Work-life balance. Is it achievableÂÂ

We’ve all called or texted friends and family to ask how they are only to get the reply, â€Å"Busy.† Or worse; â€Å"Stressed.† Burnout is real. Being forever busy is an epidemic of its own. And struggling to achieve work-life balance often feels a losing battle.   Perhaps we’re partly to blame. We work on our commutes. We work on our holidays (our next-level connectedness means no one is ever really out of office any more.) In the evenings. On weekends, and at times when we should be spending quality time with those most important to us. It’s non-stop. And hands up, I’m scarlet-handed. I’m passionate about what I do and it’s not unknown for my work to extend into unsocial hours. The pressure to be always on What if you miss something? The brief changes? The website goes down? It’s more often than not, fixable. Though we feel pressure not to mess up and to be available within a minutes notice. Our desire to succeed can be all-consuming. Of course, no one wants to fail. Yet failure is the exact thing we need to grow. Paranoia, humble-bragging, and social medias false projection of perfection give us a sense of needing to be always on as well. When actually, to be our full, rested selves the best thing we can do is switch off.   How much responsibility lies with employers? The saying goes, healthy employees make happy employees. And, in London, there’s been a huge surge in companies recognizing the demand for a workplace with benefits beyond the expected. Free Friday breakfasts, B2B events on-site so to accelerate the learning curve, yoga classes, kombucha in the fridge now as well as beer.   Good managers should be open to discussion too. Don’t be shy about asking for their time. Put 1:1s in with them if they haven’t with you. Flexible hours, a later start and finish, a day working from home are modern-day practice for many businesses, but it should become the norm. What about the 4-day week? While far from common, this is gaining traction too. Microsoft’s recent trial in Japan netted the company a whopping 40% leap in productivity. US real estate firm Perpetual Garden also tried the 4-day work week experiment. It was so successful they’re reported to have adopted it permanently.   In my line of work, a lot of people work from home on Fridays. In no connection to my last sentence, I question how much work really gets done on Fridays anyway. If we’re pushing ourselves all week long, fatigue is inevitable. And if we know we have to get our to-do list done in four—rather than five—days it’s carrot on a stick logic. You’ll do it. Then, you can enjoy a relaxing, restorative three-day weekend.   At the end of the day our employers can help set us up for success, but ultimately they’re a business. It’s down to us to do the same and look out for our own business—ourselves. Managing work-life balance is critical for further progression You might have to adjust your priorities. Or get better at saying no gracefully, as CEO of Girlboss Sophia Amuroso recommends. Commit to leaving work on time to get to that gym class. And learn to accept that you can’t do everything—importantly, that’s more than okay.   Our professional and personal lives have become more entangled than ever before. Relearning how to switch off, adopting boundaries—gradually if need be—and prioritizing self-care stand us in far better stead against burnout.   So, how do we start to organize the chaos and prevent burnout? Try to identify triggers and patterns. Make an effort to notice things that raise your stress levels. It could be that your commute is really hectic—can you switch it up in any way? Could you learn via podcasts? Watch a movie on that long journey so you use the time for you?  Ã‚   Planning ahead for busy spells at work—the festive period or summer vacation season—may help too. Including booking in your own time off. As a freelance writer, I’ve found that booking a weekend away or a holiday for some time ahead means I have to take time off. I’ve also promised I’ll eat well. It’s a small, obvious step, but crucial. It might be a little Mother Hen, but if we don’t ensure we are fit and well, no-one else is going to. Don’t ignore stress—adopt daily strategies Here are some things that I’ve found helpful. Hopefully, some will work for you, too. Make your workload visible. Make it clear to your peers what you’re doing and ask them for feedback. Not only will it help you move further, faster—you might also receive positive reassurance you’re on the right track.   Plan even an hour off doing something you enjoy. A walk, reading a book, calling that stressed friend for some camaraderie. Change your work setting. Bizarrely, moving from my home desk to the sofa can help my productivity levels. You have to work out what works for you—and it might surprise you. Walk around the block. Getting fresh air really can change perspectives.   How much do you allow interruptions? It’s okay not to respond instantly—don’t open yourself up to unnecessary interruption. There are plenty of reports out there to suggest it takes nearly 30 minutes to refocus from distractions. Say no. After all, we can’t do everything, and recognizing that is powerful.   Is work-life balance really achievable? We might not like to admit that a lot of it is down to us. But with gradual changes and committing to making them, we can do it. A daily multivitamin, committing to that run, making your commute time for reading that book that’s been on your shelf forever. Those are great ways to start. More like this Tips and tricks for juggling the demands of a part-time MBA Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .