Are you the (personality) type to easily achieve balance?

Ange Stirling • November 25, 2020

Checking emails late into the night, reaching for your phone before you’ve even had breakfast to start your working day, the ‘lunch break’ that involves a Zoom meeting – the lines between our work lives and our personal lives have never been blurrier.

While there are many advantages to always being in the loop, getting things done quickly and having some flexibility in where, how and when you work, there is a real cost to our ‘constantly on’ way of working.

According to a 2018 study by Gallup, 23% employees reported feeling burned out at work very often or always, with an additional 44% saying they sometimes felt burned out. i  2020 brought with it further challenges to work-life balance, with a survey by online employment platform Monster finding that 69% employees were feeling burned out mid-year. ii

Work-life balance means quite distinct things to different individuals and, it turns out, the way we manage and achieve balance differs markedly between different personality types. Given this balance is something we can all struggle with at times, it’s worth being familiar with your personality type and how this impacts your work-life balance.

Understanding your personality type

The Harvard Business Review identified four aspects of personality of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator – extraversion or introversion, sensing or intuition, thinking or feeling, judging or perceiving. iii

Whether or not you have done the Myers-Briggs test, having a deeper understanding of your personality will help you understand how you respond to challenges. For instance, if you are more towards the  extrovert  end of the scale, being with others will re-change your batteries, while  introverts  need alone time to reflect.

If you are a  sensing  personality you are more comfortable tackling one thing at a time, while those who tend to  intuition  thrive when juggling many balls in the air.

Those who are  thinkers  need to watch that they are not perceived as too blunt in their communications with others and those who show  feeling  traits need to ensure they nurture themselves.

And finally, those who show  judgement  traits will thrive within the structure of set hours, such as 9 – 5, whereas  perceivers  love the flexibility of setting their own work schedule.

Attaining a work-life balance

We’re all different, yet everyone benefits from having clear boundaries around their time and by identifying their priorities. If you have found your working hours have crept into your downtime, try to set specific times to check your email and attend meetings. If you prefer a more flexible approach, ensure you’re making time for friends or family and participating in hobbies you enjoy.

When setting goals, pay attention to how many of them relate to your career and how many are focused on other important aspects of your life, such as your health and relationships. It’s easy to just focus on one area and neglect others, so make a conscious effort to attend to those that have been forgotten about. Where can you put more of your attention and what needs to give in order for you to divert your energy to this area?

Setting SMART goals is a helpful task for all personality types to do – you just might do them in different ways. iv  For instance someone with sensing preferences might reflect more and need to look at the bigger picture in order to set goals, while an intuition preference can mean that person will go with a gut feeling but would do well to focus on one thing rather than setting lots of goals.

It’s fair to say that work-life balance is never going to be a perfect equilibrium all the time, however you can put steps in place so that you can enjoy both work and play.

Adrian Rasmussen retires after decades supporting Regional Queensland

By BMO • June 30, 2026
After an incredible career dedicated to supporting regional businesses, farming families and rural communities, BMO Business Centre Partner Adrian Rasmussen will officially retire from the partnership effective 30 June 2026. For many across the Western Downs and beyond, Adrian has been far more than an accountant or advisor. Over decades in business, he has built trusted relationships grounded in honesty, loyalty and a genuine understanding of regional life and the people who live it. Adrian’s connection to the country and agriculture has always been at the heart of who he is. He has worked alongside generations of farming families and business owners through seasons of growth, challenge and change, becoming a steady and respected presence for clients, colleagues and the wider community alike. Reflecting on his time at BMO, Adrian said the relationships formed throughout his career have been among the most rewarding parts of the journey. “It has been a privilege to work with so many wonderful people over the years; not only clients, but colleagues and communities who have become lifelong friends,” Adrian said. “Regional communities are built on relationships, trust and supporting one another, and I’m incredibly grateful to have been part of that throughout my career.” BMO Business Centre Managing Partners Kelvin Tyler and Michelle McVeigh said Adrian’s contribution to both the business and the region would leave a lasting legacy. “Adrian has played an incredibly important role in shaping BMO into the business it is today,” they said. “His care for clients, commitment to regional communities and calm, practical approach have earned enormous respect across our industry and the communities we serve. While we will certainly miss having him in the office, we are excited for Adrian and his family as they enter this next chapter.” While stepping away from the partnership, Adrian is looking forward to spending more time with family, on the farm and enjoying a well-earned change of pace after many years dedicated to supporting others. Everyone at BMO Business Centre extends their sincere thanks to Adrian for his years of service, friendship and leadership, and wishes Adrian and his family all the very best for the future.

Your 30 June superannuation checklist

By Nikki Ashurst • June 4, 2026
Five easy ways to get more into your super fund before the end of the financial year.