficult now that work, school, and home are suddenly happening in one location. But balance is so important! Too much professional focus can lead to burnout and a distanced social circle; too much personal focus can lead to decreased productivity and a damaged reputation. But is it really possible to achieve that ideal balance, especially at a time like this? You can sure increase your odds if you…

Prioritize

There are only so many hours in the day. And where work used to speak for at least eight hours straight, now those hours are here, there, and everywhere—sometimes wherever they fit between the rest of life. So it’s important to accept that you won’t complete every item you’d like to tackle in one day, and it’s important to realize that prioritizing can help you complete the most critical tasks. Set goals and priorities for your professional life and your personal life, and devote time to them. Forgive yourself if you don’t meet all your goals on time. And remember, work-life balance doesn’t necessarily mean equal hours for work life and personal life; it means both areas get enough time and attention to meet your needs.

Learn to gracefully decline work

Work-life balance starts with the boundaries you set, with everything working toward meeting your personal and professional priorities. Ask yourself if it’s worth working an extra two hours if it means skipping your child’s bedtime story. On the flip side, ask yourself if it’s worth going on that Arctic expedition if it means missing a chance to pitch to a big client. If it isn’t, learn how to graciously decline the requests that fall outside your boundaries or that don’t further your goals or priorities. Nobody will know what your unique balance looks like until you lay it out!

Pursue your passion

Work may be your passion, but it’s common for something beyond work to share your heart. Whether it’s playing piano, playing pickleball, or playing with your kids, include time for it in your weekly schedule (not just “as it happens”—schedule it in!). Following passions beyond work will help you feel refreshed and like your work doesn’t define you.

Choose a company that values work-life balance

Despite your best efforts, sometimes it’s not you, it’s them. And unfortunately, you won’t get far with your work-life balance if you’ve landed at a company that doesn’t value it. In the future, you can reasonably gauge a company’s approach to work-life balance by noticing online reviews, employee perks, and the vibe you get during the hiring process.

In conclusion

Work-life balance can happen even in the craziest of times—we just have to be intentional with our time and our priorities, working toward what fulfills us most. We are learning great life lessons right now to carry forward into the future!