It has been a wild ride these past few years. Managing a good-purpose communications business is more rewarding than I could have ever dreamed. Our clients, our team, our meaningful work. But, of course, there’s also life. And family, if that’s your choice.
I’m preparing to head on maternity leave – third child, fourth if you include pregnancy loss last year. And as I’m learning how to slow down in these final couple of months, I’ve been reflecting a lot on what’s worked for me as a business leader, as a mum and a student – what has helped me to stop, slow down and avoid burnout.
Here’s what’s worked, and what I’d do differently.
First, an oldie but a goodie – put your own oxygen mask on first.
This is something I had to learn before I actually put it into practice. Perhaps it’s instinctive as a parent or a leader – you put your team first, your clients first, your family first. The problem is, the more you prioritise others, the less likely you are to provide much-needed perspective – to give good advice, to listen when others need your support, and to bring the kind of long-term thinking (from meal planning to new business) that creates a stable foundation. For me, this was about setting boundaries – not checking emails during annual leave or days off, taking doona days (more professionally known as mental health days!) to do nothing but lie down and watch something, pushing back on deadlines that created unnecessary stress, and, importantly, being open about where your head’s at with your team and your family.
Second, trust the people around you – they’re there for a reason.
For many business leaders and mums that I’ve had the pleasure of knowing, we develop an instinct to know exactly what we want. We become confident in our areas of expertise, and when we step away, we expect others to follow our lead because we know it works. But, this just isn’t realistic. And it creates unnecessary stress, hoping our team or our partner follow our example. While I’m still learning how to do this consistently, when I do, it’s like a weight is lifted – there’s finally permission to step back and focus on other things. Initiatives like the government’s ‘right to disconnect’ are an important part of this, but mentally, you’ve also got to learn to let go and trust that others in your community care as much as you do.
Finally, do something that makes you feel.
Feel inspired, passionate, motivated, excited, proud, reflective – whatever it is, put something in place that makes you feel something. When you have a tendency to throw yourself into work or family life, your days can blur together. It can be harder to take a moment, reflect on what you’ve done or how far you’ve come, and feel a sense of accomplishment or pride. For me, it’s study. I have done postgraduate study for more than 10 years while working, and while there are times it can be a lot, it contributes so significantly to my personal fulfilment. It may seem counterintuitive to add something to your list in order to avoid burnout. But in my experience, it contributes to this beautiful, holistic experience of life, where you’re doing something just for you – not to earn money, not to raise your kids, but because it brings you something unique. I am no expert when it comes to work-life balance, but I do have plenty of experience when it comes to the juggle.
While there’s no solution that will work for everyone, no matter how much you plan and organise, there are some things that can make life not just easier, but richer and more fulfilled. Taking care of yourself, trusting the community you’ve built around you and doing things that make you feel proud – those, to me at least, are non-negotiables.
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