5 Real-Life Examples "How do you achieve a good work-life balance?" in an Interview
Answering the question, “How do you achieve a good work-life balance?” in an interview can be an opportunity to demonstrate that you've done your homework and researched the company's culture.
- Start by defining what a good work-life balance means to you. Emphasize its benefits, both to you and your organization, and then give examples of how you’ve achieved it
- For most people, work-life balance is a “work in progress,” and you’ll show honesty if you reflect that in your answer. Most importantly, explain the positive impact that has been achieved when you’ve managed to get the balance right.e zones.
- Finally, use what you know about the company’s attitudes and values to show how well your approach will fit in.
Use these five real-life examples as a guide when writing your own.
Being clear about priorities and managing them accordingly
I think that a good work-life balance is one of the most important things, both for your organization and for you as an individual. It allows you to be more productive at work and gives you the energy to perform well in both your professional and personal life.
I've always been someone who is focused on achieving a good work-life balance—I'm always clear about what my priorities are, and I make sure that I prioritize them accordingly.
For example, when I was working on a project that had a tight deadline, I made sure that I stayed on top of it by protecting my weekends and making sure not taking too many calls from colleagues in different time zones. That way, when the weekend came along, I could relax without feeling guilty about not having completed enough work during the week.
A combination of being organized
I believe that a good work-life balance is achieved through a combination of being organized, setting aside time for yourself, and being open to opportunities to work flexibly.
I've achieved a good work-life balance by putting in place systems that allow me to stay on top of my email and other tasks at home. I use tools like Asana and Trello to keep track of what needs to get done, so that when I go into the office on a Monday morning, I don't have to worry about whether or not everything is up-to-date. I also schedule blocks of time in my calendar for things like family dinners or exercise classes, so that I have time outside of work where I can focus on myself instead of just being available for others.
When it comes to working flexibly, this has been especially helpful when I have a long project on my plate. If there's something that needs my attention outside of normal working hours, it's easy for me to make room for it by taking calls from clients or colleagues elsewhere in the world while at home.
Setting clear boundaries between work and life
I've always felt that work-life balance is a moving target. It's something you have to assess on an ongoing basis, and it doesn't have one right answer.
I think of it as a kind of "fitness tracker"—you don't just plug it in and walk away—you have to keep checking in with yourself and your life to see if you're getting enough exercise, eating well, and taking care of yourself so that you can be at your best for both work and life.
For me, the key is setting clear boundaries between work and life. When I'm at work, I'm completely present and focused on my tasks—but when I'm not working, my phone goes off airplane mode so that my co-workers know they shouldn't expect me to answer emails or text messages during that time. That helps me get into a zone where I feel like it's OK for me to relax without feeling guilty about leaving my desk unattended.
It also helps me avoid feeling overwhelmed by all the things on my plate—like when someone asks if they can call me after dinner instead of during lunch break because they know I'll be more available then!
Making sure to set aside time for myself throughout the day
I think that a good work-life balance is one that allows you to do your job, but also have time for your family and friends.
I've always been able to achieve that by making sure to set aside time for myself throughout the day.
It's not always easy, but when I feel like my work is getting overwhelming or stressful, I make sure to get up and take a walk around the block or go for a run.
It helps me clear my head and refocus on what's important: doing good work for my company and being present with those who matter most in my life.
Flexibility about scheduling days
I define a good work-life balance as being able to do my best work while still maintaining a healthy personal life. I believe that this is true for both the company and the employee; I think it’s important to be at your most productive when you’re at work, but you can only do that if you are taking care of yourself outside of the office.
For me, good work-life balance means being flexible in how I schedule my days—I like having the ability to schedule meetings around my lunch break, or schedule calls with colleagues in different time zones so that we can talk without having to adjust our schedules around each other.