Aslak is the CEO of Selfly Store, works with customers in 20+ countries generating more revenue with data and intelligent vending machines.
In the quest for a well-balanced life, we’re often faced with the challenging task of juggling work, sleep, family, friends and fitness. As Randi Zuckerberg aptly put it, you can have them all, but not at once. According to Zuckerberg, you can pick any three for a day. This is what she refers to as the “entrepreneur’s dilemma”—the delicate art of balancing the imbalance.
In a recent article, I shared a tip for maximizing productivity. It’s all about having “power hours” and multitasking intelligently. For instance, you can consider joining a training session alongside your child’s practice. This can be a meaningful way to be present for your family while also tending to your fitness and relationships.
Here, I’d like to delve deeper into the art of Tetris-ing your life for optimal work-life balance. Much like the game of Tetris, the blocks may not always fit perfectly at first, but with practice and smart planning, you can create a seamless alignment.
Here’s how I navigate the different blocks.
The Work Block
As CEO of a global company with teams in seven countries and customers spanning 20-plus countries, my schedule is demanding. In the first half of 2023, I spent over 40 days on the road, necessitating constant availability across time zones.
Leading a complex operation requires immense energy, focus and prioritization of work-related tasks, meetings and messages. Therefore, effective time management and calendar maintenance are essential. I also recommend carving out and blocking focused time during the mornings and late afternoons.
To stay connected, I schedule daily one-on-one meetings and a weekly all-employee call. Being present doesn’t mean being stuck in the office; it’s about organized, frequent meetings with stakeholders and keeping your organization’s pulse strong, no matter where you are.
The Family Block
My family holds a special place in my heart. I prioritize quality time with my wife, who also juggles an office job and evening studies. I also have to create time with my two daughters, who are both dedicated to figure skating and other activities. To help with your family block, I recommend taking on roles. For example, when I’m at home, I’m the chef and the driver for our family, preparing breakfast and dinner daily and driving the kids to practice. I avoid early morning work meetings to be present during this precious time.
Overall, look to block times to regularly connect with your loved ones. For example, every evening, my wife and I have a cherished ritual—we spend an hour watching TV together. As can be seen, it can be a simple act yet still hold immense value. This blocked-off time can allow you to unwind before bed and simply be together, free from the stresses of the day. I also recommend stowing your phones away.
The Fitness Block
Being a former semi-professional martial artist, I am used to building my weekly schedule around training. But since I don’t compete anymore, I have had to prioritize my focus. With my daughters having about 15 hours of combined training time per week, I have to utilize that time effectively. Therefore, I try to do my own training at the same venue or outside of where they are.
As well as finding ways to share facilities or trips, you can start each morning with a short stretching and yoga training. When traveling, you can hit the gym or go for a morning run. Having strong routines is essential, especially when life gets busy.
The Friends Block
I have to admit that this is the hardest block to fit in for me, and this seems to be the case for many entrepreneurs. Apart from inviting friends to the occasional training, I only attend or throw parties once in a while. Especially when not a frequent aspect of your life, it’s important then to find occasions to celebrate and spend quality time with friends.
For instance, when I turned 40, I invited a group of friends to experience St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin. I used to live there and arranged a memorable party weekend with some special activities.
So, while you may skip the weekly activities with friends, make sure that you periodically plan something big. It can be one-on-one time or with a group of friends. Also, social media can play a big role in sharing memories, funny stories and just keeping in touch.
The Sleep Block
When everything else is in balance, I find that this block is the easiest to fit the Tetris puzzle. After watching TV with my wife in the evening, I go to sleep about 10:30 p.m. I reserve the morning for me; thus, I don’t read anything or do anything else in the evening before going to bed.
The everyday routines can help a lot in setting up your next day. When traveling, try to keep the same rhythm and overall schedule. Of course, when you don’t need to do things like make breakfast, you can use that time for extra training or reading.
Conclusion
Much like playing Tetris, life can feel like it’s speeding up, with the game getting quicker by the day. Yet, amidst this whirlwind, the blocks themselves remain constant. The secret lies in understanding how these blocks flow and anticipating the next one. The key is not to stress but to take it one step at a time.
In this game of life, there are moments when a block may be misplaced, whether by accident or due to a lack of choice. But remember, even when a row seems incomplete, there’s always a chance to fill it in as the upcoming blocks fall into place.
I find that the more you engage in this Tetris life, the better you become. It’s a continuous learning process, one where experience is your greatest teacher. So, I encourage you to embrace the game, tackle it step by step and watch as the pieces come together.
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