Tag Time Management

Finding Balance: How to Maintain a Healthy Work–Life Rhythm

Steve Keating Leave a comment

I am always unimpressed by leaders who, in an effort to impress me, tell me they are the hardest-working person in their organization. They say they often work 18-20 hours a day.

I must have a strange or skeptical look on my face when they are telling me that, because they immediately try to justify why working nonstop is a good thing.

It is not a good thing.

It’s darn expensive. It costs a fortune in lost personal relationships. Especially with people who should matter more than anything in your life. It adds stress and potential health problems to your life. Even if you love your job, working nonstop robs you of the boundless joy of a well-balanced life.

But despite the challenges of an “always on” lifestyle, many people tell me that they have no choice. And in today’s highly competitive workplaces, maintaining a healthy work–life balance can truly feel nearly impossible. Between emails that never stop, constant notifications, and the pressure to stay productive, it’s easy to let work spill into every corner of your life. Yet true success—and happiness—comes not just from what we accomplish, but from how we live along the way.

Why Work–Life Balance Matters

Work–life balance isn’t about splitting your time evenly between your job and your personal life. It’s about creating a rhythm that allows you to perform well at work without sacrificing your well-being, relationships, or sense of purpose. When that balance tips too far, burnout, stress, and even health problems can follow. When it’s in sync, productivity, creativity, and overall satisfaction thrive.

Set Clear Boundaries

Start by setting realistic boundaries between work and personal time. This might mean:

Logging off at a set time each evening.

Turning off email notifications after hours.

Avoiding work-related tasks during the weekends.

These small acts send a powerful message—to yourself and others—that your personal time matters. This is often easier said than done, I get that, but almost everything worth doing is easier said than done. Even if you can only maintain your boundaries once in a while, you’ll be better off than if you have no boundaries at all.

Prioritize What Truly Matters

We often fill our days with “urgent” tasks that aren’t actually important. Instead, focus on what creates the most value. Tools like the Eisenhower Matrix (dividing tasks into urgent/important categories) can help you stay focused and avoid busy work. Remember: saying “no” to something unimportant is really saying “yes” to what matters most.

Schedule Rest and Recreation

You wouldn’t run a car without refueling, yet many of us push ourselves without a break. Schedule time for activities that recharge you—exercise, reading, hobbies, or simply doing nothing. Even short breaks throughout your day can reset your mind and improve focus. For instance, DO NOT eat lunch at your desk. Even a 15-minute lunch break, with no work interruptions, recharges you. Research shows that short breaks can make you 25% more productive later in the day.

Nurture Your Relationships

Strong relationships are one of the best buffers against stress. Make time for the people who lift you up—family, friends, and colleagues. Share a meal, take a walk, or just check in. These moments aren’t distractions from work; they’re the fuel that helps you bring your best self to it.

Redefine “Success”

Finally, remember that success isn’t just about climbing the career ladder or hitting financial goals. It’s about living a life you don’t need a vacation from—one filled with purpose, connection, and peace. The healthiest professionals are those who work hard, rest deeply, and stay grounded in what truly matters.

Final Thoughts
Work–life balance isn’t a static destination—it’s a continual adjustment. Some days, work will take center stage; other days, life outside the office will need your full attention. The key is awareness. By setting boundaries, prioritizing what matters, and protecting your well-being, you can create a life that is both productive and fulfilling.

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The Importance of a Strong Work Ethic – Part Two

Steve Keating 1 Comment

In Part One of this two-part post, we looked at why a strong work ethic is essential to a person’s success. Many people think having a strong work ethic simply means working hard. That’s true, but there’s more to it than that.

Strengthening your work ethic involves building habits and adopting mindsets that promote discipline, focus, and accountability. So continue to work hard but add these ideas into the mix so that you’re working smarter too.

1. Set Clear Goals

Break larger objectives into smaller, actionable steps.

Use tools like planners, task lists, or apps to track progress.

Here’s some additional insights on the importance of goals: https://stevekeating.me/2021/04/18/the-hopelessness-of-no-goals/

2. Prioritize Discipline

Stick to a schedule and avoid procrastination.

Start your day with the hardest or most important tasks (the “eat the frog” method).

Here’s a post that can help you in this area: https://stevekeating.me/2024/01/11/how-to-develop-more-discipline-in-your-life/

3. Practice Consistency

Work consistently, even when motivation wanes.

Build routines that make good work habits automatic.

