It’s the universal struggle for today’s project manager (and most everyone): how do you find “balance” in work and play? And what does that even look like?
First, we have to clear up what it doesn’t look like. A balanced life does not mean 50% play and 50% work. For most of us, the majority of our time on an average workday is, unsurprisingly, spent working at our paid jobs, and that doesn’t even include all the work that has to get done for our homes and families when we are off the company clock.
Some seasons demand more than others, whether it’s the big push to hit a project deadline or the scramble to get the house ready for visitors. Add in the convenience of the internet, and suddenly we can work from anywhere, which too often turns into working everywhere, all the time.
These heavy seasons aren’t sustainable. We have to find ways to bring in play and fun to give a sense of balance to our spirit, even if reality is far from “balanced.” Luckily, there are things we can do to give ourselves balance even in the busiest seasons.
Balance Isn’t Equal, It’s Intentional
Striking balance starts by being aware of your habits. Be honest: are you prioritizing what matters most to you, or just reacting to what’s loudest?
Balance also requires flexibility. Some weeks you’ll lean into work, other times you’ll lean into play. Every day won’t look the same, and that’s okay. When you recognize these cycles, balance starts to feel more like riding the waves and less like being tossed around by them.
The real test of leadership as a project manager is knowing when to be flexible yourself, and when your team needs permission to take a break, reset, or bring some play into their work, too.
Bringing Play Into Work
One of the easiest ways to balance the scales is to blend work and play with the kind of things that genuinely energize you.
For me, that looks like hosting BBQs with my PMI colleagues. I get to drive people around on the CanAm motorcycle, play cornhole, and still strengthen professional connections. Mentoring also falls in this category. Helping emerging leaders gain confidence and introducing them to my network is both rewarding and fun. It’s play disguised as work!
Fun is part of professionalism. In Project Management, connection and creativity often matter as much as process and planning. When you bring genuine enjoyment into your work life, you don’t just make the day more pleasant; you strengthen community, fuel creativity, and build resilience. During my reviews, often my manager says “you bring a sense of humor, fun, and keeping things in perspective to work life”. It also helps if you enjoy what you do for work!
Grounding Rituals & Boundaries Keep You Steady
Balance also requires anchors: rituals and boundaries that keep you grounded.
Almost every day I grab a coffee, feed the chickens, and watch the sunrise. It’s another kind of work that has to get done, but watching the chickens scurry around as the sun scatters colors across the sky makes it feel more like play. And I protect that time. My calendar is blocked so no meeting can touch it. Or if there is the occasional early morning meeting, they are forced to go get coffee with me virtually and they hear my order and a daily joke I tell the barista.
These small things might feel less significant than an important meeting, but whether you are leading a PMO or a small project team, they’re what allows us to show up fully to our work.
Relationships Are the Real ROI
On the weekends or days off, I tune out of work completely most of the time. I focus on dining out with my wife, playing board games, or riding my motorcycle.
This reset is good for me personally, but it also makes me a better leader. Modeling balance shows my team that it’s more than lip service, but a culture that is really valued. If you want your people to prioritize their well-being, you have to walk the talk.
Strong relationships at home and at work are the true return on investment. They anchor you, refresh you, and make every other effort more sustainable.
WPML: A Place to Find Your Balance
That’s why I’m excited to sponsor this year’s Women in Project Management Leadership Summit (WPML) on October 29th, presented by PMI Mile Hi. This year’s WPML theme is Balancing Act: Wellness & Resilience in a Changing Workplace. It will give space to step back and reflect on what balance means for each of us.
WPML brings together 200+ project leaders for a day of inspiration, learning, and connection. The speakers and sessions are designed to stretch how we think about leadership, resilience, growth, inclusion, and, of course, balance in Project Management. But it’s not all serious. There’s laughter during the breaks and beyond, cocktail conversations that spark new ideas, and a community energy that makes it easy to embrace “play.”
For me, that’s balance in action: professional development with a side of fun, surrounded by peers who are navigating the similar challenges.
Balance is a Leadership Skill
Balance is one of the hardest leadership skills to master, regardless of whether or not you have years of experience or a PMP certification. I struggle with it just like everyone else. But by being intentional, finding ways to fold in fun, and guarding routines that ground me, I stay centered, and hopefully model a framework for others. As anyone who knows me well can attest, I try not to take myself too seriously!
The small, everyday decisions mean the difference between being in balance and feeling off-kilter; how you start your morning, how you protect your boundaries, how you weave fun into work.
So here’s my challenge this month: find one small way to add fun into your workday. And if you’re looking for more ideas on balance and leadership, join us at WPML on October 29th. I’d love to see you there.