Work-Life Balance for Executives: Is It Possible?

Dr. Sarah Renee Langley
Apr 6
3 min read

Leadership comes with pressure, responsibility, and long hours. For many executives, the idea of work-life balance feels like a myth.

Between back-to-back meetings, high-stakes decisions, and the constant demands of leading a team, executives often find themselves working nights, missing family time, and sacrificing personal well-being.

A Harvard Business Review study found that CEOs work an average of 62.5 hours per week—far beyond the standard 40-hour workweek. Meanwhile, 96% of executives report feeling burned out at some point in their careers.

The problem? Many leaders don’t prioritize themselves. They pour everything into their work but fail to advocate for their own well-being.

True leadership isn’t about working until you collapse. It’s about leading with sustainability, resilience, and boundaries.

This is where Prepare for Self-Advocacy becomes critical—leaders must learn how to prioritize themselves without guilt, set boundaries, and manage stress effectively.

Why Executives Struggle with Work-Life Balance

1. The Pressure to Always Be Available

Executives feel constant pressure to be on-call, responsive, and involved in every decision.

Emails come in at all hours.
Weekends are filled with “urgent” tasks.
Time off doesn’t feel like time off.

Many leaders fear that if they step away, things will fall apart. But the best leaders know when to step back, recharge, and delegate.

💡 Example: A Fortune 500 CEO set a rule that they wouldn’t check emails past 7 PM. The result? They became more present at home AND more effective at work.

2. The Guilt of Prioritizing Personal Well-Being

Many leaders equate success with sacrifice. They believe that working longer means leading better.

Self-care feels “selfish.”
Taking a break feels like “falling behind.”
Asking for support feels like “weakness.”

But research proves otherwise—executives who prioritize their well-being make better decisions, lead more effectively, and sustain long-term success.

💡 Fact: A study by Stanford University found that overworked executives are 68% more likely to make poor business decisions.

3. A Lack of Boundaries Between Work and Life

Many leaders don’t set clear boundaries between work and personal time. Instead, they:

Take work calls during family time.
Check emails before bed.
Let work consume every part of their day.

Without boundaries, burnout is inevitable.

💡 Example: The CEO of a major tech company started blocking “family hours” on their calendar—and productivity actually improved because they learned to work more efficiently.

The Limitless Leadership™ Solution: Prepare for Self-Advocacy

The "Prepare" pillar of Limitless Leadership™ teaches leaders how to advocate for their well-being, set boundaries, and lead sustainably.

✅ Leaders who prioritize themselves perform better.

✅ Boundaries make executives more effective, not less.

✅ Self-advocacy is the key to long-term leadership success.

How Executives Can Achieve Real Work-Life Balance

✅ Set Boundaries (and Stick to Them): Executives must learn to say no without guilt.

💡 Strategy: Block personal time on your calendar just like a meeting—and treat it as non-negotiable.

✅ Delegate More, Micromanage Less: Trying to do everything yourself leads to burnout. Strong leaders trust their teams.

💡 Strategy: Identify tasks that don’t require your direct involvement and delegate them to capable team members.

✅ Unplug from Work Intentionally: Being constantly connected drains energy and creativity.

💡 Strategy: Set tech-free zones in your day—like mornings, dinner time, or weekends—to fully disconnect.

✅ Prioritize Physical and Mental Well-Being: Leadership is a marathon, not a sprint.

💡 Strategy: Incorporate daily movement, mindfulness, or reflection time into your routine to stay balanced.

✅ Ask for Support and Set the Example: Executives who prioritize balance give their teams permission to do the same.

💡 Strategy: Work with an executive coach or mentor to develop strategies for sustainable leadership.

Work-Life Balance is a Leadership Strength, Not a Weakness

Sustainable leadership starts with self-advocacy. The best leaders aren’t the ones who work the longest hours—they’re the ones who work with the greatest clarity, energy, and resilience.