An occasional post by Jessica DeGroot, Founder of ThirdPath.
Most leaders today are focused on getting great results at work while also creating space for their life responsibilities. That’s what it means to be an “integrated leader,” someone who is making progress at work while also protecting time for family, health, and joy.
Learning to Create Buffers
However, some days it can feel impossible to even find a little breathing room. But we don’t have to settle for constant chaos. We just need to build in buffers and surround ourselves with people who help lighten the load.
I’ve seen this in my own life and in the ThirdPath community. The leaders who put effort into building strong teams, both at work and at home, are the ones who feel more grounded when challenges come their way. They still face demanding seasons, but they recover faster and move forward with a few more ideas around how to better manage things.
Five Buffers for Reducing the Chaos
1. Build a strong team at work.
You simply can’t do it all alone. Creating a supportive, capable team is essential to maintaining both good leadership and quality of life. This takes time and attention. Delegating effectively, communicating clearly, and trusting others to share responsibility are what make sustainable success possible.
2. Build a strong team at home.
Integration doesn’t stop when you leave the office. Whether you share your home with a partner, family members, or friends, it helps to treat life as a shared effort. When everyone contributes and supports each other, the tough moments become easier to manage, and the good moments become even more rewarding. After many years of partnership, my husband and I have learned that our ability to work together is what helps us thrive through each new life stage.
3. Create slack time, both at work and at home.
I’ve also learned the importance of building in time where you have a bit of breathing room. This time is essential for rest and recovery. It also gives you a moment to reflect, reset, and get ready for what comes next. Saying no to certain things, setting clearer boundaries, and protecting downtime are all part of this process.
4. Find people that let you acknowledge the messiness.
Over the years I’ve developed a handful of friends I can call when things are hard. When I reach out, most often we both just take 5 or 10 minutes to share how we are really doing – while the other person just listens, without needing to solve something, and with no judgment. Over and over again I’ve learned, being honest about the challenges has allowed me to regain perspective and keep moving forward.
5. Don’t lower your goals. Keep learning as you go.
When things feel overwhelming, it’s always tempting to lower either your work or life goals. Instead, if you hold on to your goals while also recognizing what’s challenging, more often than not you will come up with a new idea that keeps you on track with what’s most important. Maybe you’ll have an insight around how to delegate more effectively, or a way to slightly shift a priority, or extend a due date.
Yes, staying committed to both my work and life goals has included challenging moments, but it’s also helped me learn how to work smarter.
Work-life integration doesn’t mean achieving perfect balance. It means learning how to move through the demanding periods with a little less stress, and a little more confidence that you can make it to the other side.
I can’t tell you how often I’ve told myself, “This will be the last time I feel this overwhelmed.” But both work and life have taught me, creating an integrated life isn’t about avoiding stress, it’s about building the skills and support that help you manage through it with more clarity and compassion.
ThirdPath Institute’s Mission and Resources
At ThirdPath, we are dedicated to helping individuals, families, and organizations create a culture that supports work-life integration and gender equity. Our mission is to provide resources, support, and education to empower people to lead balanced and fulfilling lives. We offer a variety of programs, workshops, and tools designed to help you achieve your work-life integration goals.
Learn More
Discover how our work is making a difference and become part of our community of change. Visit our website to explore our many free resources or tailored programs designed to support your work-life integration goals.
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As we continue our journey towards promoting work-life integration and gender equity, your support is crucial. Your donation enables us to develop and deliver programs that make real differences in people’s lives. Help us create the future we all deserve and make a donation today. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us bring work-life integration to all.
Thank you for being a part of the ThirdPath community. Together, we’re creating the future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive both personally and professionally.