10 Tips to Help You Work Smarter, Rest Better
Author's Note: As part of The Good Lemon’s 10-year anniversary celebration, we’re taking time to share what we’ve learned through various experiences throughout the years. Drawing on this combined decade of experience, this series is packed with the tips, tricks, and insights we have gathered along the way, designed to help you work smarter and strengthen your strategy. In our last installment, 10 Things We’d Never Let Our Clients Do (and Why You Shouldn’t Either), we offered some of the valuable lessons we have learned to protect your brand. This series is both a reflection on our journey and a guide to the approaches that continue to shape our success and can support yours too.
This time, we’re turning inward and exploring how mastering work-life balance can help you show up as your best self—both professionally and personally. Whether you’re juggling a packed schedule, managing a team, or balancing passion projects with everyday life, these 10 steps are designed to help you find more ease and fulfillment in your work and beyond.
Balancing the demands of work with the needs of your personal life is an ongoing challenge—especially in mission-driven roles where your passion often means “always on.” If you’re feeling stretched thin, overwhelmed, or just plain burnt out, you’re not alone. In a fast-changing digital landscape where inboxes overflow and deadlines pile up (when it feels like even Asana can’t save you 😔), work-life balance can sometimes feel impossible to achieve.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. With some intentional strategies and small mindset shifts, you can build rhythms and routines that support both your goals and your well-being. Here are 10 essential steps to help you find that balance and create space for what matters most—yourself.
1. Create a Clear “Log-Off” Time—and Protect It!
Set a firm time to log off each day and treat it like an important appointment with yourself. Turn off notifications, close your laptop, and shift gears. This habit signals to your brain that the workday is done and it’s time to rest.
If you work from home and your personal space doubles as your workspace, this can be especially challenging. Try stepping outside for a short walk to reset—then return with a clearer boundary and a refreshed perspective.
2. Build in Buffer Time
It’s tempting to pack your calendar with back-to-back meetings and deadlines, but giving yourself a little breathing room makes a big difference. Schedule buffer time between meetings or after big deadlines so you can decompress, prep, or just catch your breath without falling behind.
3. Use Your Calendar for Everything
If it’s not on your calendar—whether physical, digital, or both—it doesn’t exist. Block out time for focus work, stretch breaks, and even lunch. Some days are so packed, it feels like you need to schedule breathing and blinking just to keep up.
Make space for personal to-dos, even if it’s just a walk or a quick errand—those matter just as much as your work tasks. A healthy day includes a balance of both. You can keep everything on the same calendar (I use different colors to separate personal from work), or use two separate ones—whatever helps you stay on track without burning out.
4. Take Real Breaks—Not Just Scrolls
Scrolling through social media isn’t the same as taking a real break. I don’t know about you, but time seems to disappear when I’m on my phone—and I end up feeling even less rested. Stepping outside for a few mindful minutes does way more to reset my brain. Take a walk, stretch, and drink some water. Even five minutes of intentional pause can make a big difference in your focus and energy.
5. Communicate Your Availability Early and Clearly
When your schedule or workload changes, let your team or collaborators know as early as possible. Whether it’s an upcoming vacation, a big project, or just a tough week, being transparent helps prevent last-minute stress and misaligned expectations.
Clear communication sets the tone for mutual respect and gives others a chance to adjust timelines or redistribute tasks if needed. It also helps you manage your own capacity more realistically—so you’re not stuck making up for things after hours.
6. Pause Before You Say Yes
You don’t have to respond immediately. If you find yourself saying yes out of habit, try pausing before committing. Ask yourself: Do I really have the capacity for this? It’s okay to say, “Let me think about it and get back to you.” Setting this boundary protects your energy and your quality of work.
And if you’ve already said yes but later realize you don’t have the bandwidth, that’s okay too. Be honest, apologize for the inconvenience, and let the person know as soon as possible. Giving them a heads-up allows time to adjust plans or redistribute the task—without everything falling apart last minute.
7. Define What “Done” Looks Like
Overworking often happens when expectations aren’t clear. Take a moment to define what success looks like for each task—not just for yourself, but in collaboration with whoever assigned it. Clarifying the deliverable, the scope, and the deadline helps ensure everyone’s on the same page.
When “done” is clearly defined, you’re less likely to spin your wheels, over-deliver unnecessarily, or miss the mark entirely.
8. Know How and When to Recharge
Everyone unwinds differently. Maybe you need a walk, a playlist, or a friend to vent to. Maybe it’s five minutes of silence and a cookie. The key is knowing what fills your tank—and making time for it before you run on empty.
Pay attention to the signs that you're stretching too thin: snapping at emails, zoning out in meetings, or feeling unusually drained. These are all signals that it’s time to pause and recharge. And don’t wait for a full day off—sprinkling in small moments of restoration throughout your week into your routine can make a huge difference in your focus and well-being.
9. Keep Your Offline Time Sacred — No Exceptions
Just like you wouldn’t cancel on an important commitment last-minute, don’t cancel on yourself. If you’ve blocked time for something that fuels you—therapy, yoga, family time, or a night of reality TV—honor it. That time is what powers your ability to show up fully when you’re working.
To help protect this time, consider setting up automated “I’ll get back to you” messages or status notifications when you know you’ll be offline. This lets others know you’re not ignoring them—you’re just taking the time you need to recharge.
10. Give Yourself Grace
Some weeks will feel balanced. Others won’t—and that’s okay. Work-life balance isn’t a fixed destination but an ever-changing process that grows and shifts with you as your life and priorities evolve. Be kind to yourself when it gets messy, learn what you can, and try again next week.
Remember, progress isn’t always linear. Celebrate the small wins, and don’t hesitate to ask for support or take a pause when you need it. Giving yourself grace means accepting that you’re human—and that’s more than enough.
These 10 steps aren’t a magic fix, but they can help you protect your energy, set better boundaries, and get a little more comfortable with saying no when you need to.
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If your calendar’s finally giving you some breathing room, you’re not alone. Next up in this series: What Happens When Plans Change? (A Lot, Actually)—a closer look at how to regroup when things go off the rails. And right after that, we’re sharing 10 ways to keep your marketing strategy fresh—because whether you’re adjusting on the fly or sticking to the plan, a refresh is always a good idea.