The hottest Work-life balance Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Unwinable Situations

Ways of Working • 58 implied HN points • 21 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Relationships Personal Growth Work-life balance Self-care
  1. Don't stay in a job you hate, even if it pays well. It can lead to unhappiness and conflict with your values.
  2. Avoid investing in one-sided relationships. Trying to change someone who doesn't reciprocate will lead to resentment.
  3. Accept technological advancements instead of trying to stop them. Embrace change and find your own path within it.

The Math of Burnout

The Radar • 19 implied HN points • 25 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Work-life balance Corporate culture Self-care
  1. Burnout is normalized in the contemporary work environment causing adverse health consequences and professional crises.
  2. The root cause of burnout is severe, persistent task saturation and excessive workload, leading individuals to fall further behind and eventually break down.
  3. Fixing burnout requires controlling individual worker investment of time and effort by measuring workload and ensuring it fits within available time.
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On why the advice "if you want to leave a meeting, just start getting up" works

Defender’s corner • 19 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Self-care Work-life balance Personal Development Productivity
  1. The advice of getting up to leave a meeting without a specific excuse works by lowering your standard of what is an acceptable reason to leave.
  2. Deadlines function similarly, not creating work out of nowhere but pushing you to start and improve upon what you have.
  3. You can train your subconscious filter by consciously evaluating excuses and adjusting your automatic labeling of ideas, leading to better decision-making and creativity.

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.

How to Say No

Perspectives • 6 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Self-care Personal Growth Productivity Work-life balance
  1. It’s important to say 'no' to things that don’t align with your goals. By doing this, you can focus on what truly matters to you.
  2. Making space for others is key. When you overcommit, you might be stopping others from growing and taking on challenges.
  3. Celebrating your achievements helps combat feelings of not doing enough. Keeping a list of what you're proud of can remind you of your contributions.

An Experimental Update

Mindset Mastery • 39 implied HN points • 17 Apr 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Finance Wellness Work-life balance Self-reflection
  1. The experiment of leaning into the business with spousal support is working well financially.
  2. Reflecting on and adjusting coping mechanisms, mindset about money, and work-life balance is crucial for overall success and well-being.
  3. Delegating tasks, seeking help, and maintaining personal boundaries are essential for sustainable growth in business and personal life.

Turnaround #4: Career and money

Turnaround • 316 implied HN points • 13 Aug 19
💼 Business Career Money Entrepreneurship Motivation Work-life balance
  1. When considering a career, focus on meaningful work and opportunities for growth rather than just money
  2. Money is important, but it's considered a hygiene factor in job satisfaction, not a primary motivator
  3. Finding a job that aligns with your values, allows for personal development, and provides opportunities for recognition and responsibility can lead to greater job satisfaction

"You know John ... he *is* his work."

The Radar • 19 implied HN points • 09 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Work-life balance Self-care
  1. Passion for work is healthy; it involves caring, pride, and effort beyond requirements.
  2. Obsessing over work is unhealthy; it consumes personal time, affects relationships, and can lead to destructive behaviors.
  3. Recognize the difference between passion and obsession, and don't let professional success come at the cost of personal well-being.

Six Career Moves that Young Data Scientists Dismiss too Quickly as Boring

Mike Talks AI • 19 implied HN points • 10 Sep 23
💼 Business Career development Skills Professional Growth Job Satisfaction Work-life balance
  1. Don't underestimate the value of solving real problems even if it means using older technology.
  2. Repeating tasks can help you become an expert in a specific area, leading to career advancement and satisfaction.
  3. Understanding and exploring different roles like sales and management can provide valuable lessons and career growth opportunities.

Your husband/wife is the co-founder of your life

Tech Ramblings • 19 implied HN points • 11 Jun 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Leadership Startups Relationships Work-life balance
  1. Your partner plays a crucial role in your life journey, just like a co-founder in a business. They support you and help you make tough decisions.
  2. Having a good partner can make a big difference during challenging times. They can lift your spirits and give you the space to focus on your goals.
  3. Choosing the right person to be by your side is essential. The right partner can encourage you, while the wrong one can hold you back.

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.

The Cost of Couple Equity

Logos and Liberty • 1 HN point • 09 Jul 24
🚌 Education Gender Studies Career development Family Dynamics Work-life balance Policy Analysis
  1. The earnings gap between men and women often results from 'couple inequity' caused by demanding work environments that are incompatible with caregiving responsibilities.
  2. Couples face difficult tradeoffs between equity and financial security due to the structure of workplaces, like 'greedy work' and 'up or out' promotion policies.
  3. Solutions to reduce the gender earnings gap include increasing flexibility in jobs, lessening the cost of childcare, and changing societal norms around gender roles and caregiving responsibilities.

On sabbatical

The Next Chapter • 21 implied HN points • 18 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Burnout Self-care Work-life balance Career transition Mental health
  1. The author is taking a sabbatical from their corporate product job due to burnout and feeling disconnected from their values.
  2. During the sabbatical, the author aims to find a new balance, explore different career options, and redefine their relationship with achievement.
  3. The decision to take a sabbatical was met with mixed responses, highlighting the privilege of being able to align work with personal values.

