Hello, everyone! We are Matt and Johanna Altman, and today we’re diving into a topic that’s very close to our hearts—balancing our high-profile careers with a fulfilling family life. As parents juggling the demands of the real estate world and wellness advocacy, we’ve learned a thing or two about maintaining this delicate balance. Here are our insights on how we manage to keep our professional success in harmony with a vibrant family dynamic.
Establishing Clear Priorities
One of the most crucial steps in achieving a successful work-life balance is clearly defining your priorities. For us, family always comes first. No matter how hectic our schedules get, we make sure that our children and our time together as a family are top priorities. This means being present for the milestones, the school events, and even the simple everyday moments that mean so much.
Scheduling and Planning
We’ve found that meticulous scheduling is our best friend. With two busy careers, planning ahead becomes essential. We use shared calendars for both our professional and personal lives, ensuring we are always in sync and never double-booking ourselves. This not only helps in managing our work commitments but also in carving out uninterrupted family time.
Quality Over Quantity
In our lives, it’s not always possible to spend as much time at home as we might like. Therefore, we focus on the quality of the time spent together rather than the quantity. Whether it’s a quick breakfast together on a busy morning or a weekend getaway, we make those moments count by being fully present and engaged with each other.
Communication Is Key
Open and honest communication has been our cornerstone. This goes beyond just talking about how our day was. We discuss our work pressures, our successes, and our failures. This level of transparency helps us understand each other’s challenges and provide support where it’s needed most. It also teaches our children the importance of openness and support in a family.
Regular Check-Ins
We make it a point to check in with each other regularly. These aren’t just cursory updates but in-depth conversations where we assess our current work-life balance and make adjustments if needed. These check-ins help us stay aligned with our family goals and ensure that neither of us is overwhelmed.
Delegating and Outsourcing
Learning to delegate both at work and at home has been a game changer for us. Professionally, trusting our teams and relinquishing control over every detail allows us to focus on what we do best. At home, outsourcing tasks where possible means we can save our energy for spending time together as a family. Whether it’s hiring help for housekeeping or using meal delivery services, each bit helps in managing our busy lives better.
Empowering Our Team
At work, empowering our employees by trusting them with responsibilities not only enhances their skills but also reduces our burden. We’ve built a team that shares our vision and values, which makes delegation easier and more effective.
Embracing Technology
In today’s world, technology can be a double-edged sword, but we use it to our advantage. Smartphones and cloud computing allow us to stay connected with our work and our children’s schools, no matter where we are. Apps for family organization and communication keep us all on the same page.
Work from Anywhere
Technology has also given us the flexibility to work from anywhere. This can mean taking a call from home or handling emails during a child’s soccer practice. This flexibility is crucial for maintaining our involvement in both our careers and our family life.
Making Time for Ourselves
It’s easy to forget about personal well-being when you’re balancing demanding careers and active family life. We make it a priority to take care of our health and well-being through regular exercise, healthy eating, and enough rest. This self-care is not a luxury but a necessity that keeps us at our best, both as parents and professionals.
Couple Time
We also make sure to carve out time for just the two of us. Maintaining our relationship is vital, not just for our happiness but also as the foundation of our family. Regular date nights, whether they’re a simple dinner or a night out, help keep our bond strong.
Conclusion
Balancing a high-profile career with family life is never easy, but it’s entirely possible with the right strategies and priorities. For us, Matt and Johanna Altman, it comes down to clear communication, effective planning, and always remembering what truly matters at the end of the day—each other and our family. We hope our experiences and tips can help those of you on similar journeys find your balance and thrive both at home and at work.