Achieving balance and prioritizing health with a demanding career can be difficult. Especially women of color; we sometimes strive for perfection in hopes of being seen as equal to our counterparts in the workplace.

Having a career in project management comes with the understanding that a different level of pressure will be applied to your life. The higher the budget and complexity of the project, the more pressure. 

Meeting deadlines can mean long hours, high-stress situations, and eventually burnout. We sometimes overlook these things because the focus is and should be completing the project on time and under budget. 

However, the pressure you feel at work may begin to affect other areas of your life. That’s why it’s extremely important to prioritize health when managing complex projects.

1. Set firm boundaries in your personal and professional life.

Honesty and transparency are the names of the game with setting firm boundaries. This begins with being honest with yourself. A good way to understand the types of boundaries to set is to prioritize and categorize your to-do lists. 

Doing this will give you a good idea of what’s on your plate and how to set boundaries. Here’s an example: A to-do list categorized by the days of the week; and Wednesday, the top priorities are running a mile with your local running club, completing the solution documentation for a work project, and meeting with your dad for lunch. 

You can set firm boundaries around these things by letting friends, family, and work know that these are your priorities for the day and there will be no deviation. 

And sis, don’t feel bad about it. Your mental health largely depends on your ability to not let others dictate how things happen in your life. 

We learned all about setting firm boundaries at the Women of Project Management Conference with Dr. Ayanna Abrams. Whew! Let me tell you, this woman right here gave it to us like she knew exactly what we were experiencing at work and in life. She stressed the importance of setting boundaries. Dr. Ayanna will be gracing the Women of Project Management Wellness Workshop this Friday, get your tickets here!

2. Wake up a few hours early to enjoy some alone time.

Starting your day a few hours earlier does wonders! A typical workday starts between 8 and 9 am; try waking up between 4 and 6 am to give yourself a few extra hours in the morning to do something you love. That could be reading a book you’ve been putting off for the past month or writing in your journal to release any lingering thoughts.

That quiet time during the wee hours of the morning is priceless. I like to write a to-do list for the day before I start anything! Listen, once the day starts and things aren’t lined up, it can get crazy. Writing things down helps to guide you, provide focus, and clear your mind before the workday begins. 

3. Compartmentalize your thoughts and emotions.

A great way to prioritize health when managing complex projects is to compartmentalize your thoughts and emotions and focus on what’s in front of you. If home life is stressful or you’re having difficulties with friendships, it’s best to leave it where it is and deal with it after work. I can understand how hard it might be to not let personal problems affect work but it’s important to make a conscious effort to be fully present in the task at hand. 

It’s the same if the opposite were true, don’t bring your work problems home. Shake off the frustration of your tight project deadlines and stress from work when you get home, don’t dwell. Use that time to focus on everything else good in your life. Compartmentalizing is hard at first, but with practice, it gets easier.

4. Get plenty of sleep and exercise.

Your body and mind will thank you for getting proper rest and exercise on daily basis. Exercise helps with clarity while sleep helps to restore. Both are essential ways to prioritize health when managing complex projects.

5. Enjoy what you do.

It’s simple. No matter how complex and stressful a project might be, enjoying the overall process and transformation of idea to project delivery is unmatched. Enjoying what you do is a major key to mental health and well-being. Could you imagine managing a project, and after the delivery feeling no sense of joy and accomplishment?

As women in project management, and in general, a fulfilling work-life is just as important as a fulfilling home life. It’s very important that you enjoy what you do so that even in high-stress projects, you know that accomplishing the end goal will far outweigh the difficulties during the process. 

By, Airess Rembert, PMP, Member of Women Of Project Management & Blogger at The Nerd Bae

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