Striking the right balance between professional responsibilities and personal life can be a juggling act for human resources (HR) professionals.

This article distills the wisdom of five HR industry experts into pragmatic habits designed to harmonize work-life equilibrium.

Learn how to effectively end your workday, set boundaries, and make informed decisions without compromising personal well-being.
 

• Shutdown Ritual Ends Workday
• Plan Day Clearly
• Learn to Say No
• Research Before Accepting Role
• Set Clear Work Boundaries

Shutdown Ritual Ends Workday

One habit that helps me maintain a healthy work-life balance is having a shutdown ritual at the end of each workday. Before logging off, I spend 10 minutes reviewing pending tasks, setting priorities for the next day, and organizing my workspace. This small habit helps me mentally disconnect from work and be fully present at home.

In a leadership role, especially in a fast-paced software development environment, it's easy to let work spill into personal time. But I've learned that clear boundaries don't just help me—they set the tone for the entire team. When leaders show they respect personal time, it encourages a healthier work culture.

The key takeaway? Create a simple but consistent habit that signals the end of your workday. It could be a short walk, turning off notifications, or even listening to a specific playlist. The action itself doesn't matter as much as sticking to it daily. Over time, it trains your brain to switch gears, making work-life balance feel more natural.

Vikrant Bhalodia, Head of People Ops, WeblineIndia

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Plan Day Clearly

The habit that helps me best to maintain balance is to plan my day clearly. Each morning, I set work and routine tasks and determine their urgency and priority. I separate time for work and rest, and in my free time, I do not check work emails or set new tasks. This helps me avoid overload and to rest not only on weekends. Allow yourself to not worry about work every day and have time for yourself. Of course, certain tasks require you to be completely immersed, but do not turn this into a lifestyle where you work 8 hours and think about working for another 16.

Alisa Volynets, HR Business Partner, HR Advisor, Human Resources Generalist, Recruiter, RankUp.ua

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Learn to Say No

One habit that has helped me maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life is learning how to say no. Especially as an HR leader, I understand that it is crucial to protect my well-being and, by doing so, set a worthy example for the company's workforce. Personally, the trick is in realizing that I am not superhuman and that my abilities are limited.

The truth is, in a competitive and challenging environment, employees who are on the self-development and improvement journey find it difficult to say "no," even when they should, and apart from them always wanting to appear as team players, another reason for this is that they feel that being agreeable and "cooperative" in this way, is one way to get the attention of their leaders and secure more and better opportunities for their career.

However, by making it a habit to turn down requests when it is inconvenient and not feasible, I have succeeded in building a habit that helps me avoid unnecessary pressure at work, making it easier for me to prioritize my responsibilities and stay efficient at them. This way, it is easier to ensure that the troubles at work don't follow me home, affecting my relationships. Plus, this way, I am also setting healthy examples of the importance of prioritizing well-being and setting boundaries for others to follow.

To implement this habit, my advice to others is that they pay attention to recognizing their limits. Try to understand how much workload is too much. Then, practice saying "no" but with good reason and conviction. Always be willing to explain why your answer is no, and be firm but reasonable in your decision.

Umeadi Grace chisom, Human Resources Leader, Express Dentist

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Research Before Accepting Role

One habit I've developed to maintain a healthy work-life balance is doing thorough research before accepting any HR role. It might sound like a simple step, but it's something I wish I'd been more diligent about early in my career. Understanding what's expected in terms of hours and workload is crucial, especially when considering industries like professional services, law, or accounting, where long hours are often the norm.

By taking the time to ask current employees about their work-life balance and researching the company culture, I've been able to set realistic expectations from the get-go. This has helped me avoid burnout and maintain balance, even when the workload gets heavy.

Key takeaway for others: Always "date" the industry and company before committing. Ask questions about what work-life balance really looks like in the day-to-day so you're not caught off guard. That proactive step can make all the difference in maintaining a balance that works for you long-term.

Tawny Rodriguez, HR Coach, HR SME, Head of HR, Rowland Hall

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Set Clear Work Boundaries

One habit I've developed to maintain a healthy work-life balance is setting clear boundaries between work hours and personal time. I follow a defined schedule, ensuring work doesn't extend into my evenings or weekends unless it's truly urgent. This allows me to recharge and stay focused during working hours.

A key takeaway is to consistently respect these boundaries. For example, in my team, we adhere to set hours and avoid sending emails during weekends or outside these times. Protecting your personal time helps prevent burnout. It also fosters a healthy balance that supports long-term success.

Ann Kuss, CEO, Outstaff Your Team

Author Bio

Brett Farmiloe is the CHRO & CEO of Featured.

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