How would you answer this question: "How do you balance your career with other responsibilities and roles in your life?"

That question came from a student at a recent Sales Leaders in Business Panel Discussion I had the opportunity to moderate on campus at Kennesaw State University in September.

It sparked a lively discussion among our all-female panel, each of whom has firsthand experience in striving for excellence in their work.

Some answers to other roles included: I’m a Mom, Wife, Sister, Ranch Owner with 9 horses, Dog Mom, Sunday School Teacher, Tennis Player, Friend, Cheerleader for my family, etc.

At the same time, roles at work included Vice President of Sales, Director of Enterprise Sales, Account Executive, Insurance Agent, Business Owner.

All the women on this panel lead fulfilling lives, both in their professional careers and personally. They bring to mind the remarkable individuals I've had the pleasure of getting to know within the IDC, particularly those in OPWIL.

Here were five themes based on answers to the question: "How do you balance your career with other responsibilities and roles in your life?"

Set a start/end time each day and stick to it.

You will consistently fill up the hours you give yourself to work. One panelist who is a Vice President of Sales and also a Ranch Owner said she never works more than 40 hours a week and says “no” a lot. You learn to prioritize quickly what is truly important.

Fuel Your Creativity.  

Getting out of the office, being involved in community, sports and other activities fuels your creativity at work. Recognize there is a law of diminishing returns and over a certain number of hours, the quality of our work is sacrificed.

Pass it On.

Almost all of our Panelists are involved in some form of mentoring or passing on lessons learned to other women. Even if we feel we don’t have time, mentoring and teaching someone else can fuel our own passion and creativity.

Be a Guardian Over Your Calendar.

Building off the first point, a common theme among all the panelists was the deliberate guarding of calendars to prevent burnout, whether it's during weekends or weekdays. Your time, talents and treasures are valuable. You must protect your time so you have enough white space to think each day.

Take Guilt Free Vacations.

How many times have you seen a vacation out of office message that keeps the door open to contact that person other ways? (If it’s urgent, text me. Or, I’ll be checking messages periodically). Dabbling in work during vacation disrupts the refreshment needed to get back in the office and engage fully on your return. Personally, it took me 10+ years in business before I learned how to truly do this.

Balancing a career with various other life responsibilities is a multifaceted challenge that demands careful planning and prioritization. It takes discipline and patience to coach and develop others to step in, but the rewards are well worth it.

I’ll leave you with a quote by Barbara Brown Taylor that states, “Some of us have made an idol of exhaustion. The only time we know we have done enough is when we’re running on empty and when the ones we love the most are the ones we see the least.”

The truth is, work-life balance is not just something reserved for weekends and vacations; it's a fundamental requirement for our physical and mental health, our relationships, and our ability to find empowerment and true fulfillment.