The hottest Work-life balance Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Literature Topics

My Career Journey, Part 2

The Next Chapter • 4 implied HN points • 04 Mar 23
💼 Business Career journey Product Management Startups Leadership skills Work-life balance
  1. The author reflects on their journey in product roles, navigating challenges and finding their niche as a consumer product builder.
  2. Transitioning to a startup role during a global pandemic was transformative but also induced anxiety and self-doubt.
  3. The author grapples with the desire to become a startup founder, questioning sacrifices and uncertainties about their future career path.

The Many and Wondrous Forms of a Builder’s Ambition

Building the Builders • 1 implied HN point • 15 Feb 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Leadership Personal Development Company growth Work-life balance
  1. Building a life is like building a company - know yourself, prioritize well, and expect pivots.
  2. Ambition should be channeled selectively to reflect the evolving needs of your fully lived life.
  3. Reflecting on personal growth and experiences helps in prioritizing health, family, and work for a fulfilled life.
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Can you have both financial stability and a fulfilling career?

Austin's Analects • 0 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Career Work-life balance Personal Growth
  1. Pursue work you enjoy for intrinsic validation, as it's more sustainable than chasing external rewards like salary or job titles.
  2. Prioritize time over money - it's the most valuable resource, more critical than endless wealth, as even money can't buy more time.
  3. Define your 'good enough' instead of chasing an elusive 'dream job' - true career happiness comes from aligning work with what truly matters to you.

Is it worth it for women to go to medical school?

Penelope Trunk's Substack • 0 implied HN points • 09 Aug 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Medicine Work-life balance Gender Dynamics Career Choices
  1. Financially, going to medical school may not be worth it for women due to factors like part-time work and difficulty balancing job demands and family responsibilities.
  2. Part-time schedules in medicine can undermine support for the second spouse and disrupt the family's division of labor, impacting overall family dynamics.
  3. Leaving work entirely might be a better choice for women balancing professional work and family responsibilities, as part-time work can lead to identity loss and weak ties in both areas.

Enter 2024

Eddie's startup voyage • 0 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Fitness Mental health AI Marketing Work-life balance
  1. Focus on rebuilding yourself after setbacks with a concrete plan for improvement in health, including fitness and reducing alcohol consumption.
  2. Experiencing a defeat can lead to new opportunities, such as exploring AI in depth and breadth, and sharing learnings publicly.
  3. Launching multiple digital products infused with AI, improving marketing and storytelling skills, and making time for cherished moments amidst a busy life are key goals for 2024.

RDEL #32: Do return-to-office (RTO) mandates lead to better performance?

Research-Driven Engineering Leadership • 0 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
💼 Business Research Company performance Employee Satisfaction Work-life balance Productivity
  1. Reducing flexibility by mandating a return to the office decreases employee satisfaction, work-life balance, and culture.
  2. Just being in the office every day does not necessarily lead to improved firm performance.
  3. Enforcing return-to-office mandates should consider factors beyond just performance, as decisions involve balancing WFH flexibility with in-office collaboration and culture.

10 Signs, YOU ARE BURNT OUT

Better Engineers • 0 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Self-care Work-life balance Stress management Emotional Well-being
  1. Feeling tired all the time is a sign of burnout, even if you sleep well. It can make you feel weak and worn out every day.
  2. When you're burnt out, you might get sick more often because stress can hurt your immune system. It makes it harder for your body to fight off illnesses.
  3. Burnout can make you feel disconnected from your own feelings and life. You may go through daily activities without really engaging or enjoying them.

8 Essential Time Management Skills

Better Engineers • 0 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🚌 Education Time management Productivity Work-life balance Self-Improvement Skills Development
  1. Knowing how to manage your time helps you meet deadlines and reduce stress. You can also balance your work and personal life better.
  2. Using techniques like the Pomodoro method or the 2-Minute Rule can boost productivity. These methods help you stay focused and finish small tasks quickly.
  3. Organizing tasks with methods like the Eisenhower Matrix or Task Batching lets you prioritize what's important. This helps in managing your workload more effectively.

Good partner, Good Life, Good Work

Tech Ramblings • 0 implied HN points • 31 Aug 24
🕹 Technology Career growth Work-life balance Mental health Personal Development Relationships
  1. Don't just work hard; balance your job with your personal life. If you focus only on work, you’ll miss out on friendships and fun experiences.
  2. Having a good social life can actually help your career. The support and happiness from relationships can give you the energy to tackle challenges at work.
  3. It's important to invest in relationships early on. Connecting with others can make your life richer and prevent regrets later on.

Time for New (School) Year’s Writing Resolutions

The Fairest Writer • 0 implied HN points • 16 Sep 21
📚 Literature Writing Tips Reading Creative Process Inspiration Work-life balance
  1. Rethink your routine to better suit your needs. Changing how you organize your workweek can help you feel more refreshed and ready to write.
  2. Reading is key for writing. It inspires you and helps solve writing problems, so don’t skip it, even when busy with drafts.
  3. Engage in other activities you love to relax. Hobbies like painting or gardening can calm you and spark writing inspiration.

