I am a proud member of Generation Y and I am not afraid to admit it! And, as a member of this Generation, full of technology and the ability to communicate 24/7 (blackberries, email and Wi Fi…oh my!), it has been quite the learning curve to figure out this little thing called “work/life balance.”

But, in the past few years, I have learned just how important it is to maintain a work/life balance. For your clients. For your team. For your sanity!

Flexibility – Today, the balance is no longer about being at your desk from 9 to 5, Monday to Friday, and then checking out completely until the next morning. With tools like laptops, blackberries and wireless Internet, we have the ability to provide top-notch client servicing outside of standard banking hours! But there is a fine line between being helpful and over-committing yourself.

We’re lucky; we can go for a lunchtime gym session and make it up with some deck writing after hours. Or, we can go for coffee with a colleague and be able to respond to an email at 9:00 PM, as necessary. By adapting to our current world and leveraging these tools, we are able to do away with the 9 to 5 paradigm and bring in a higher form of client servicing (keeping in mind that, when needed, we must still always be there for our clients from 9 to 5).

Sick Days – When you’re sick, get out of the office (not just this year because it’s “a different type of flu season”) because sick days aren’t just for you. Get out! Why? 50% because you need to get better and another 50% so that other people don’t get what you have!

Vacation Days – Maybe not just for you either! In fact, in the client-driven business (and perhaps otherwise), they may not be for you at all. Vacations are not something you need to take just because people are telling you that you need a break. You NEED it! You must relax, renew, and rejuvenate! You must check out so that you can come back stronger, more insightful, and more motivated than ever before.

Getting Active – Let me tell you, it’s no word of a lie that getting active gives you more energy. Going for a run, going to the gym, or hitting a yoga class isn’t going to suck the energy out of you. It’s going to give you more energy to tackle your to do list and increase your productivity.

What’s New in the World? – Finally, we can’t succeed at our jobs if we are chained to our desk for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In the sponsorship and marketing world, a significant factor to success is knowing what is going on in the industry. What better way to educate yourself than by immersing yourself in the field, taking time to go see events, reading the magazines you enjoy and exploring these trends and insights first hand?

So, in conclusion… A balancing act… Agree? Disagree? Got any tips to share?