Tips for maintaining a healthy work-life balance

June 15, 2023

Why integration of life’s aspects is important.

A young boy is smiling in front of a yellow background.

Life is busy, there’s no way around that, which is why experts the world over advise a healthy work-life balance. But what is a healthy work-life balance? It’s a comfortable relationship between your work and all the other important things in your life, such as: family, your relationship, social life, time for yourself and maintaining a household.

Why is a work-life balance important? It’s important because it probably means that you’re more likely to have the mental, emotional, and physical energy to give your children what they need to grow, develop, and thrive. Balancing your life also means you have the mental space to enjoy your life, manage stress more successfully, and maintain your mental and physical health.

In short, a work-life balance helps keep burnout at bay.

Balancing your work and life

But for most parents, when the kids have finally gone to bed you really only get to experience a single moment of calm before jumping back onto the have-tos of life. Instead of reading a book or catching up on your favourite series, or spending some time with your partner, you’re hopping onto the laptop for those last few emails, catching up on a few chores, even prepping the week’s meals.

That’s not balance!

The truth is that the term “work-life balance” is a misleading one – it implies that when you get it right, your every day will encompass the perfect balance of “work” and “home”. Which is just not feasible because at different points in your life you will have different priorities and different commitments. And then, life happens too. So, there’ll be weeks in life where deadlines and work projects demand your full attention. There’ll be times when you, your children, or your partner are sick and need extra special attention. And there are times where you’ll have to drop a few of the balls you’re juggling to deal with an emergency or crisis. Some days work gets the most of you, other days your family and life need your attention more and work takes a back seat. Because everyday life isn’t compartmentalised.

So, when you look at it this way, work-life balance is really more of a long-term thing. It’s how all the aspects of your life play out over a month or even years, and how you reprioritise them around the day’s work and life needs. It’s about having compassion for yourself and being flexible when it comes to meeting all the demands on your being. It’s really about integration instead of balance.

Tips for work-life integration

This integration is critical, and there are so many ways to achieve it that it’s difficult to plot out a series of one-size-fits-all steps to get it right. It really depends on the individual circumstances of your life and work, but there is one thing that would apply to us all: work-life integration means that the aspects of your life can get the attention they need, when they need it, and in a way that leaves you feeling able to move forward confidently and guilt-free. So, think about addressing some aspects of your life to help free up the capacity for this, such as:

Look at ways to make your work, work for you. This may be anything from negotiating work-from-home privileges or flexible hours, to finding new opportunities, working part-time, or giving up work entirely (but only if your family budget will allow for this).
Efficiency is key. This doesn’t mean you have to take on responsibility for each and every task in your work and home. It means, taking a hard look at your life and commitments, and making decisions around what are musts, what are nice-to-dos, and what is just not achievable. For example, are late nights a necessity every day? Perhaps it’s worth looking at your workload and having honest discussions with your employer about their expectations and your capacity.
Arranging your day to tackle the most challenging tasks in the morning so that your afternoons are less likely to be roadblocks when emergencies or crises pop up.
Talk to your family and children honestly and age-appropriately about your work-life balance. They just need to know that they are important to you no matter what.
Ask for help. That old saying that raising a child takes a village is true. So, build and call on your village when needed, and be there for them when they need it too.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Crawford International Class of 2025 | Building Global Leaders

