Achieving work-life balance is more than a buzzword—it’s a cornerstone of a healthy, productive team. To find out how successful leaders foster this balance, we asked 19 CEOs and founders to share their most effective strategies.
PRIORITIZE EARLY ACTION
Building a business from the ground up requires substantial effort, and I’m yet to meet a successful team with a perfectly balanced routine. One approach that has worked for us is actively identifying and removing stressors as they arise. We’ve embraced a “JOMO” mindset—the joy of missing out—by focusing on what truly matters and letting go of unnecessary pressures.
One of the biggest stressors for our team was last-minute deadlines, so we restructured our workflow to prioritize early action on key tasks. By focusing on priorities well in advance, we’ve eliminated the frantic, last-minute rush, creating a more manageable workload that supports a healthier work-life balance for everyone.
Anna Stella, Marketing Expert and Founder, BBSA
OFFER PAID LEARNING BREAKS
I started a program called “Toggl-Away,” offering employees the opportunity to take a paid week off to learn something completely unrelated to their job. Whether it’s cooking, painting, or learning a new language, the idea is to explore personal passions without using vacation days. This not only enriches their lives, but often brings fresh perspectives and creativity back into the workplace. The enthusiasm and stories shared afterward have strengthened our team bonds in unexpected ways.
Alari Aho, CEO and Founder, Toggl Inc.
FOCUS ON MILESTONES
One action I’ve taken to promote a healthy work-life balance within my team is focusing on meaningful milestones instead of constant daily check-ins. It’s easy for the daily grind to take over, but the team feels less pressured by celebrating progress and encouraging a results-driven approach. While I’ve tried meditation and breathing exercises, I’ve learned that it’s important not to project what works for me onto everyone. Everyone has their way of recharging, so flexibility is key to creating a balanced and inclusive work environment.
Mike Zima, Chief Marketing Officer, Zima Media
IMPLEMENT NO-MEETING FRIDAYS
As a manager, one specific action I’ve taken to promote a healthy work-life balance within my team is implementing “no-meeting Fridays.” This initiative was introduced to give team members uninterrupted time to focus on deep work, catch up on projects, or wrap up the week’s tasks without the pressure of back-to-back meetings. It also allows them to finish their day early if they’ve completed their work, giving them more personal time before the weekend. This shift not only boosted productivity but also improved overall morale, with employees feeling more in control of their schedules and less overwhelmed by constant meetings.
Shehar Yar, CEO, Software House
CONDUCT REGULAR WELLNESS CHECK-INS
I conduct regular wellness check-ins. These check-ins aren’t just about work performance; they focus on overall well-being. During these conversations, I encourage team members to discuss their mental health, stress levels, and personal commitments.
We also organize monthly wellness workshops that cover topics like mindfulness, time management, and stress-reduction techniques. These sessions empower employees with tools to manage their time and energy more effectively.
Another critical aspect is ensuring that our policies support taking breaks and using vacation time. I make it a point to lead by example, openly discussing my time-off plans and the importance of unplugging. This helps normalize taking breaks and reduces the stigma around taking personal time.
The impact has been noticeable. Employees report feeling more balanced and focused, and team collaboration has improved. By prioritizing wellness and open communication, we enhance individual well-being and create a more cohesive and productive team environment. This approach ultimately strengthens our organization as a whole.
Bradford Glaser, President and CEO, HRDQ
CREATE A PET-FRIENDLY WORKPLACE
We created a pet-friendly workplace. We conducted an internal survey to establish what made our employees happy outside work. Eighty-three percent said spending time with their pets made them feel so happy. To help them feel the same way while at work, we transformed our office to make it pet friendly. We have a special pet room that caters to the needs of our employees’ furry friends. Our office is now a haven for about 14 registered dogs.
We provide our employees with free poop bags and dog treats to create an inclusive, welcoming environment for our team members and their pets. We have noticed that the pets serve as a social lubricant and conduit for team collaboration. The pets have increased employee interactions and work engagement and serve as the primary catalyst for fruitful conversations in the office. Most importantly, their presence in the office improves our team’s work-life balance.
