The hottest Work-life balance Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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The darker side of being a doctor

DrEricLevi’s Substack • 499 HN points • 13 Apr 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Work-life balance Patient Care Medical Industry
  1. Loss of control over work schedule and healthcare system can lead to despair and burnout for doctors.
  2. Lack of support system due to demanding work hours and administrative pressure can exacerbate emotional and physical exhaustion for doctors.
  3. Diminished sense of meaning in medical practice, as administrative demands overshadow patient care, leading to frustration and disillusionment among doctors.

Leyla Kazim Is Choosing A Slower Life

Changing The Channel • 538 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Work-life balance Mental health Consumerism Hobbies
  1. Leyla Kazim focuses on living a slower, intentional, and joyful life, advocating for shedding consumerist social conditioning.
  2. There is a pervasive hustle and burnout culture in the UK and US, affecting people's well-being and pushing them into overwork.
  3. The pandemic has led many to re-evaluate their lives, with some realizing the importance of hobbies and the detrimental effects of tying identity solely to work.
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Reader Mailbag: Struggling to do it all

Tech and Tea • 246 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Career development Work-life balance Personal Growth Technical Skills
  1. Struggling with work-life balance, technical up-skilling, and finding identity outside of work is common among many engineers and professionals. It's important to prioritize what aligns with personal values and well-being.
  2. Careers in the tech industry can take diverse paths, and it's okay to explore different roles or take breaks to pursue other interests. Embracing change and personal growth is a natural part of a long career.
  3. Building expertise, whether technical or in other areas, is valuable and transferable across different domains. Prioritizing personal growth and balancing work with other life aspects is essential in navigating career challenges.

Learning to give it 85%

The Shift With Sam Baker • 1637 implied HN points • 14 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Work-life balance Self-care Mental health Physical health Professional development
  1. It's important to realize that giving 100% all the time may not be sustainable or healthy in the long run. Aim for 85% effort to prevent burnout.
  2. Society's expectations of always giving 100% can lead to negative consequences on one's well-being, especially when not reciprocated by employers.
  3. Taking breaks, setting boundaries, and prioritizing self-care by working at 85% capacity can actually lead to improved productivity and overall well-being.

Why I'm Working Three Days A Week | #257

Boundless by Paul Millerd • 118 implied HN points • 17 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Wellness Parenting Work-life balance Self-care Family
  1. Working a 3-day week can be fulfilling and productive, even when balancing full-time childcare.
  2. Experimenting with unconventional work structures can lead to unexpected growth and satisfaction.
  3. Prioritizing personal values and creativity over traditional work models can lead to a more rewarding and fulfilling life.

Lean In, 10 Years Later

My Sweet Dumb Brain • 1749 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Work-life balance Mental well-being Self-care Grief Productivity
  1. The author has transitioned from focusing on 'leaning in' or 'leaning out' to simply trying to lean in different aspects of life.
  2. Taking on extra work can alleviate financial worries but bring new stressors of time management and choices.
  3. The societal view on work and success has shifted from a 'work harder' mentality to recognizing the importance of balance, mental health, and avoiding burnout.

Boundaries in real life

Mindset Mastery • 78 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Boundaries Self-care Mental health Work-life balance Personal Growth
  1. Setting clear boundaries is essential for avoiding burnout and maintaining balance in work and personal life.
  2. Being able to communicate your needs and preferences effectively helps in establishing and maintaining boundaries.
  3. Prioritizing self-care and committing to activities that make you feel good are crucial components of setting and upholding boundaries.

Pros and Cons of a C-level Job in 2024+

The Uncommon Executive • 19 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
💼 Business Career Leadership Work-life balance Decision-making Company Culture
  1. C-level executive roles offer significant impact on company trajectory and industries, allowing for big bets and tangible results in a shorter timescale.
  2. Executives have more control over their schedule, better anticipation of risks, and the ability to create work for others at well-run companies.
  3. The executive role comes with overflowing stress from high-level accountability, feelings of loneliness at the top, and a distance from day-to-day operations.

Leaving Money on The Table | #250

Boundless by Paul Millerd • 147 implied HN points • 10 Dec 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Personal Growth Work-life balance Financial Decisions
  1. Ali Abdaal discusses the dilemma between money and life enjoyment, choosing to leave money on the table.
  2. Consider the 'life path' where your needs can be met with and without money, prioritizing peace of mind and quality of life.
  3. Leaving money on the table can lead to psychological richness, meaningful relationships, and personal growth.

Animal

Venture Prose • 379 implied HN points • 16 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-awareness Work-life balance Personal Growth
  1. Reflect on your actions and how they impact others, strive for genuine intentions in your interactions.
  2. Recognize your strengths and weaknesses in managing relationships and commitments, while maintaining your individuality.
  3. Understand your personal needs and preferences, and embrace them even if they differ from societal norms.

When the Mask Drops: Trying, Failing, and Re-Finding Myself

Caravanserai with Samantha Childress • 569 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Work-life balance Self-discovery Personal Growth Creativity
  1. The author struggled with finding time and headspace to write due to working full-time, but decided to post twice a month to make the newsletter more sustainable.
  2. The author felt like a failure for not keeping up with their original writing goals, but realized that quality is more important than quantity.
  3. By being more sincere at work and letting the 'mask' drop, the author found more freedom to be themselves and write more authentically.

