Boundaries, Priorities, and Finding Work-Life Balance

by Harvard Business Review

Opt out of the hamster wheel. Whether we're just starting out or are well into our professional journeys, we often equate our productivity with the number of hours we spend working. But do we really need to work endless hours, through weekends, and during vacations to be seen as stars? To find a healthy balance between our personal and professional lives, we need to make space for ourselves, define what we value most, and set goals that take those values into account. Boundaries, Priorities, and Finding Work-Life Balance is filled with practical advice from HBR experts that can help you answer questions You'll spend a significant part of your life working. This book will help you define what you need to feel balanced and fulfilled, on or off the clock. Rise faster with quick reads, essential advice, and relatable stories. It's not easy to figure out work when you're still exploring who you are and what you want in life. How do you translate your interests, skills, and education into a career you love while also navigating a new work environment? The Work Smart series explores topics that matter to being yourself at work, collaborating with (sometimes difficult) colleagues, maintaining your mental health, and more. Each title includes chapter takeaways and dozens of resources so that you can go beyond the book to engage in the media you learn from best. Work Smart series books are your go-to guides to step into and move forward successfully in your professional world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Audiobook

208 pages, Paperback

Published May 14, 2024

Reviews

[Kendall Fontenot · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5- This was a fine read, it’s sort of a collection of short essays that read like web articles or LinkedIn posts. I got some insightful nuggets out of it, and found it to be well referenced, which is a bonus, but it was still just kinda medium overall.

[Elizabeth Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

- read for individual personal development at work -

This is definitely a helpful read and one I’d recommend if you enjoy research-based and specific advice rather than the usual “speak up for yourself” or “be your own advocate.”

Biggest Takeaways:

1) find, pursue, and protect at all costs your high-level priorities

2) but it can be caused by lack of impact and/or disconnect with the work you’re doing

3) avoid non-promotable tasks and learn how to say no to them

4) manage your emotions in the moment rather than hiding behind a screen and scrolling

5) you DO NOT have to be good at everything

6) I am an anxious achiever

7) your happy place allows you to a) let go of daily pressures; b) reconnect with your own soul; and c) feel a sense of peace

[Kaja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Resting is not a reward for success; it’s a prerequisite for performance.

This was a straightforward guide to better work-life balance, with useful tips on how to figure out and prioritize what really matters. The advice is pretty simple, but I liked how to-the-point it was.

One standout idea is the concept of a "to-don't" list. If a task fills you with "intense resentment", that’s probably a sign it’s something you should delegate or say no to.

To figure out what you need, start by simply noticing when you feel invigorated, and when you feel drained.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my usual reading (I read very little non fiction, read this for professional development at work).

I found this book to be a great format for the topic. Chapters are relatively succinct, authored by different writers, and many appear to be reformatted from previously published blogs. The range of topics kept me engaged

[heyitsbookishme · Rating 4 out of 5]

A motivational and self-help book from Harvard Business Review is always welcome. Boundaries, Priorities, and Finding Work-Life Balance is an easy yet insightful read packed with valuable advice. This book compiles perspectives from various contributors working in corporate settings and entrepreneurship. Regardless of our chosen career path – or whether we are seasoned professionals or just starting out – practicing the right balance and setting firm boundaries between work and personal priorities is essential.

I appreciate how this book challenges the normalisation of working long hours, emphasising productivity through healthy habits rather than sheer effort. When we overwork, burnout can creep up unexpectedly, often stemming from a lost sense of purpose and other underlying factors.

A recent conversation with my colleague, Emir, reinforced this idea. We discussed how task management should be planned around the limited hours we have in our calendar, ensuring work expectations are managed efficiently. This can also be done by clustering similar responsibilities, and strategising for the long-term. Ultimately, the small choices we make daily to improve our work habits become a form of self-care. Pace yourself and know your limits – take a break when needed!

One of the book’s most thought-provoking topics is the discussion on unpromotable or unrewarded tasks. Often, employees – especially women – are tasked with responsibilities like organising office parties or team-building activities, which may divert focus from core responsibilities. While these activities contribute to a positive work culture and can foster networking opportunities, it is important that they are fairly distributed among team members and aligned with shared goals.

As we step into a new month, I highly recommend this short read on setting boundaries and prioritising what truly matters. Together, we can continue striving to become the best versions of ourselves, both professionally and personally, while navigating our careers with balance and purpose.

I would like to thank Times Reads for this review copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Just Blue Through Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and to Harvard Business Review for the ARC of Boundaries, Priorities, and Finding Work-Life Balance (HBR Work Smart Series) by Russell Glass, Morra Aarons-Mele, Alyss F. Westring and Amantha Imber.

While it is briefly mentioned this series is meant for those beginning their career, I found it helpful as someone who has been working professionally for 15 years. I recently had to fill in for an empty role in my workplace in addition to my own work for very minimal extra pay (7 hours per week for a 40 hour per week job). The burnout, exhaustion, frustration, and all the other feelings were very real. Reading about boundaries and priorities now in these bite sized pieces is helping me to recognize where I could look to make more impact, where I could start drawing lines about when I am and am not available, It has also helped me to open up to my boss earlier today about some perceived personnel issues so they could be addressed before I could obsess over them or convince myself I should just take them on. It has also helped me to further recognize kindness and understanding I can offer to those I supervise and recognize their need for feedback and encouragement, even when things are really hectic and busy. It was also helpful to read about KSafe and other ways to disconnect and focus.

Overall, these summary-esque chapters were really intentional and focused on providing recommendations and improvements in meaningful pieces. I recommend this to anyone starting off in their career and looking to care for themselves, but also for those later in their career who are still trying to balance everything and struggling.

