Leisure

Hunting The Unicorn Called Work-life Balance

Issue 114

By Jeff Hodgson

Let’s get something straight-when you work in hospitality, “work-life balance” often sounds like a punchline. It’s that mythical creature everyone talks about, but no one’s seen.

I’ve been in this game for over a few decades, and let me tell you, balance isn’t about finding serenity-it’s about staying sane when the coffee machine breaks during Sunday brunch and a wedding party walks in unannounced.

Still, I’m here to say it’s not impossible. Elusive? Definitely. But with some hardearned lessons (and a few mistakes along the way), I’ve learned that balance in this industry doesn’t mean 50/50. It means flexibility, perspective, and picking your battles wisely.

Lesson 1: Forget Perfect-aim for possible

Early in my career, I thought balance meant being home by 6 p.m. three nights a week. Reality check: Some days are 14-hour slogs. You live on adrenaline, black coffee, and whatever pastry the chefs have left behind. But then comes the odd quiet Tuesday, where I make it home in time to eat dinner with my family-while sitting down. That’s balance, too.

It’s not about rigid hours. It’s about knowing when to push and when to pull back. I call it the see-saw method: you’re always adjusting, never static.

Lesson 2: Schedules Matter (but be ready to improvise)

As a GM, I’ve seen scheduling go from Tetris to total chaos in the blink of an eye. But good scheduling is where balance starts. I’m relentless about fair shift rotations-everyone deserves a weekend off now and then, even if it means I take the hit now and then.

And I use my calendar like its gospel. Birthdays, appointments, even 30 minutes to grab a coffee uninterrupted-it’s all blocked out. Because if you don’t defend your time, no one will.

Lesson 3: “No” is not a dirty word

Hospitality breeds people-pleasers.

We want to fix everything, say yes to everyone. But over the years, I’ve learned that saying “no” can make you better at your job-and a lot happier at home.

No, I won’t take that 10pm meeting on my day off. No, I won’t approve a last-minute schedule swap that leaves the team shortstaffed. And no, the guest cannot have a suite upgrade because it’s their cat’s birthday.

Lesson 4: If you can’t laugh, you’re in trouble

Hospitality is absurd. That’s part of the charm. A guest once asked me if we could serve non-frozen ice. Another insisted their room smelled “too clean.” You learn to laugh, or you drown in frustration. I encourage my team to find humour in the chaos. We trade stories like a group of football fans in our local pub, and those laughs, those moments of connection, are what get you through the 12-hour marathons.

Lesson 5: Treat your days off like gold

On my days off, I unplug. I don’t check email. I don’t respond to “just a quick question” texts. I recharge. That might mean breakfast with my family a walk by the seafront or just watching a football match without being WhatsApp to fix a broken ice machine. The secret? Plan your rest like you plan your shifts. Because if you don’t rest, you burn out. And in this business, burnout doesn’t knock-it kicks the door in.

Final Thought: Balance is personal

No two GMs will define work-life balance the same way. For me, it’s about protecting the time that matters, knowing when to step back, and leading by example-so my team feels they can do the same.

Will I ever achieve perfect harmony between work and life? Probably not. But I’ve made peace with the idea that even unicorns need a coffee break. And sometimes, that’s more than enough, Oh and having my next holiday planned.

www.lumleycastle.com

1 of

Sign-up to our newsletter

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.