The 1st is sleeping well. When I was a younger creative, burning the midnight oil and crushing myself to manufacture good ideas and deliver was something I was actually proud of. You can’t replicate the value that comes from having a clear head when you’re well rested. Be okay taking a break. Sleep on it. You’ll accomplish more in the shorter time the next day, then spinning your wheels late at night trying to make something happen under stress/fatigue. The 2nd is walking. Stepping away from the problem/challenge - getting outside and allowing space to think clearly, generates new thoughts and creative solutions. I’ve accomplished more on a walk than 3-4x the amount of time banging my head against my desk trying to come up with something.

Creative projects, as far as I am concerned, works in layers—the conscious, the subconscious, and the disconnected. It’s when meandering through these three modes helps me break into the ‘life’ part of the balance, doing things I like. It gives me the necessary distance. They when an element unlocks the creativity. The conscious is the absolute work part—the brief and other attendant parameters; the subconscious is still a half-in and half-out process, like being in a limbo, dangling over the work but not very immersed; and the disconnected is where I completely shut the work and move into the ‘life’ part where new information comes in, almost always—the ‘work on a deadline’ is in any case always brewing, and things fuse.

Struggling with work-life balance while tackling creative deadlines is common, but solutions can be found in global success stories. In Japan, the advertising firm Hakuhodo focused on reducing burnout by promoting a 4-day workweek, leading to a 30% productivity increase. Similarly, Buffer’s remote team has thrived by allowing flexible hours, resulting in higher creative output without sacrificing personal time. The key? Structured flexibility and prioritizing well-being—empower your team to set boundaries while keeping creativity high. Your best ideas flow when balance is prioritized.

Balancing work and life while meeting creative deadlines requires intentionality and flexibility. It involves setting clear priorities, establishing boundaries, and embracing efficient time management. Creating space for reflection and recharge fuels creativity, helping to meet deadlines without sacrificing personal well-being. By aligning work rhythms with personal values, we can achieve both productivity and fulfillment in our professional and personal lives. Setting aside dedicated time, say one day per week for personal, family and fun activities that one enjoy, needs to be intentional.