My Highlights - Slow Productivity by Cal Newport

The Wisdom Project • 0 implied HN points • 17 Nov 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Productivity Burnout Work-life balance Mental health Self-Improvement
  1. Doing fewer things helps you focus on quality over quantity. It's better to fully embrace fewer projects that truly matter to you.
  2. Working at a natural pace is important for sustainability. Rushing can lead to burnout, so take your time and plan things over a longer timeline.
  3. It's okay to have slower seasons in your work year. Taking breaks or working less doesn't mean you're lazy; it can actually improve your overall productivity.

Why a Sabbatical Feels Anxious — Even When It’s the Right Move

Kartick’s Blog • 0 implied HN points • 10 Jun 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Personal Growth Work-life balance Stress management Career development
  1. Change can be tough, even when it's good for you. Taking a break from work might feel scary, but it can also be really beneficial.
  2. Sabbaticals can feel wrong because of our upbringing and societal norms. People often think they should always be working, so taking time off can make them feel guilty.
  3. A sabbatical is an investment in yourself, similar to putting money into a mutual fund. It might seem like a cost now, but it can lead to greater returns later.

Why startup founders should run regularly

AIFeed (A GPT-3 augmented content generator) • 0 implied HN points • 18 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Physical health Stress Relief Productivity Networking Work-life balance
  1. Running improves physical health by strengthening the heart, improving circulation, and increasing endurance.
  2. Running helps relieve stress, reduce anxiety, and promote relaxation by releasing endorphins.
  3. Regular running can lead to increased productivity, improved mental focus, and enhanced problem-solving skills.

The Power of Clear Goals

Mica’s Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 04 Mar 25
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Goal setting Personal Development Work-life balance Productivity
  1. Setting clear goals helps you stay focused and track your progress. It makes it easier to know what you want to achieve and see how far you've come.
  2. Breaking down vague goals into specific, measurable targets can boost your motivation and accountability. Instead of saying 'I should exercise more,' aim for something like 'I'll run 50 miles a month.'
  3. Enjoy the journey to your goals! It's important to celebrate small wins along the way and remember that achieving success takes time and patience.

Full-time after 10 Years of Freelancing

Consumer Solo • 0 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
💼 Business Freelancing Entrepreneurship Startup Work-life balance Career transition
  1. Transitioning from freelancing to a full-time role after 10 years requires a shift in focus and a craving for stability.
  2. In freelancing, larger ongoing gigs provide opportunities to collaborate, learn, and build trust with clients and internal teams.
  3. Balancing a single focus in a full-time role with side projects like a journaling app can require adjustments in time management and project prioritization.

Remotely work?

Reflective Software Engineering • 0 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Remote work Work Environment Communication Work-life balance Flexibility
  1. Remote work has both pros and cons, with some enjoying the flexibility and fewer distractions while others miss the social interactions and spontaneous office conversations.
  2. There are various challenges to address with remote work, like maintaining work-life balance, finding ways to commute without an office, preserving work memories and bonding, and brainstorming effectively through communication barriers.
  3. Remote-first companies offer the value of freedom, allowing individuals to work in the environment where they are most productive and comfortable, highlighting the importance of choice when it comes to how and where work is done.

Ugly Truths About Working From Home

ChughGPT, my personal LLM • 0 implied HN points • 05 Jan 20
🏥 Health & Wellness Work-life balance Loneliness Depression Remote work
  1. Working from home can disrupt work-life balance and lead to procrastination due to lack of fixed office hours.
  2. Loneliness and depression are common challenges when working remotely, as social interactions are reduced and isolation sets in.
  3. Maintaining social connections, whether through coworking spaces or occasional office visits, can help combat the negative effects of working from home.

Become a Senior Engineer #1: A Senior's Christmas Holiday

Become a Senior Engineer • 0 implied HN points • 22 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Remote work Professional development Work-life balance
  1. Software engineers usually enjoy a peaceful holiday time at work, including the week between Christmas and New Year when many companies reduce or cease operations.
  2. If you have to work during the holidays, use the slower time to tackle wishlist items, learn new things, and enjoy fewer meetings and interruptions.
  3. Before taking time off, finish pending tasks, communicate progress to coworkers, delegate necessary processes, and ensure your work is safe and documented for a smooth return.

Le dimanche ordinaire d’un entrepreneur, en France

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 25 Mar 14
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Work-life balance Financial Management
  1. Entrepreneurs often have to work on weekends, sacrificing leisure time for their work.
  2. Entrepreneurs may face unexpected challenges and tasks that require additional expertise and financial resources.
  3. Building a business can involve complex processes like financial planning, seeking innovation assistance, and managing various aspects of the business.