Socially Sober

Tech Ramblings • 19 implied HN points • 16 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Productivity Social media Mental health Work-life balance Personal Development
  1. Using separate laptops for work and personal use helps keep things organized. It makes it easier to focus on work tasks without distractions from personal accounts.
  2. Taking a break from social media can improve mental clarity and productivity. It allows more time for activities like exercising, spending time with friends, and reading.
  3. Social media can be a waste of time and negatively impact your brain. It's important to recognize its addictive nature and consider cutting back.

The 2023 Summer Reading List

Path Nine • 25 implied HN points • 19 Jun 23
📚 Literature Book recommendations Work-life balance Ambition Essays
  1. The PATH NINE Summer Reading List includes books on ambition, quarterlife crises, and reshaping your relationship with time.
  2. Summer reading lists have been around since the late 1800s and aim to prevent 'summer setback' in kids.
  3. The selected books aim to help readers find balance between work, ambition, and life, providing a motivating and enriching read.

The home as a place of production

City Quitters • 3 HN points • 27 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Community Building Digital technology Work-life balance
  1. Homes should be places of making things, not just for comfort and convenience. By doing simple tasks ourselves, we can feel more empowered and connected to our lives.
  2. Self-sufficiency is becoming important again as we face climate challenges. By growing our own food and learning new skills, we can find more joy and contentment in life.
  3. We need to rethink how technology fits into our homes. Instead of letting it take over, we can use it to support hands-on activities and community connections.

The Gift of Clarity

Perspectives • 10 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
💼 Business Career development Communication Relationships Work-life balance Personal Growth
  1. Clarity is a gift that helps us identify our destination and find a path forward.
  2. Documenting agreements and conversations is crucial for avoiding misunderstandings and frustrations.
  3. Asking for clarification, aligning on outcomes, and following up on ambiguous points are key steps towards achieving success in personal and work life.

30-plus years of working from home—together

My Home Office Hacks • 22 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Work-life balance Consulting
  1. Michael and Judy Yublosky have successfully worked from home together for over 30 years
  2. Setting up signals and communicating effectively are key to maintaining a work-life balance while working from home as a couple
  3. Recognizing each other's strengths and weaknesses and finding a formula that separates duties contributes to successful collaboration in a work-from-home setup

Sabbaticalish

Just Enough to Get Me in Trouble • 25 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-care Work-life balance Personal Growth Mental health Family
  1. Many individuals are taking sabbaticals for various reasons such as burnout, career changes, or personal growth.
  2. Modern sabbaticals often involve unpaid leave and freelance work, allowing individuals to work remotely from anywhere.
  3. Transitioning to a sabbatical or taking time off work can lead to unexpected emotional challenges and a reevaluation of personal identity and work-life balance.

Who is your biggest problem, not what

DruGroup • 19 implied HN points • 07 Dec 21
💼 Business Workplace dynamics Employee Satisfaction Leadership Human Resources Work-life balance Hiring Trends
  1. It's more important to know who you are working with than just what job you do. Strong relationships in the workplace can really boost your success.
  2. Many workers are unhappy and considering quitting their jobs. This trend shows that people are looking for more satisfaction and balance in their work lives.
  3. Companies need to focus on supporting their employees' mental health. Caring for workers' well-being is becoming a major expectation in the workplace today.

Humans and the perils of Covid-Zero

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 23 Nov 20
🏥 Health & Wellness Pandemic response Contact Tracing Work-life balance
  1. Achieving Covid-Zero, where there are no cases of Covid-19 in a region, is incredibly challenging due to human errors and misinformation.
  2. The story of South Australia's lockdown showcases how misunderstandings can lead to drastic measures, like a statewide lockdown.
  3. It's important to understand the human element in situations like these, emphasizing the need for education and empathy to encourage truth-telling and prevent similar errors.

GRANTED: You’re stressed because you care—and you might be working too much

Granted • 19 implied HN points • 05 Jul 20
🏥 Health & Wellness Stress management Work-life balance Resilience Future of work
  1. Reframing stress as a challenge rather than a hindrance can improve job performance and health.
  2. Working less can help avoid burnout by promoting quality over quantity and recognizing the importance of rest for meaningful goals.
  3. Requiring college degrees in job postings can disadvantage those who acquire skills through alternative routes, particularly people of color.

A tous les candidats qui souhaitent rejoindre une startup

Venture Prose • 19 implied HN points • 11 Nov 19
💼 Business Startups Career development Work-life balance Personal Growth Entrepreneurship
  1. When joining a startup, focus on finding a mission that resonates with you and helps you grow, not just on financial gains or publicity.
  2. It's crucial to align your skills and motivations with the opportunities in the startup world to avoid confusion and steer your career in the right direction.
  3. Success in a startup requires a deep understanding of the effort and commitment needed, and it's important to prioritize personal growth and giving your best every day.