In anindustry that demands so much, how do benefits professionalsmaintain a work/life balance?

Prioritize and delegate

Achieving a work/life balance takes effort, especially when youlove what you do! Finding the right equilibrium isn't about thenumber of hours you devote to one or the other. It's aboutestablishing a general set of priorities and committing the timeyou have outside of work toward improving and maintaining what'simportant to you.

We've built an extraordinary team, knowledgeable in everydepartment so team members have the flexibility to create their ownschedule. This allows team members to take time outside of work andnot stress over missed calls, emails, etc. We have created andmaintain a positive work culture and hire members that understandand believe in our mission, goals and values.

Delegating the small stuff and outsourcing has played a majorrole in our productivity. Our producers have tapped into technologyusing webinars to educate clients, assist with open enrollmentquestions and Skype or conferencing technologies for renewalmeetings. We are in the process of implementing a virtual healthapplication for our clients that offers a concierge service24/7/365. This will be instrumental in our productivity for 2019,delegating customer service to a virtual assistant that can assistin claims, ID cards, billing issues, etc.

Marcy S. Heath, health care strategist, InoVentiveSolutions

Just unplug

Never be afraid to take time off. When I go away in the summerto the beach, my message is “I will be unavailable until the date Ireturn back.” I let them know who can help them internally and Idon't feel guilty one bit. Life is too short to not spend time withfamily.

Jim Blachek, partner & owner, The Benefits Group,LLC

Forget “balance”

I don't believe in work-life balance. I'm not sure what thateven looks like. It's all life and it's never balanced. Somethingwill always require more attention and take the rest of it “out ofbalance.” I'd rather focus on staying present, connected andengaged. I do that by meditating daily, managing my workload so itdoesn't overwhelm me, and playing a lot!

Amy Evans, president, Colibri Insurance Services

Know your strengths

Don't attempt to be all things to all people. Know yourstrengths, pick your niche, and do it well. Go home. Call your Mom.Life is short.

Gina Chmielewski, president, Benefits Strategies,Inc.

Trust your team

Build a team based on excellence and trust. Our entireorganization steps up to ensure that our teammates can unplug andreturn with a clean inbox.

Ben Conner, president & CEO, Conner Insurance

Let it pass

Short-term periods of unsustainable imbalance followed bylighter, more balanced periods. What I'm trying to say is that,personally, I don't find balance to be effective at all. It ends upjust being mediocre efforts on both sides.

Christopher Wirth, ancillary benefits resource, NelliganAssociates

Honor thy schedule

Never break the 11th Commandment: “Honor thy schedule!” I findthat the reason so many professionals have trouble balancing workand life is because they don't create a daily and weekly schedule,let alone honor it.

I look at it from the perspective of scheduling a businessmeeting or even a family vacation. If you've scheduled a businessmeeting with a client for 10 a.m. on a Tuesday, you'd show up,right? You honor it. The same can be said if you plan and pay for alarge and expensive family trip to Disney World. You'd put it inyour schedule, and you'd honor your schedule. You'd never schedulean in-person business meeting over your trip to Disney since you'regoing to be out of town. Balancing both work and life simply comesdown to discipline and commitment to creating and honoring thyschedule.

Eric Silverman, founder, Voluntary Disruption

Weekends are off-limits

When I first started, I promised my wife that I would not workweekends in order to keep the family work/life balance. So I extendmy workday by starting earlier. Awake by 4 a.m., gym at 4:30 a.m.,and business emails then begin by 5:45 a.m. I'm working untildinner time most week days. Thus, I get to sleep early and wake upearly during the week to add extended time.

Daniel M. Giusti, co-founder, Legacy Benefits GroupLLC

Alignment, not balance

The term “balance” implies competing interests striving to getequal weight. Shifting the paradigm to work-life alignment makes asubtle but important distinction in my “quality by design”approach.

The first step requires the identification of critical qualityattributes in your life and specific targets forthem.“Specifications,” in engineering lingo.

The second step is to view life as a process to be optimizedtowards meeting those specifications. Not just one of them, or oneat a time, but all of them, simultaneously. This forces trueintegration of decisions on a daily basis and anticipation of whatis truly important.

Nancy C. Sajjadi, founder and principal consultant, LifeQuality by Design, LLC

Focus on what's in front

The key is to be present in the moment, avoid distractions andfocus on what is in front of you. The culture of your organizationplays a big part in the equation. If your company's internal focusis making money and increasing profits, that tends to increase workstress and drives leadership to do more with less. When you takecare of those in your charge, help them maintain balance and focusefforts on providing value for your customers, the rest takes careof itself. You need to disconnect from your phone and rechargeyourself as often as you recharge your phone's battery.

Peter Abitanto, EVP & COO, Customized Benefit Solutions,Inc.

Make your values clear

I have always said, “This is my job, not my life.” As apassionate employee benefits insurance agent for over 22 years whohas served our association at the highest level, I give from myheart.

If your clients and prospects are aware of your values and whatyour “why” is, you only have to explain once. I have never done myjob for the money; I do it to make a difference in the lives ofpeople I meet everyday. Just be nice and be you.

Work-life balance—it's not work when you're doing what youlove!

Denise VanPutten, key client account executive, KeyserInsurance Group

Minimize “life” distractions

My thoughts come from the perspective of someone who works fromhome. We're in an industry where having a physical office spaceisn't exactly required, since most of the time we're meetingclients and prospects at their office. But usually there's one ortwo days each week that I work completely from home.

I decided to build a virtual team because many people crave thetype of work/life flexibility (no commute, low overhead, spendingall day in your PJs, etc.) that being a consultant offers. Thatsaid, when you do work from home, it has its own set of built-indistractions. The doorbell rings, the dogs start barking, and thenthe baby cries. Sometimes it can seem like there's too much “life,”and not enough “work” getting done.

My preference for being productive is to get an early startwhile the rest of my family is still asleep. I can usually get atleast an hour or two's worth of work done from my home officebefore the kids need to head to school. If I do end up working fromhome for the entire day, I always take at least half an hour to eatlunch with my wife and spend a little time the baby.

Chris Wolpert, owner and principal, Group BenefitsSolutions

Work it out

My work/life balance is focused on being responsive to the needsof my clients, prospects and family. I am definitely prepared eachmorning after a vigorous workout.

Even when I travel out of town for presentations or meetings, Iam usually ready for a run before I start my day. After asatisfying workout, my body and mind are able to focus on thebusiness and activities of the business day ahead. I am also alwaysready for my family at any given moment.

Wayne Sakamoto, Health Insurance Interactive, Inc.