Dan Ben-Nun, Founder and CEO, Adspace
SET CLEAR WORKLOAD BOUNDARIES
I make it a priority to set clear workload boundaries for the team. Realistic project timelines are crucial. It’s important that no one feels overwhelmed. If I notice someone’s plate is too full, I step in and redistribute tasks to keep the load balanced. This helps create a healthier, more sustainable work environment.
Team communication is key. I hold regular check-ins to gauge how everyone is managing their tasks. Open lines of communication mean team members can voice concerns before stress builds up. This proactive approach allows us to make adjustments in real time, promoting overall well-being and maintaining productivity.
Using the Eisenhower matrix has been a game-changer. It helps prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance, which ensures we’re focusing on what truly matters. It’s an efficient way to manage workloads and ensures no one is buried under nonessential tasks. This method not only improves work efficiency but also supports a better work-life balance for the team.
Jessica Bane, Director of Business Operations, GoPromotional
PROVIDE VIRTUAL TUTORING
Recognizing the challenges of juggling professional and personal life, especially for parents on the team, I spearheaded the initiative to set up a virtual-tutoring program for the children of our employees. We collaborated with educators to provide after-school sessions that cover a variety of subjects, available through our digital platforms used at work. This not only alleviates some of the pressures parents face with educational responsibilities, but also fosters a supportive community within our workforce, showing that we value their roles both in and out of the office. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, proving that supporting our team’s family life directly enhances their focus and dedication at work.
Mark McDermott, CEO and Co-Founder, ScreenCloud
BALANCE PROJECT ASSIGNMENTS
To promote a healthy work-life balance within my team, I focused on effectively balancing workloads. Recognizing that estate law can be particularly demanding, I implemented a system for monitoring project assignments and deadlines. This involved creating a shared calendar where everyone could see not just their own tasks but also those of their colleagues.
Having this visibility allowed team members to assess their capacity and offer support where needed. If someone was overloaded, we could redistribute tasks without compromising deadlines. I encouraged open communication so that if someone felt overwhelmed, they could approach me or their colleagues to discuss adjustments.
Oliver Morrisey, Owner and Director, Empower Wills & Estate Lawyers
ENFORCE CLEAR WORKING HOURS
One specific action I’ve taken to promote a healthy work-life balance is implementing and strictly enforcing clear working hours and response-time expectations with our clients.
When I started my company, I often found myself working late into the night and on weekends to meet client demands and be available to speak 24/7. This led to burnout and wasn’t sustainable. So, we made a deliberate shift in how we operate.
Now, we clearly communicate our working hours (typically 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST) to all clients during the onboarding process. We’ve added this information to our service agreements, specifying that we’ll only respond to genuine emergencies outside these hours as defined in the contract.
We’ve also set up an automated email and SMS response system using HubSpot and SalesMSG that politely informs clients reaching out after hours that their message has been received and will be addressed during the next business day. For urgent matters, we provide an emergency contact method, but we’re very clear about what constitutes an emergency.
To make this work, I’ve had to lead by example. I no longer respond to nonurgent client messages outside of business hours, and I’ve encouraged my team to do the same. It was challenging at first, especially with some of our more demanding clients, but we stood firm.
The results have been overwhelmingly positive. Our team is more refreshed and productive during working hours. We’ve seen a decrease in stress levels and an increase in job satisfaction. Surprisingly, most clients have respected these boundaries once they were clearly established. Those who initially pushed back have come to appreciate our more focused, high-quality work during business hours.
Daniel Lynch, Digital Agency Owner, Empathy First Media | Digital Marketing & PR
INTRODUCE WELLNESS BREAKS
We’ve implemented a “no-overwork” culture, where employees are expected to complete their tasks efficiently during regular work hours without the pressure to take work home or stay late unnecessarily. This allows employees to fully switch off once their workday ends.