Here’s an earlier post that can help you: https://stevekeating.me/2024/09/15/motivating-yourself-when-youre-not-particularly-motivated/

4. Maintain a Positive Attitude

View challenges as opportunities to grow.

Approach your work with gratitude and a can-do mindset.

Read this post for more ideas on this point: https://stevekeating.me/2024/05/23/why-having-a-positive-attitude-matters/

5. Improve Time Management

Learn to prioritize tasks using frameworks like the Eisenhower Matrix. Never mistake the urgent stuff for the important things that really matter.

Minimize distractions by creating a focused work environment. This may be shocking, but it is possible to turn your damn phone off from time to time.

6. Take Responsibility

Own up to mistakes and learn from them. If you’re not confident enough to admit your mistakes, you actually lose the power to correct them.

Hold yourself accountable for meeting deadlines and achieving results.

7. Build Resilience

Accept that setbacks are part of growth. If you’re not failing once in a while, you’re probably not working hard enough.

Develop mental toughness to stay productive under pressure. Understand that those failures are all about learning to succeed. Embrace the lessons of failure and do better next time.

8. Seek Continuous Improvement

Learn new skills and stay updated in your field. The most successful people learn something new almost every single day. Invest a minimum of 15 minutes a day to improve your base of knowledge, it will positively impact you in a ton of discipline ways.

Actively seek feedback and use it constructively.

9. Surround Yourself with Like-Minded People

Spend time with motivated, hard-working individuals. If you’re hanging out with low- energy people, don’t expect to be high energy yourself.

Engage with people or groups that value diligence and productivity.

10. Balance Work and Rest

Avoid burnout by incorporating regular breaks and leisure activities. Invest time to “recharge” and refresh. Even small breaks can make a big difference.

Get enough sleep, eat healthy, and exercise to stay energized.

Using these ideas can help you steadily build a strong work ethic. One that supports success, personal satisfaction, and career growth.

Remember, there will very possibly always be someone who knows more than you. And someone who has a bit more ability, and maybe someone with more experience. Those things are outside of your control. But you have complete control over the level of effort you put forth; that means there is never really a valid excuse for being consistently outworked.

Make a better effort and you will be making yourself a better life.

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How to Get More Done

Steve Keating 2 Comments

I’ll frequently ask someone how their day went. If I had a dollar for every time that they answered “busy,” I’d have a whole lot of dollars. For many people, having a “busy” day is the measure of a good day. Some even consider a busy day to be a successful day.

But I’ve seen many very busy people who are busy getting nothing of substance done. They are merely busy being busy. Sometimes, they are even busy doing things that shouldn’t be done at all. In essence, they are counterproductive.

To make progress toward a goal, or simply get something done, you must understand the difference between being busy and actually being productive. If, at the end of the day, you can’t point to something concrete that you accomplished, then you likely didn’t have a very productive day. Even if you’re exhausted at the end of that day.

The key to being productive is not simply getting more done. It’s getting more of the things that matter done. More of the things that will make a difference, for you or for someone else. That’s going to require a combination of effective time management, prioritization, and personal productivity strategies. Here’s what you need to do to make it happen.

1. Set Clear Goals

• SMART Goals: Make sure your goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

• Daily Planning: Start each day by outlining your key tasks and objectives.

2. Prioritize Tasks

• Eisenhower Matrix: Categorize tasks into four quadrants based on urgency and importance.

• ABC Method: Label tasks as A (most important), B (important but not urgent), and C (neither urgent nor important).

3. Use Time Management Techniques

• Pomodoro Technique: Work in focused intervals (usually 25 minutes) followed by short breaks.

• Time Blocking: Allocate specific blocks of time to different tasks or activities.

4. Minimize Distractions

• Turn Off Notifications: Silence your phone and computer notifications while working.

• Create a Productive Workspace: Ensure your workspace is organized and free from distractions.

5. Leverage Technology

• Productivity Apps: Use tools like Trello, Asana, or Todoist to keep track of tasks and deadlines.

• Automation: Automate repetitive tasks where possible, using tools like Zapier or IFTTT.

6. Delegate and Outsource

• Identify Tasks to Delegate: Delegate tasks that others can do, allowing you to focus on higher-priority items.

• Outsource When Necessary: Consider hiring freelancers or using services for tasks outside your expertise.

7. Continuous Improvement

• Reflect and Adjust: Regularly review your productivity strategies and make adjustments as needed.

