I’ve had many readers ask for an update on how we’re doing with finding a true work-life balance after publicly saying it was a priority for the year. We never intended to work nights, weekends, or even on vacation, yet with both of our jobs tied to the internet and laptops just a room away, it’s been a real challenge to disconnect.
We’ve been working on it for about four months and have made tangible progress. While we still find ourselves working several weekends a month, we’re learning to get more done in less time and to protect family time. Here are the strategies that have helped us, followed by practical tips friends and relatives shared when asked “How do you work smarter, not harder?”
- Write specific daily lists and prioritize. Each day we make a detailed list of tasks, circle the top five priorities, and focus on completing those first. Prioritizing prevents us from frittering time away on small, easy items that feel productive but don’t move the needle on important or time-sensitive projects.
- Be satisfied with completing the top five. Because we rotate caring for our daughter, it can take all day to finish the most important tasks. Once those five are done, we stop adding more and allow ourselves evening downtime. It’s hard to walk away from the laptop, but stepping away improves focus and family life.
- Reduce inbox clutter. We get roughly 200 emails a day, and a big chunk is junk. Unsubscribing from repeat offenders and using canned responses in Gmail saved hours of repetitive typing. Waking up to fewer emails alone makes the day feel more manageable.
- Scale back posting frequency. We cut from eight posts a week to seven. One fewer post weekly adds up to 52 fewer posts a year, which gives us room for a family night or a relaxed weekend that would otherwise be spent scrambling to publish.
- Be realistic about capacity. We’re only two people. We do our best and accept that some projects could always be more polished, but perfectionism can steal time from other priorities. Producing consistent, good work and hitting “publish” is often the most practical route.
To get broader perspective, I asked friends and family how they work smarter. Their tips align around organization, systems, and protecting time.
Emily, senior booking agent and mother of three: Ask for help and build a support network. Organized carpools, assigning kids chores like laundry and lunches, and not doing for children what they can do for themselves frees huge amounts of time.
Cat, mother of two: Give everything a place and put things away as you find them. Designate short windows to tidy each day—ten minutes can be remarkably productive. Pay bills promptly but review them; skipping autopay helps catch errors.
Roo, humor blogger and mother of three: Use canned responses and helpful Gmail features. The send-and-archive button is a big time-saver for clearing your inbox quickly.
Noah, artist and new father: Aim for inbox zero so email doesn’t become your to-do list. Reply to short messages quickly, hide notifications while deep in work, separate personal and work email, and unsubscribe from mailing lists that distract.
Katie, blogger and mother of two: Batch similar tasks—edit multiple posts or spray-paint several items in one session. Upload photos for several posts at once, draft posts in batches, and schedule comment time during children’s nap or play periods. Prep morning activities the night before and keep ready-to-use meal staples like shredded chicken in the fridge.
Kristin, freelance copywriter: Let your calendar be your boss: put workouts, lunches, deadlines, and work blocks into it. Treat Saturday as non-work time and protect breaks so you don’t burn out.
Megan, senior marketing director: Develop repeatable systems the first time you do a task and refine them periodically. Automate or delegate anything a computer can handle faster than you can.
Dan, chemist: Combine small tasks sensibly—multitask in low-complexity moments (for example, exercise during TV commercials) to reclaim minutes.
Dusty, quality improvement manager: If you love what you do, hard work feels easier. For tasks you dislike or that are low value, don’t hesitate to outsource to save time for higher-value activities.
Heather, advertising art supervisor: Preparation, the right team, clear plans, and anticipating needs reduce wasted effort. Ask questions, think ahead, and build contingencies.
Nicole, blogger and mother of two: Save drafts and ideas for future posts, use canned responses for irrelevant pitches, and do a little work at night if it will earn you a midweek day off. Keep a private board to collect future post ideas.
Lisa, operations director: Rely on tech for to-do lists, reminders, and calendars on your phone. Menu planning also saves time and stress.
Diana, trial attorney: Identify goals, break them into realistic tasks, and complete those tasks without distraction. For many people, focusing on one thing at a time yields better results than frantic multitasking.
There’s no single right approach—productivity is personal. Some people thrive multitasking; others do best with single-task focus. We’re still learning, but small system changes, clearer priorities, and protecting family time have made a measurable difference. What strategies help you work smarter, not harder?