Executive & Family Man: A Guide for Men Balancing Both

As a therapist, I often see men who work in high level and high stress leadership positions in their career. Executive and leadership positions often come with many challenges such as long hours, strategic decisions, long travel, and constant pressure to perform, which can sometimes lead to feelings of stress, burnout, anxiety, and fatigue. As a husband or father, you play an important role in the family. You have the opportunity to not only meet the financial needs of the family, but the emotional needs as well. Being present, attentive, and involved creates emotional connection and can impact the family unit in numerous positive and healthy ways. So, how can you strike a healthy balance that fulfills your commitments to work and also leaves you and your family feeling connected and cared for?

Prioritize your time 

Your job will often demand long hours at odd hours of the day and night. It can often feel like there isn’t enough time to spend elsewhere with family. However, being able to prioritize and find the times that do work can make all of the difference. A list of some time windows might include; dinner time, playing a game with your children before bed, making your children breakfast in the morning before school, calling your spouse in between meetings to check in, intentional date nights, or church on Sundays. What seem like small moments or small amounts of time can start to build up and leave your family feeling prioritized. 

Build Boundaries 

Your leadership position will demand much of you. Sometimes, it will try and demand all of you. However, it is important to build boundaries around your work life, so that you can determine how much you are willing to give. Some questions to consider when building boundaries; What requests do I say no to…or ask for modifications? When does work begin to feel overwhelming? How can I identify mental and physical feelings of stress or burnout? What are my options for taking care of myself? Reflecting on these questions can help you to start to build the boundaries around your work life, so that work does not become all-consuming. 

Self-care

Self-care has become a cultural buzzword, so much so, that it can sometimes have a negative connotation to it. It can be seen as weak or lazy. But taking care of yourself is neither of those things. In fact, it’s when you do not take care of yourself that both your work and your family can begin to suffer. When you are not your best self it has the potential to affect everything. So, find what fulfills you. What fills your cup? What rejuvenates you? What hobbies or interests are you passionate about? How can you stay balanced in life?

Your work matters. Your family matters. Balancing both can be challenging, but not impossible. Prioritize your time, build boundaries around your work, and take care of yourself. When you do, you begin to find balance, helping you to thrive in your work and family life. 

Written by: Dr. Austin Shugart, LPC