• Learn New Skills: Continuously seek to improve your skills and knowledge.

8. Stay Motivated

• Reward Yourself: Set up a reward system for completing tasks.

• Stay Positive: Maintain a positive mindset and keep motivated through challenging tasks.

9. Effective Communication

• Clear Communication: Ensure clear and effective communication with your team to avoid misunderstandings and delays.

• Regular Updates: Keep stakeholders updated on your progress to maintain alignment and accountability.

Years ago I was the General Sales Manager for a Soft Drink Company. Our delivery drivers went on strike and I found myself on a delivery truck working harder than I ever had before. The thing is, my day job didn’t stop. So at the end of my delivery day I would head into my office to get as much done as I could. The next day started at 4:00am and by sleeping in my office I could save myself an hour of commuting each day. But it was a losing battle and by the end of the first month I had piles of paperwork everywhere.

One night I went into the warehouse and grabbed one of those big dumpsters on wheels. I pushed it into my office and threw everything on my desk straight into that dumpster. It was a very freeing experience. I had no idea what the heck I was throwing away but at that point I didn’t really care.

Here’s the most interesting part. I barely heard a word from anyone asking about what happened to this paperwork or what happened to that document. It was then that I learned a lesson that has stayed with me to this day.

The lesson is this: Never underestimate the absolute unimportance of almost everything you do.

Most, not some, most of the things I stressed over and worked all hours to complete were not having any impact at all. They just didn’t matter. There’s a lesson in that for many of us.

By using the ideas I’ve listed above, you’ll understand your priorities and why they are priorities. Once you accomplish that, you’ll be well on your way to getting more done. More importantly, the things you get done will have a positive impact on your life and the lives of those around you.

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Making the Most of Your Time

Steve Keating 2 Comments

We should probably get this out of the way up front. We can’t actually manage time. We can manage the events that use up our time. You should also know that no one on the planet has more time than you. We all get 1440 minutes a day. No more, no less.

People who think they are short on time are actually short on priorities. They treat most every “event” in their lives as a top priority not realizing that if everything is the top priority then nothing is. Managing the events that use up your time effectively is crucial for achieving your goals, reducing stress, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Here are some practical strategies to help you manage those events more effectively.

  • Set Clear Goals: Start by defining your short-term and long-term goals. Having a clear sense of what you want to achieve will help you prioritize tasks and allocate time accordingly.
  • Prioritize Tasks: Use techniques like the Eisenhower Matrix (urgent vs. important) to identify and prioritize tasks based on their significance and deadlines.
  • Create a prioritized task list: Make a daily or weekly prioritized task list to outline tasks you need to accomplish. Break down larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps.
  • Time Blocking: Allocate specific time blocks for different tasks or activities. This helps you focus on one task at a time and prevents multitasking, which can reduce efficiency.
  • Use a Calendar: Utilize a digital or physical calendar to schedule appointments, meetings, and tasks. Sync it with your devices to stay updated and receive reminders.
  • Set Deadlines: Establish realistic deadlines for tasks to create a sense of urgency and maintain accountability.
  • Eliminate Distractions: Identify and minimize sources of distraction, such as turning off notifications, setting specific times for checking emails and social media, and creating a clutter-free workspace.
  • Batch Similar Tasks: Group similar tasks together and work on them during specific time blocks. This minimizes context switching and improves efficiency.
  • Use the Pomodoro Technique: Work intensely for a set period (e.g., 25 minutes) and then take a short break. Repeat this cycle to maintain focus and prevent burnout.
  • Delegate: If possible, delegate tasks that can be handled by others, freeing up your time for more critical responsibilities.
  • Learn to Say No: Politely decline tasks or commitments that don’t align with your goals or would overburden your schedule.
  • Set Time Limits: Allocate a specific amount of time for each task to avoid spending too much time on less important activities.
  • Review and Reflect: Regularly review your progress, assess what’s working and what isn’t, and adjust your time management strategies accordingly.
  • Use Technology Wisely: Utilize productivity apps, task managers, and tools like calendar reminders to help you stay organized and on track.

Effective time management isn’t as much about time as it is understanding your priorities. It is a skill that takes time to develop. Experiment with different strategies to find what works best for you, and be willing to adapt as your circumstances and goals evolve.

