Grantus Blog - Burnout to Balance

Burnout Recovery: Resetting My Life with 6 SMART Strategies

Confession of a Hard Year

I’ll be honest: 2024 was relentless. I worked ridiculously hard to achieve one of my biggest goals—to buy the house I’ve always wanted. And yes, I ticked that goal off my list. But it came at a cost. My health, both physical and mental, took a backseat.

Achieving that goal was a milestone I’ll always be proud of, but it made me realise how much I sacrificed along the way. As I sit here, post-Christmas chaos swirling around me—the kids fighting over the last slice of pavlova—I know I want to do better. Balance isn’t just a buzzword; it’s survival.

So, for 2025, I’m setting a SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goal:

“Implement one balance strategy from this list each month in 2025, reviewing progress monthly and adjusting to ensure sustainable improvement across work, health, and relationships.”

Here are the actions I’m planning to take, with some candid thoughts about where I excel and where I need a lot more work.

6 Strategies for Balance (and How I’m Doing) 

SMART goals work wonders for my professional life, but I’ve neglected to apply them elsewhere. This year, I’m making goals for family, health, and personal growth—not just work. 

  • How I’m doing: Great at work; awful for health and family time. 
  • My SMART goal: Spend uninterrupted hours with family from 6–8 p.m. daily. No phone, no emails—just us. 

Time blocking has helped me stay productive at work, but I’ve failed to reserve space for the personal things that matter most. 

  • How I’m doing: Decent for work; poor for personal commitments. 
  • My SMART goal: Block two hours every morning for focused work, alternate running and home exercises daily, and reserve Sunday afternoons for family adventures. 

Sleep, exercise, and healthy eating are the foundations of resilience, but they’ve been the first to go during crunch times. 

  • How I’m doing: Terrible. 
  • My SMART goal: Stick to an 9 p.m. work cut-off, avoid screens after 10 p.m., get eight hours of sleep nightly, and prioritise a nutritious breakfast each day. 

I’ve been so focused on the next task that I rarely reflect on what’s working—or celebrate what I’ve achieved. 

  • How I’m doing: Non-existent. 
  • My SMART goal: Recite five daily achievements before bed, block 30 minutes monthly for reflection, and celebrate small weekly wins with simple treats, like a coffee or a walk. 

I’ve stretched myself too thin by overcommitting. Saying no to the wrong things creates space for what really matters. 

  • How I’m doing: Poor—I say yes too often. 
  • My SMART goal: Say no to at least one request each week that doesn’t align with my top priorities. 

I’ve been guilty of trying to do it all myself, forgetting that I have a network of people who are willing to help. 

  • How I’m doing: So-so. 
  • My SMART goal: Delegate one household task per week to the kids, outsource administrative tasks at work, and schedule monthly check-ins with a mentor or friend. 

Why This Matters

Over Christmas, we lost a beloved family member after a long illness. It’s never easy, but it’s another reminder to prioritise what really matters. These aren’t just New Year’s resolutions; they’re strategies for living my best life while balancing work, health, and relationships over the long term.

Failing to achieve balance doesn’t just impact me—it affects my work and those around me. If you’re reading this and thinking, “I’m guilty of some of these too,” you’re not alone. Let’s try these strategies together and check in at the end of the year to see how far we’ve come.

Final Thought

Balance isn’t about doing it all—it’s about doing what matters. Here’s to a more intentional, balanced 2025. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to practise mindfulness and convince my kids to tidy up those kitchen cupboards.

What strategies work for you? Share your thoughts—I’d love to hear them!

Simon Coutts - CEO of Grantus

Simon Coutts

Simon is the CEO and Founder of Grantus, a trusted advisor in strategic funding, complex problem solving, and stakeholder management, driving growth and public benefit for organisations dedicated to making a lasting impact. Book a ‘Borrow My Brain‘ session with Simon.

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