Establishing Work-Life Balance as a Young Professional

By Nicole Young on February 22, 2023

As part of a new generation entering the workforce, young professionals bring fresh perspective and likely a desire for balance — a thriving career and a fulfilling personal life. Yet, while most agree that achieving a work-life balance is important, navigating that path can be murky.

To inspire those at the beginning of their journey — and affirm that it can be done — we spoke to three Hightower Advisors colleagues at various points further down their career paths.

Here are the habits and practices that have helped them find balance and fulfillment.    

MEET:

Zach Christopher, CFA, Investment Analyst — A recent designee of the CFA® charterholder, Zach Christopher works within the Investment Solutions group and has more than five years of investment analysis and technology experience.

Meghan McCartan, Chief Marketing Officer — Meghan McCartan oversees all marketing and communications for Hightower, including thought leadership, advisor growth marketing, events and corporate/M&A initiatives. She has more than 20 years of experience, including in other leadership roles and owning and leading her own marketing consulting company.

Bob Lyons, Managing Director — Bob Lyons is a senior leader within Hightower’s Investment Solutions group and is well-regarded within the investment management industry. He has more than 30 years of professional experience, which spans multiple roles at large financial services companies, including as chief operating officer.  

STRATEGIES

Make Balance a Habit

It is possible to be highly successful professionally without working around the clock. According to Lyons, the secret sauce is finding activities and people that inspire you and keep you excited to focus on that down time, adding, “The adage ‘work hard, play hard’ comes to mind.”

Likewise, McCartan recounts, “In the earlier stages of my career, I worked around the clock, but have since realized that it’s not healthy for the brain to be focused on work 24/7. Establishing boundaries is a good habit.”

Schedule Downtime

Christopher, who entered the workforce more recently, is redefining balance. “Balance doesn’t mean achieving it every single day of your life, but rather dedicating time to focus on work and time to unplug. Prepare for times when you know you’ll be working late nights or early mornings. It’s then equally important to schedule opportunities to completely unplug.”

Similarly, McCartan adds, “We must integrate the practice of ‘turning off’ into our routine. I’m very thoughtful about staying off both personal and professional email over the weekend unless there’s something that truly requires my attention. Once I check just one email, it’s hard to stop my mind from cycling through work-related thoughts. I’ve learned that responding to a work email on a Sunday versus a Monday typically has very little impact. On the flipside, fully committing that Sunday to focusing on my family or downtime reaps major dividends.”

Commit to Meaningful Pursuits

Map out personal time in the same way you approach the workday. Instead of scrolling through social media, Christopher recommends thoughtfully planning your days off with activities that provide you with personal fulfillment.

Lyons has done just that during his career, crediting his commitment to investing in hobbies — such as travel, reading, exercising, and spending time with family and friends — for providing him with fulfilling down time.

For McCartan, a single mother, it’s about scheduling meaningful trips with her four daughters, who have learned that although mom can’t make every school performance, family time is a priority. Whether it’s a group excursion to visit her eldest daughter in college, a family ski trip or an off-the-grid boating adventure, that time is well spent.

Do What You Love

When asked what advice Lyons would give the 25-year-old version of himself, he sagely reflects, “Stick to your strengths and figure out what you enjoy — approach this exercise like a fact-finding mission, gathering input from others. Find the industry that excites you, the company that wants to win daily, the boss/mentor that pushes you to be better, and the seat that you can do the most in.”

McCartan agrees, saying, “I love my job. It wasn’t always that way, but now that I’m here it inspires me to continue to find time for both work and family. It’s a wonderful place to be professionally and as a role model to my daughters.”

Christopher is also incorporating this advice into his career, adding, “As a kid, I always enjoyed watching the news and staying up to date with the world around me, and that’s in the lens of what I do today. Part of my job also involves traveling, which I really love, blending together my passion and work.”

Build Relationships — In Person 
Despite the growing popularity of remote work, McCartan emphasizes the importance of working and interacting with a team. “Work and play with people you trust,” she says. “Throughout my career, I’ve surrounded myself with good people and encouraged them to flourish. But, we need to have in-person contact to truly mentor one another and brainstorm together. A hybrid workplace is great, but it’s important to set expectations around what that means through open and honest conversations.”

Christopher adds, “People are hesitant to engage in conversation with people they might not know well. It’s easy to hide behind a screen, but the feedback I’ve received by being proactive and putting myself out there has been so valuable in allowing me to learn, grow and develop in my career.

Network Intentionally (And Develop Public Speaking Skills)

Lyons observes that “most successful individuals are great communicators both in private and public. Networking is the most important thing — meet as many folks as possible, be polite and engaging, and always look to help others. It comes back to you in spades. Also, take speech classes — being a public speaker is not hard, but being one that folks will listen to is much harder.” 

McCartan recalls, “The hardest point in my career was when my children were in the preschool/grade school years. At that time, my job wasn’t my passion; it served a purpose, but I felt as though I was burning the candle at both ends. It may sound cliché, but remember to give yourself grace and that this too shall pass. As you move through those times, maintain good relationships with the people around you — the most unexpected people came to bat for me at the most unexpected times.”