We’ve introduced wellness breaks throughout the day, reminding the team to step away from their desks for a walk, a stretch, or simply to clear their heads. These short breaks help reduce stress and allow employees to recharge during the day.
This approach has created a more focused and productive atmosphere, where employees know they can give their best during working hours and still maintain their time after. It’s not just about getting the job done, but ensuring it’s done with a healthy balance, which has positively impacted employee morale and overall performance. By fostering a workplace culture that values well-being, we’ve seen the benefits in both team satisfaction and the quality of work produced.
Bill Hall, Co-Founder and CEO, OurRecords Inc.
LIMIT AFTER-HOURS COMMUNICATION
One specific action I took to promote a healthy work-life balance within my team was implementing a “no after-hours communication” policy. I made it clear that no work-related texts, calls, or emails would be expected after hours, encouraging team members to set boundaries and prioritize their personal lives.
I also promote the idea of “work smarter, not harder.” Team members can choose their work hours as long as they deliver results on time and maintain quality. If they finish early, they’re welcome to take time off, which boosts morale and encourages productivity.
To reinforce these policies, I lead by example by avoiding after-hours communication myself and organizing regular check-ins to discuss workloads. This approach significantly improved team morale and productivity, emphasizing the importance of well-being in achieving our professional goals.
Janice Si, Marketing and PR Specialist
OFFER FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULES
I’ve prioritized promoting a healthy work-life balance by implementing flexible work schedules and encouraging remote work options when possible. This allows team members to tailor their working hours around personal commitments, such as family responsibilities or personal-development activities, without sacrificing productivity.
I also ensure that deadlines and workloads are reasonable and manageable, providing support or adjustments when necessary to avoid burnout. By fostering a culture that values results over rigid schedules, I aim to create an environment where employees feel trusted and empowered to manage their time effectively.
Beyond scheduling flexibility, I actively promote the importance of taking regular breaks and using vacation time. I lead by example, communicating openly about the need to disconnect and recharge to maintain high performance and well-being. I also organize team-building activities and wellness initiatives, such as workshops on stress management and mindfulness. These efforts help reinforce that maintaining a healthy work-life balance is not just encouraged but essential to both individual and team success.
Ben Wieder, CEO, Level 6 Incentives
INTRODUCE FLEXIBLE CORE HOURS
To promote a healthy work-life balance within our team, we recently introduced a flexible-hours policy with a core collaboration window.
Recognizing that our team members have diverse personal responsibilities and peak productivity times, we now allow them to choose their eight-hour workday within a broader timeframe. However, we maintain a core four-hour window in the middle of the day for team meetings and collaborative work.
For instance, some team members start at 7 a.m. and finish at 3 p.m., while others prefer to work 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The only requirement is that everyone is available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for our core collaboration hours.
This approach has yielded several benefits. We’ve seen improved job satisfaction, as team members can better balance personal commitments. Productivity has increased with people working during their most effective hours. There’s reduced stress and commute times by avoiding rush-hour traffic. We’ve also achieved better coverage for our clients across different time zones.
We’ve found that this flexibility fosters trust, boosts morale, and ultimately leads to higher-quality work. It’s a win-win situation that respects individual needs while ensuring team cohesion and client satisfaction.
Jason Gilbert, Founder, GradLabs
ELIMINATE WEEKEND WORK
One thing I did to promote work-life balance was putting an end to weekend work during a particularly grueling project. The team was all in, but I could see the toll it was taking—long hours, people glued to their screens late into the night. It was obvious they were burning out, and I knew something had to change.
I called a meeting and said, “No more working on weekends. Take the time to recharge, spend it however you want, but don’t log in.” To make sure they didn’t feel guilty, I stopped sending messages or emails myself, which was tough for me, too. I didn’t want them feeling like they had to check in just because I was.
I remember there was some hesitation at first. People were worried about deadlines, but after a couple of weekends, I saw a real shift. People came back on Mondays more refreshed, with better ideas.
To cut a long story short, it showed me that pushing through nonstop isn’t always the answer. People will return much stronger and more concentrated after taking a break.
