Create Work-Life Balance with a Quarterly Calendar Reset
- Dec 8
- 2 min read
By Jenn Christison
Most things in life require a reset. The leaves must fall off the trees before fresh buds can sprout. The same is true for maintaining (or establishing) work-life balance.
With all the competing needs of modern life, it is only natural for our calendars to become unmanageable. After all, that outdated recurring meeting series isn’t going to cancel itself.
The best method I have found to achieve work-life balance is to take dedicated time each quarter for a calendar reset. Essentially, I pause and make sure my calendar matches my current priorities.
I typically start by looking at my calendar three to six months in advance.
I then add time blocks to create my ideal calendar, starting with my personal commitments first. I add appointments for things like:
Going to the gym.
Happy hours with friends.
The occasional three and four-day weekend.
Then I create time blocks for my ideal work schedule. What routines set me up to be my best, most productive leader? This typically includes placeholders like:
No meetings before 10:00am unless urgent.
A bi-weekly “no meeting” day dedicated to think time and catch up.
A weekly 90-minute “project work time.”
No meetings after 12:00pm on Fridays.
Placeholders for staff Office Hours.
Finally, I add in time for my critical work requirements, including anticipated time for planning and follow-up.
Board Meetings
Performance Evaluation season
Anticipated needs:
No meetings first thing Monday morning to catch up on weekend “fires.”
Monthly placeholder for networking requests.
Placeholders for Escalation Response.
Now my next quarter’s calendar is planned the way I want it. And every new request is prioritized against this baseline.
Yes, the time blocks can (and will!) move based on reality. But now my default calendar supports my priorities. Any deviation requires a deliberate decision. Introducing that moment of friction ensures my goals are the automatic, and thus easier, choice.
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