Remember, time is one of your most valuable assets. The more effectively you use it the more of it you’ll seem to have. You will seldom see a very successful person who doesn’t allocate their time well and if you do it’s likely they won’t be very successful for long.

Want more of LeadToday? I’ve changed things up on my Twitter feed for subscribers. I recently began publishing two or three videos each week focusing on an element of Authentic Leadership. I’ll post these videos each Tuesday and Thursday morning. Sometimes a bonus video pops up at other times during the week. They will be about 10 minutes long so we can get into the topic in a more meaningful way. The investment for subscribers in still only $4.99 a month. That’s for at least 80 MINUTES of quality video content on leadership a month.

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Yes, You DO Have Time

Steve Keating 5 Comments

There’s only one thing I don’t have time for. It’s people who tell me that they don’t have time. Everyone has enough time to accomplish all of their priorities. What many people don’t have is priorities. 

The reality is that without priorities time doesn’t matter. When everything is of equal importance then nothing is important. People without true priorities finish up their day and wonder where the time went. People with priorities and goals that align with them know exactly where their time went. It was used precisely where they intended to use it. 

So please don’t tell me you don’t have time. Tell me you can’t manage your time. Tell me you have no ability to prioritize. Tell me you just don’t know what to do next but don’t tell me you don’t have enough time.

Now I’m no time management expert. I don’t actually believe there is such a person. To manage time you would have to be able to stop it, to add to it, or borrow it from someone else. As far as I know, none of that is possible. 

So stop taking time management courses, most of the are just another waste of your time. Instead, start managing the events that use up your time. Managing the events that make up your day becomes much easier when you learn to use one word. It’s a tiny word, it’s a word than many people are offended by. It’s a word that many of us struggle to say, especially when we most need to. 

The word is NO. 

I say no to a hell of a lot of people and even more things. I, just like you, have 1440 minutes in each day. Unlike many of you, I alone decide how they will be used. I know that each day will have time devoted to family. Each day will have time devoted to work. Each day will have time set aside for fun. (Yep, each and every day) 

Some days I set aside time to do nothing. Some people don’t seem to be able to understand that particular concept. They call and ask what I’m doing on Saturday. I say I’m doing nothing. They say great, let’s do this. I reply that I can’t, I’m doing nothing on Saturday. They are very confused. For me, doing nothing is something and it’s pretty great.

I don’t blame them for being confused. One of the greatest stress producing beliefs that too many people have is that you must be doing something every waking minute of the day. Folks, I’m here to tell you that just ain’t so. 

I also have me time. My me time usually starts around 4:00am and ends around 5:00am. It’s only an hour but for me it’s an important hour. I’ll bet it would be for you too. In that hour I write stuff like this post. I do most I my social media efforts in that hour as well. I skim a few newspapers most days in that hour and it’s my time alone. No one is up in the house so I’m not taking time away from my family for me. My co-workers haven’t thought of getting out of bed yet so I’m not affecting them by focusing on me. 

5:00am to 5:30am I look at the days events and divide up my time according to the priorities my goals have set for me. Some days the number one priority might be a lunch with a colleague who needs my help. Other days it might be something I’d really rather not do but I know it must be done. There is even open time on my calendar that I allow other people to fill with their priorities because helping others is a priority for me.

Having a clear set of priorities each day will eliminate much of the day-to-day stress most people experience. Even on the days life throws you a curve and your priorities go out the window you’ll have less stress than others because you’re still in control of your time more days than not. 

So remember, when you start feeling stressed over time it’s likely of your own doing. Or more likely it’s because of what you didn’t do. You didn’t say NO!

Moving Heaven and Earth

Steve Keating Leave a comment

My mom used to say that she would move Heaven and Earth to help “you boys” (that would be me and my brothers) any way she could. I was too young to understand what that meant the first couple hundred times I heard it but I came to understand that it meant our well-being was the most important thing in the world to her.

She would, and frequently did, do everything in her power to protect us, even when that sometimes meant not protecting us at all.

Her priorities were crystal clear. She didn’t have to tell anyone what they were, they were completely visible to anyone who cared to look. Her family mattered above all else. That fact was reflected in everything she said and did. Always.

I share that with you as a set-up to a question I want to ask you…

Can people SEE the priorities in your life or do you have to keep telling them what’s important to you? I ask that because the fact is, people DO see the priorities in your life, you show them every day.

What you say are your priorities may or may not be. But what you do in your life are your real your priorities.