We still hit the deadline, and honestly, the quality of work was better because of it. Now, regardless of how full the schedule appears to be, I always make sure to factor in those breaks.
Bartosz Wrobel, CEO, Gorrion
OFFER UNLIMITED PAID TIME OFF
I make employee well-being and work-life balance top priorities. For example, we offer unlimited PTO and encourage team members to disconnect from work once they’ve left the office. I lead by example, limiting email response and Slack usage in the evenings and on weekends.
A few years ago, one of our developers had a medical emergency in his family and needed to take several weeks off unexpectedly. I told him to put his family first and take all the time he needed. We were able to adjust workloads and timelines to accommodate his absence without issue. When he returned, he was extremely grateful for our support. I’ve found that flexibility, trust, and empathy create a team willing to go the extra mile when needed to serve our clients and community.
We also make a point to get out of the office together for team bonding outside of work. Recently we did an escape room activity, followed by dinner. Stepping away from work and getting to know each other leads to a more collaborative, productive team dynamic. While work-life balance can be challenging in a tech consultancy, prioritizing well-being and flexibility has allowed us to better serve our clients and foster a great company culture.
Scott Covert, Founder, Tython
INTRODUCE WELLNESS DAYS
I introduced wellness days—designated days off for self-care and mental health. These days allow team members to step back, recharge, and focus on their well-being without the stress of work obligations.
I also encourage a culture where taking breaks is accepted and celebrated. During our weekly team meetings, I incorporate short mindfulness sessions or guided stretches, which remind us to prioritize our mental and physical health. This practice helps reduce stress and fosters community and connection among team members.
I also ensure that we have resources available, such as access to yoga classes or wellness workshops, that everyone can use. Investing in our team’s health and promoting these practices creates an environment where everyone feels supported in maintaining balance. This commitment to well-being has boosted morale and enhanced productivity and creativity within the team.
Timothy Burgin, Founder and Executive Director, Yoga Basics
IMPLEMENT FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING
I implemented a flexible scheduling system to promote work-life balance within my team. Recognizing the demanding nature of our profession, I introduced a rotating shift schedule that allows pharmacists and technicians to have alternating weekends off and ensures fair distribution of evening shifts.
To support this system, I invested in scheduling software that enables team members to easily swap shifts or request time off, promoting better control over their personal time. Additionally, I established a policy limiting overtime hours to prevent burnout and encourage adequate rest between shifts.
Recognizing the importance of continuous education in our field, I allocated dedicated time during work hours for staff to complete required training and pursue professional development opportunities. This approach reduces the need for employees to use personal time for work-related learning.
To foster a health-conscious environment, I introduced short, optional wellness breaks during shifts, allowing staff to take brief walks or practice quick stress-relief exercises. I also ensure that our break room is equipped with healthy snacks and a comfortable space for relaxation.
Lastly, I make it a point to lead by example, maintaining reasonable work hours myself and openly discussing the importance of work-life balance during team meetings. These actions have contributed to improved morale, reduced turnover, and enhanced overall team performance.
Daniel Higham, Director, Hightown Pharmacy
ENCOURAGE REGULAR EXERCISE
Actually, I’ve been encouraging my team to exercise. You know, health care is very important when you want to ensure that your employees have a good work-life balance. With crazy hours, not to mention the commuting time they take into their day, it’s so easy for them to sacrifice their health.
So, I’ve been suggesting to them to take a break and have a walk around every 75-90 minutes. It is definitely a very effective means of increasing focus, reducing stress, and keeping everyone focused. Plus, I personally make it a habit of following up with my team (particularly the remote ones) to ensure that they are actually taking these breaks off their desks.
And just for fun, I’ve begun sponsoring walking challenges, giving the group access to health apps for free, and negotiating group discounts at gyms. This not only keeps them physically fit, but is also a signal that we have a vested interest in their welfare beyond work. Plus, it’s a great complement to our company as a philanthropic employer.
Alexander Henschel, Digital Marketing Manager, Boulevard
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