By Karabo Ntsoane • January 16, 2026

The journey to building global leaders begins long before Matric year. For the Crawford International Class of 2025, it reflects three years of focused preparation, academic support and personal growth through the Crawford Matric Preparation Programme. In the 2025 Independent Examination Board National Senior Certificate examinations, Crawford International students achieved a total of 1 428 distinctions across the group. Twenty-one students recorded overall averages of 90% and above, placing them among the country’s top performers, while a further 126 students achieved averages between 80 and 89%. Among the group’s top academic performers are: Manzil Harikaran Giandev from La Lucia with 11 distinctions, including a 100% in Engineering Graphics Design Sashen Ramlal from Lonehill with 10 distinctions. Shweta Singh from Lonehill earned 9 distinctions. Dristhi Ramsumer from North Coast and Celia Wentzel from Sandton earned 9 distinctions. Sanjana Rajkaran from La Lucia earned 8 distinctions. Tayur Lushen Moodley from North Coast: 8 distinctions. Talia Govender and Keith Makadzange from Pretoria: 8 distinctions. Justin Sher and Mthokozisi Buthelezi from Sandton: 8 distinctions. Together, these students represent the highest individual academic achievements across the group. Beyond individual results, Crawford International students also earned national recognition through the IEB. Seven Commendable Achievement Awards were awarded to students ranked in the Top 5% nationally across five or more subjects. Eight Outstanding Achievement Awards were secured by students ranked in the Top 5% nationally across six or more subjects. Dr Siza Majola, Managing Director of Crawford International, shared: “Congratulations to the Matric Class of 2025. This milestone marks the culmination of years of commitment, perseverance and personal growth. You have faced challenges with resilience, embraced learning and demonstrated the determination required to succeed. As you step into the next chapter, remember that your Crawford education has equipped you with the confidence, leadership skills and values to navigate a world full of opportunity. Your achievements are also a reflection of the unwavering support of parents and teachers who walked this demanding journey with you. Their guidance and belief have played a vital role in your success. Well done, Matric Class of 2025. We are proud of all you have achieved and excited to see what lies ahead.” While these outcomes are academic in nature, Crawford International places equal value on leadership development, sport, service and collaboration. Students are encouraged to lead on the sports field, in cultural spaces, through student leadership structures and within their communities. This approach ensures that students leave school not only well prepared for tertiary study but equipped to contribute meaningfully to diverse environments. Distinctions by Campus: Crawford International Sandton College 370 distinctions Average of 3.6 distinctions per candidate Crawford International La Lucia College 316 distinctions Average of 3.19 distinctions per candidate Crawford International Pretoria College 219 distinctions Average of 2.55 distinctions per candidate Crawford International North Coast College 130 distinctions Average of 2.50 distinctions per candidate Crawford International Lonehill College 253 distinctions Average of 2.16 distinctions per candidate Crawford International Ruimsig College 140 distinctions Average of 1.75 distinctions per candidate Crawford International congratulates every student, teacher and family who contributed to this collective success. We wish the Class of 2025 the very best for the future.

Actress Roxanne Van Der Westhuizen in Crawford International alumni spotlight.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: ROXANNE VAN DER WESTHUIZEN

By Neo Moshoeu • May 23, 2025

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: ROXANNE VAN DER WESTHUIZEN Crawford International Lonehill | Class of 2009 From the banking halls of one of South Africa’s most prestigious financial institutions to the stages and studios of New York City, Roxanne Van der Westhuizen’s story is one of courage, reinvention and the pursuit of purpose. Chasing the Calling After matriculating from Crawford International Lonehill in 2009, Roxanne was accepted into the Psychology programme at the University of Cape Town. A sudden family crisis and financial hardship brought her back to Johannesburg, where she began working to support her family. Years later, determined to finish what she started, she enrolled at Varsity College in Sandton. Balancing motherhood, full-time employment and a rigorous academic load, she earned her degree with distinction, graduating at the top of her class. Her career began at Investec Bank, where she rose through the ranks, first in client services and later in data analytics. Her success came through persistence, grit and repeated setbacks that ultimately redirected her. A moment of deep personal reflection led her to reconnect with a long-suppressed calling, storytelling through performance. In a bold leap of faith, she left her corporate life behind and relocated to New York to pursue acting. There, she studied under renowned acting coach Terry Knickerbocker, known for mentoring names such as Sam Rockwell and Daniel Craig. She was named Student of the Season at his studio. Today, Roxanne stars in stage and screen productions across the U.S., including her lead role in the upcoming film Emancipation of the Past (July 2025), and a standout performance as Regina in Not to Be Played With (available on Tubi and AppleTV). She is also developing her own series, which she plans to take to festivals and production houses. Achievements and Projects Lead role in Emancipation of the Past (2025 release) Featured in Not to Be Played With on Tubi and Apple TV Collaboration on Spicy Bob alongside Pete Simpson of Blue Man Group Student of the Season at Terry Knickerbocker Studio Creator and writer of a new series currently in development Roxanne reflects on her journey and earning one of her biggest roles yet, “this is the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to do, but also the most enriching. The vulnerability required in acting is daunting, but it connects me to myself and others in ways I never imagined. Despite the false starts and failures, I am exactly where I am meant to be.”