Open thread: Finding balance between extremes

The Recovering Academic • 197 implied HN points • 06 Oct 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Balance Poetry Purpose Work-life balance Contemplation
  1. Find balance in work by merging personal passion with public good, aiming for a middle ground that sustains you and aligns with your values.
  2. Navigate through the all-or-nothing nature of work pathways, like the overwhelming job application processes, by seeking a balance between extremes in both personal and professional life.
  3. Strive to avoid negotiating work and life as separate entities but integrate them into a harmonious blend, ensuring that your work embodies both private passion and contribution to the greater good.

40-Something Creatives: What Should We Do Next?

The Intersection • 296 implied HN points • 08 Jul 23
💼 Business Work-life balance Financial planning Entrepreneurship
  1. In your 40s, it's crucial to reflect on your career and life path since there may not be as many 'next' opportunities left. You have to navigate responsibilities and the question: 'What should I do next for the rest of my life?'
  2. When making career decisions in your 40s, consider personal values and priorities. Understand what truly matters to you to find fulfillment and satisfaction in your professional life.
  3. Think about where you want to live, the type of work you want to do, and how much money you really need. These considerations can help guide you towards a more fulfilling and balanced professional life in your 40s.

Why Can't Americans Take A Vacation?

The Weekly Dish • 177 implied HN points • 11 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Work-life balance Physical therapy Medication Interventions Mental health
  1. American workers put in long hours, with some even working up to 90 hours per week, impacting their ability to take vacations
  2. The pursuit of material possessions and societal pressure to work hard contribute to Americans' lack of leisure time compared to Europeans
  3. Globalization and technology have intensified the work culture, making Americans always accessible and potentially leading to burnout

Doing Fast & Slow

Venture Prose • 279 implied HN points • 07 May 23
💼 Business Leadership Management Work-life balance Achievement Execution
  1. Set a pace of execution that matches ambition and expectations to avoid subpar efforts and performance from your team.
  2. Find a balance between being fast and slow in your thinking and actions, while being intentional about setting expectations and goals.
  3. Work-life balance is like a rope that tightens and loosens, finding equilibrium between being super busy and not, rather than aiming for a perfect balance.

Why academe discourages a growth mindset

The Recovering Academic • 237 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🚌 Education Work-life balance
  1. Academia might discourage a growth mindset, leading to a sense of failure if one chooses to leave. However, leaving academia doesn't mean failure and can offer actual career progression outside the academic realm.
  2. The transition from academia to industry can involve a shift in mindset, from feeling trapped in a specific role to embracing new opportunities for growth and advancement.
  3. Finding a supportive community, like the Recovering Academics group, can provide invaluable peer support, guidance, and understanding during the process of leaving academia and transitioning to a new career path.

Parkinson's Law of Productivity

Path Nine • 12 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Productivity Work-life balance
  1. Parkinson's Law states that work expands to fill the time allocated for it, leading to inefficiencies.
  2. Our reliance on technology tools can paradoxically create more work for us, contributing to the feeling of constant busyness.
  3. To combat Parkinson's Law, set clear goals, define work-life boundaries, learn to block work and life, manage scope creep, and aim to enter and exit flow states.

How to align your values with your work

The Recovering Academic • 178 implied HN points • 13 Jun 23
💼 Business Career development Work-life balance Writing
  1. Self-exploration is important to align your values with your work. Take time to understand what truly matters to you.
  2. Transitioning from academia to industry can be challenging but rewarding. Soft skills and practical tools are valuable in various job fields.
  3. Embracing change and exploring different industries can lead to personal growth and fulfillment. There isn't just one path to a meaningful career.

The Way of Mediocre Man | #228

Boundless by Paul Millerd • 165 implied HN points • 24 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mindfulness Self-Improvement Work-life balance Personal Growth Productivity
  1. Mediocre effort can lead to surprising success over time by consistently doing things you enjoy.
  2. Avoid wasting effort on things you don't want to do to prevent wasting years of your life.
  3. Embrace a stance toward life that is different from traditional success paths, focusing on emotional sophistication, ambiguity tolerance, and sustained effort.

The Modern Way of Escaping Your Problems: Working, Over-scheduling & Travel

The Hard Fork by Marvin Liao • 216 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Self-care Personal Growth Well-being Work-life balance
  1. Americans may overwork to avoid facing problems and maintain competitiveness.
  2. Busy schedules can be a way to escape dealing with personal issues and responsibilities.
  3. It's important to make time for reflection and think about solutions rather than constantly keeping busy.

Younger Faculty Are Leaning Out. Is That a Bad Thing?

The Recovering Academic • 178 implied HN points • 19 May 23
🚌 Education Higher Ed Work-life balance Mentorship
  1. Young faculty members, like Sarah Trocchio, are facing challenges with work-life balance and feeling undervalued in academia, leading some to consider leaving the field.
  2. Sarah Trocchio's experience highlights the importance of aligning personal values with professional standards in academia to prevent burnout and disengagement.
  3. The future of higher education may depend on early-career faculty like Sarah Trocchio advocating for clearer work/life boundaries and self-care to prevent exploitation and burnout.