Work-life balance means different things to different people. You may want the flexibility to accommodate your children’s activities or time off to pursue hobbies. Work-life balance also means setting boundaries between time for work and time off from work, which can be difficult in a world that almost expects professionals to be connected and accessible at all times. Sure, you want to be accessible when a client calls or a candidate wants to check in, but clients and candidates don’t always know when may be a good time. Others’ lack of boundaries in their own work-life balance are bound to affect yours from time to time. How can you move the conversation forward while protecting your hard-earned time off? Defining Work-Life Balance in Executive Search As you build your recruiting career, it’s important to know what your needs are for downtime and time off. No one can function if they work all the time, but everyone has an optimal level of functioning and different needs for downtime. Finding out what you need is the first step to establishing a work-life balance that works for you. Build your schedule around your needs for downtime and time off as much as you can. If it doesn’t deplete you and those around you to take a few phone calls during your non-work hours, then it’s fine to do so. If you and your friends or family decide that you need some time when phone calls are off-limits, then you can make that known to your clients and executive candidates so they know when they can and cannot get ahold of you. If you delight in flexibility and spontaneity, you may seize on serendipitous moments when no one seems to need you and use that as your downtime to read a novel, watch your favorite TV show, or go for a walk on a beautiful afternoon. If your leisure activities require more planning, you will have to make time for them and let your contacts know they won’t be able to reach you at those times. Making Time for Work-Life Balance The benefits of taking breaks and having downtime are well-documented. According to Psychology Today, breaks help prevent decision-fatigue, improve productivity, and make you more creative. Having breaks and downtime also help prevent diseases—like heart disease, diabetes, depression, and obesity—that can otherwise set in when you are overworked and stressed out. Downtime can also help you retain new information and keep you motivated to reach your goals. It’s difficult to stay motivated and keep goals in focus when you are worn out from not taking the time off that you need. If you want to be the best executive recruiter you can be, work-life balance is important and necessary. Time-saving tools and devices can help you get more downtime while not neglecting the tasks that need to get done. Thrive TRM streamlines many repetitive recruiting tasks so you can make the most of your work time and maximize your downtime as well. Experience Thrive TRM for yourself. Schedule a demo today.