People get frustrated with my response when they tell me “they don’t have enough time in the day.” They get frustrated because I tell them that they absolutely do.

What they don’t have are identifiable priorities. They act as if everything in their life is so important when in actuality it is merely urgent.

The most successful people understand that what is urgent is seldom important and what is important is seldom urgent. People who don’t understand that do urgent things that won’t matter two weeks from now at the expense of truly important things that could be life altering.

When you act according to your priorities you’ll discover that you do have enough time to accomplish everything that is important to you.

If I followed you around for a week I could tell you exactly what your priorities are. In most cases you would disagree with me and argue that your actual priorities are different. But they are not.

I know many people reading this won’t like this but you SAY what you want your priorities to be. You DO what your priorities actually are.

For skilled, disciplined and successful people what they say and what they do are one and the same.

What exactly are your priorities? Not what you say they are but what you would truly move heaven and earth to achieve. Watch yourself and you’ll soon find out. If you don’t like what you see then either change what you say or change what you do. When you align your actions with your words you’ll accomplish more than you ever thought possible…with time left over.

You may not get all those urgent things accomplished but that’s okay because urgent things are only urgent for a short time. You can make a darn good living by focusing on those urgent things. If however you want to make a fulfilling life you’re gonna need to start focusing on the important stuff too.

Do You Have Time for Goals?

Steve Keating 1 Comment

In my last post I wrote about understanding the difference between being busy and being productive. I said that if you didn’t do at least one thing to get closer to a goal each day then you were not productive…not matter how busy you may have felt.

What that means of course is that if you don’t have goals then you can’t be productive. When I say “goals” I mean real goals. Concrete ones, written down with deadlines and plans for achievement.

It’s great to dream and say things like “someday I’ll do this” or “one day I’m doing to.” Except that someday and one day do not appear on a calendar. There is a minor league baseball team in town and the beer vendors all wear shirts that say “free beer tomorrow.” The problem is when tomorrow comes the free beer is still tomorrow.

That’s how it is with unwritten goals as well. The day you’re finally going to pursue them never arrives.

Specificity is key to successfully achieving goals. The more wiggle room you allow yourself the more likely it will be that you wiggle out of them.

Real goals are measurable. “I’m going to lose some weight” is not a goal. It is at best a wish. To make it a goal you must put some weight (pardon the pun) behind it. “I’m going to lose 2 pounds a week for the next 10 weeks” is a goal.

Real goals are actually attainable. There are several reasons that “I’m going to be the first man on the moon” is not an attainable goal. Well, maybe more than several, but the point is if your goal is so far-fetched that you have no chance of achieving it then it is more likely to leave you unmotivated. Plus, ALL the time you spent going after it is a complete waste.

Real goals are realistic. “I’m going to lose those 20 pounds this week” is a wee bit unlikely to happen. In fact it ain’t going to happen so it’s not even a good dream. Real goals must be completely within your control. Setting a goal to have your bosses job in a year is not realistic because too many factors are beyond your control.

First, your bosses job must open up. Second, your company must be looking at internal candidates, the list could go on and on.

A real goal would be one that says “over the course of the next year I’m going to do this, this, this and this in order to be the best possible candidate should my bosses position ever open up.

If all the “this, and this and this are within your control then you have a real goal and a much better chance of achieving it. The time you invest will be well worth the effort…even if you never do get your bosses job.

Real goals need a starting date. Writing down what time on that date you will start is even better. They need a FIRM date by which they will be achieved. The time of day on that date is equally important.

The most successful people have a good cross section of goals. Some are professional goals and some are personal. Their goals align with their values. They have financial goals, family goals, educational goals, career goals, spiritual goals, health goals and goals in any area of their lives they choose to focus on.

If you don’t have formal, real goals then let me ask you this: why do you do what you do?

Do you get up each day and go to work in order to make money to divide up between your creditors with the hope there’s some left over for you? Do you seem to have more bad days than good days? Are you frequently frustrated with what life is repaying you for your efforts? Do you constantly have this feeling that there’s more to life than you’re experiencing?

If you answered yes to even some of those questions then it is likely that you are more busy than you are productive. You’re using your 1440 minutes each day with little to show for it.

You CAN have all you want from life and have time left over to discover even more amazing parts of life. The key to unlocking all that is productively investing your time to pursue real goals.

Stop spending time on things that offer you little return. Invest your time in the pursuit of goals and have the life you truly want to have.