[Tekken · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of articles centred around finding your work-life balance, and would definitely be useful to anyone starting out in their career like me, and finding themselves in an environment tempting them to sacrifice mental peace for work results. Particularly useful to the Indian employee, whose usual attitude to work-related burnout would be to “shake it off, and get back to work”.

The articles are written by industry leaders and experts in regard to mental health and wellbeing, and the articles themselves are direct, and easy to follow. For the new employee, there is a cornucopia of wisdom to imbibe, like learning to find your boundaries and priorities, keeping your identity distinct from work, learning to navigate workplace politics and workloads without burning yourself out, strategically managing your energy levels, and more. A lot of the topics discussed would be relatively new and quite useful the Indian employee, and I would recommend this book to people as a preventive measure to burning out at work. The articles don’t go into too much detail and just cover the essence of the topic and provide some basic advice that one could easily begin to implement. And while the topics are diverse, not everything would apply to you. Hence, I would rate this book 4 stars.

[RxReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book delivers a powerful punch in a concise package, offering practical wisdom that's applicable whether you're fresh on the job market or seasoned in your career. As someone with over a decade in the professional arena, I initially approached it with skepticism, but it surprised me with its relevance and depth.

The authors address the universal struggle of maintaining work-life balance with refreshing clarity, emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries and aligning priorities with personal values. What struck me most was its timeliness, as I found myself grappling with overwork and burnout. The bite-sized chapters, packed with actionable advice, not only helped me navigate my own challenges but also provided insights for fostering a healthier workplace culture. Whether you're just starting out or deep into your career journey, this book serves as a beacon of guidance for reclaiming control and finding fulfillment amidst the chaos of professional life. Highly recommended for anyone seeking to strike that elusive balance.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dimitri · Rating 4 out of 5]

📕 Why (Not) to read this book (Target Audience)

Basic book with some insights.

👀 How this book changed my daily live (Takeaways)

Prioritize Self - Selfcare
• Doing nothing
• Soft / Hard boundaries

Breaks
• Micro breaks
• Outdoor
• Physical activity

Burnout Source
• Lack of impact !!!
• Phantom workload (conflict, drama, useless meetings)

• Yes to something is no to something else
• Check how many tasks fit in your job description

⁉ Spoiler Alerts (Highlights)

Is a cycle of 5 steps
• Pause and denormalize to rethink your priorities at any time.
• Pay attention to your emotions to determine the changes you want to make in your work and in your life.
• Reprioritize how you spend your time in a way that aligns with your true priorities.
• Consider the alternatives before jumping into solutions.
Implement changes publicly and privately. This might include imposing boundaries, turning down demands, securing support from mentors, or applying for a new internal position.

[Margot Note]

"Ask yourself:
--Who am I willing (or not willing) to give time to?
--What do I want (or not want) to do or achieve?
--When do I need to protect time, and when do I want to make myself available?
--Why would I give one person or activity my attention over another?
--What tasks or activities will (or will not) help me reach the outcomes I want?" (15).

"Though nonpromotable tasks (NPTs) are often critical to an organization's success, they rarely contribute to an employee's career progression. Next time you're asked to do an NPT, give yourself some time to carefully evaluate the consequences of taking on the work.
--Consider the "implicit no" of saying yes.
--Weigh the urgency of the task.
--Evaluate the indirect benefits of the NPT" (124).

[Veronika · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently read Boundaries, Priorities, and Finding Work-life Balance by Harvard Business Review, and I have to say—it’s packed with useful advice. The book covers a lot of important topics like stress, burnout, and self-care, which I really appreciated. It’s not just theory; it actually gives steps and practical ways to improve different areas of life.

What I liked the most was how easy it was to read. The ideas are clear, and I found some interesting points that I hadn’t thought about before. It’s one of those books that makes you reflect on your daily habits and how you manage your time. If you’re looking for a straightforward, insightful read on balancing work and life, this one is definitely worth picking up!

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the content being put together by a mix of contributing writers, I felt that the quality of the book was also mixed. There were sections that were thought provoking and actionable. The sections that I liked are the concrete examples of prioritizing oneself, how to say no to extra work, and how to avoid non promotable tasks (NPTs) and dead end work. However, there were parts of this book that felt like it was put together haphazardly to include those topics, particularly the sections on exercise and taking vacations.

Nonetheless, I like it enough to recommend it for anyone who needs perspective on how they can set clearer boundaries, andd how to make work or their career feel more fulfilling and less painful.

[Danielle ♥ romcommoisseur · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great read with an overarching theme of balance in the workplace and home life. I particularly liked that it is a compilation of pieces by different contributors - usually with a one-authour nonfiction read, a book is completely hit or miss. With this, having a different point of view and new advice at every turn was like a breath of fresh air, and it made for an easy read (which isn’t always possible with nonfiction!). I also liked the “quick recap” lists - a blurb to summarize the main points of each section.

[Nicole Rothenay · Rating 4 out of 5]

While there’s nothing earth-shattering here, there are some nice gems and tools to use. I like the advice about naming the voice pushing you to work harder, instead of just listening and assuming it’s yourself.

[Rawan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend this book to everyone who’s starting a job, or struggling with work. Gives really good perspective and let you know you are not alone. What you experience is common, and sometimes explain why are certain things they way they are at work environments

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of articles on various ways to balance between your career and non-work life. The concepts presented are not new, but the articles are good reminders of how we can be more mindful about not neglecting ourselves in the course of advancing our careers.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This addition to the series is about how to determine your priorities and how to set boundaries. It details how to determine how to find work-life balance.