A major shift has taken place in the modern working environment: people everywhere are starting to prioritize their personal values, set important boundaries, and integrate who they are both on and off the clock. In short, today’s workforce prizes work-life balance above all. And we at Blanchard have to say—we’re here for it!
Finding a healthy work-life balance doesn’t just make you a happier team member, it makes you a better one. Because when your goals, preferences, and responsibilities are all in alignment, you’re able to put more of yourself into whatever you decide to do.
But it is also true that some jobs are better than others for finding this balance. To help you on your path, we’ve curated a list of our top 10 picks for the best careers with good work-life balance. Keep reading to find your calling!
What Does Work-Life Balance Mean?
In general, it's all about making sure your career allows you to embrace what you value at work while still maintaining what you love in your life. Ultimately, it means something different for everyone. You may have to do some soul searching!
But What Does It Mean to You?
Let’s talk about values. Think about the characteristics you would hope for in a job to make your personal life feel full. Do you want to be your own boss with opportunities to delegate? Is flexibility super important to you, especially when it comes to the option of working remotely and building your own schedule? Or instead, might you prefer a sense of structure so that it feels like your workday truly has a start and an end? Being in the element of your unique personality and working preferences allows you to maximize your creativity, productivity, and leadership potential.
Diving Deeper
Not sure what you really want or what a job with good work-life balance looks like? Learn how to discover your ideal career characteristics from senior coach Terry Watkins. Start by browsing her insightful article 4 Coaching Steps toward Work/Life Balance to explore what work-life balance means to you.
Our Top 10 Picks
Now that you have a better idea of what you’re looking for, let’s talk about the best careers for work-life balance and how your preferences and aptitudes match up!
1. Psychologist
While it may take a lot of educational training, a career in psychology can help you strike an ideal work-life balance. When you have your own practice, your workload is often decided by how many clients you are willing to take on. If you choose to work as a school counselor or school psychologist, you are able to work according to the academic schedule. This might be the perfect job if helping others makes you feel fulfilled. However, if you’re someone who tends to take their work home with them mentally or emotionally, it may not be for you.
2. Dental Hygienist
If you love a good smile, you can work with patients to create and maintain them. Becoming a dental hygienist not only requires a less rigorous educational path than that of a dentist, it also provides a greater salary than most other jobs with similar educational requirements. Many dental hygienists choose to work part time or only a few days per week. You can enjoy set hours and the ability to truly clock out physically and mentally when the day is done. And helping people achieve the perfect smile might just put a smile on your face, too!
3. Teacher
As a teacher, you will get a lot of benefits. The job’s structure allows you to work on the academic schedule, which means summers off! If you work as a substitute teacher or tutor, you can work fewer hours with more freedom, without the added responsibility of your own dedicated class. You might also consider working as a remote language teacher for an organization. This allows you to set your hours and decide how many students you are willing to take on, which places the power of your working hours in your hands!
4. Marketing Manager
If you love strategizing and seeing your vision come to life, working as a marketing manager could be the perfect fit for you. In a management role, you will have plenty of opportunities to delegate and also work with a team. Plus, you rarely would need to work late nights or weekends. Your work-life balance in this role largely depends on the values of the company you work for—so during the hiring process, make sure you look for ways to get your needs met.
5. Physical Therapist
If you enjoy communicating with clients, helping people, and working reasonable hours, physical therapy could be just the job for you! While you will need a doctoral or professional degree, you can regain your flexibility once your rigorous education is complete. And with your own practice, you can often set your own hours and choose to work part time or full time.
6. IT Manager
Working online has its perks! As an IT manager, you have a pretty hefty responsibility to look after your company’s technology infrastructure. While you might need to collaborate with coworkers and colleagues from different departments, this job can often be performed remotely. This gives you the flexibility to structure your free time to fit your preferences and take your breaks as you please.
7. Real Estate Agent
If you love houses, people, and flexibility in your career, working as a real estate agent is one of the best careers for a good work-life balance. You can be in spaces you enjoy and move around rather than sitting at a desk all day. While this job can be challenging when business is busy, you can exercise autonomy over your time and take on appointments as you please.
8. Pharmacist
If you are excited about working in the medical field but don’t want the stress of long hours, difficult patients, and emergencies, working as a pharmacist could be the ideal job for you. After getting a doctoral or professional degree, you can enjoy low stress, non-emergency medical work that generally fits within the operating hours of a store. This means you can choose to work for a smaller, boutique shop whose hours fit perfectly into your preferred schedule.
9. Web Developer
If you like designing and coding, working as a web developer is one of the best jobs with a work-life balance to dream about. When it comes to big projects, you may have to work long hours to meet rigid deadlines. However, most days you may work far shorter hours than most careers. It is possible to work from home, or anywhere in the world—and in some cases you can even be your own boss! Enjoy working creatively, flexibly, and in a low-stress line of work.
10. Freelance Creative
Choose your passion! If you’re a hobby photographer, a total wordsmith, or a pro in graphic design, you have the opportunity to create your own business. Keep in mind that if you pick this route, it is important that you are able to set boundaries with yourself. Having your own business may not necessarily require a full 40-hour work week, but it can often be a 24/7 job. While you might have to work long hours some days, the flexibility is in your hands to take on projects as you choose. However, if looking for and dealing with clients sounds like a real pain, this path may not be for you.
At Blanchard, we’re here to help you take control of your life, unlock your true potential, and become the best leader you can be. No matter what path you choose, our groundbreaking leadership training program, Propel by Blanchard™
About the Author
More Content by Ellie Haskins
