Early in my career, I made one of the most classic work-life balance mistakes: thinking my job couldn’t survive without me. Back then, I believed that being “available” equaled being indispensable. So when I finally took some PTO after months of grinding, I thought I could relax—but I didn’t do anything to actually protect my time off. And that’s how I ended up working during my so-called vacation.

Don’t be like me, let’s discuss work-life balance tips while out of the office.

Here’s how it went down.

The “Emergency” That Could’ve Waited

Three days into my PTO, I was blissfully offline. No emails, no Slack—just me, my mimosa, and zero work stress. But then my phone buzzed. And buzzed again. My manager (who, let’s be honest, probably didn’t even realize I was on PTO) had sent multiple messages with “URGENT” stamped all over them.

Mistake number one, I checked. It turned out there was information she wanted to understand better, and apparently, no one else could provide the information. Low and behold, the information wasn’t needed for another week. But instead of sticking to my time off, I spent the next hour scrambling to gather information that wasn’t even close to an emergency.

By the time I closed my laptop, I was angry, frustrated, and annoyed—at my manager, sure, but mostly at myself. I’d let this happen because I didn’t set boundaries, and worse, I hadn’t communicated to anyone what I needed from them while I was away.

Boundaries Are Non-Negotiable

That experience was a wake-up call, and it taught me a key work-life balance tip and lesson about how to climb the corporate ladder without burning out.

Here’s what I wish I’d done differently:

• Have the Boundary Conversation Before Leaving: At the time, I figured my out-of-office reply was enough. It wasn’t. If I’d talked to my manager beforehand and made my boundaries clear—“I won’t be available unless there’s an actual emergency”—this whole thing could’ve been avoided.

• Clearly Define an Emergency: Let’s be real—people love to call anything inconvenient an emergency. I should’ve said, “Unless the building is on fire or the client threatens to leave, please handle it without me.”

• Hand Off Work Properly: I didn’t assign a backup or delegate tasks. That left the team scrambling, and of course, they turned to me. Delegating effectively not only preserves your PTO but also shows you’re a team player who trusts others to step up.

• Turn Off Notifications Completely: The hardest (but most essential) step. I should’ve logged out of email and Slack entirely. If they can’t reach you, they can’t drag you in to the mess.

• Manage Your Time Before You Go: I could’ve avoided the last-minute scramble by managing my workload better leading up to my time off. Proper planning is one of the most essential work-life balance tips for protecting your peace.

Navigating Workplace Politics

If you’re serious about thriving at work, you’ll quickly learn that navigating workplace politics isn’t about saying “yes” to everything. It’s about setting boundaries that show you value your work and your well-being.

You need to work with coworkers and managers to ensure your absence doesn’t cause chaos, but that doesn’t mean sacrificing your time off. This balance is how you build a personal brand that protects your peace while proving you’re dependable when it truly matters.

Ready to Unplug?

If this story sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Boundaries are hard, but they’re necessary to thrive in any job. Before your next PTO, make sure you’ve:

• Had a clear conversation with your manager and team about your availability.
• Delegated everything you can and assigned a point person for questions.
• Logged out and truly disconnected.

Your PTO is yours. Take it, protect it, and don’t let anyone guilt you into giving it away. You deserve it.

If you’re interested in ways to start your year at the top of your game beginning NOW. Check my latest YOUTUBE VIDEO. For future career posts check them out HERE.