Rethinking Work-Life Balance in the Printing Industry

“Who’s got perfect work-life balance right now?”

That was the question Aaron Montgomery posed to a room of print professionals at a PRINTING United Expo session. With little surprise, not a single person raised their hand.

Montgomery, a certified Success Principles Trainer and author of “FUNdamentals of Business Success,” acknowledged what many in the room were already thinking: “I don’t think this idea of a perfect work-life balance is reality. I think it’s a myth.”

For an industry defined by tight deadlines, unpredictable production schedules, and constant problem-solving, achieving work-life balance can feel impossible. For that reason, he challenged attendees to rethink the goal entirely. “I think unpredictability is a given,” he said. “And understanding how we deal that is probably more important.”

Montgomery notes that there are always seasons of intense activity, where long hours are necessary, and others where things slow down. The key isn’t to achieve perfect balance every day, but to understand those cycles and adjust your time and energy accordingly.

“When we understand what the rhythm of our lives and – for business owners — what our businesses’ rhythms are, it becomes a whole lot easier to manage,” he said.

And once you understand your rhythm, the next step is deciding what actually deserves your time.

Shifting From Time Management to Priority Management

According to Montgomery, most professionals don’t have a time management problem — they have a priority management problem.

He pointed to a concept popularized by Stephen Covey: the jar of big rocks, gravel, sand, and water. “Think about your day as a big jar that we're going to stuff all these things into,” he said. “These are all the priorities of life.” If you fill it first with small, low-impact tasks (sand and water) you’ll quickly run out of room. But if you start with the most important priorities (big rocks) everything else can fit around them.

In a print operation, those big rocks might include checking in with employees, investing time in training, scheduling press maintenance, or building relationships with key customers. And equally as important, they should include time outside of work for family, rest, and personal priorities.

“Just because it’s a big rock doesn’t mean it needs to take big time,” Montgomery added. Even dedicating 15 focused minutes a week to a high-impact task — like reaching out to a top customer — can create meaningful results.

Building Habits to Support Balance

For print professionals, managing work-life balance requires more than just a shift in perspective, it requires practical, repeatable habits. And because there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, Montgomery offered several strategies to help attendees better manage their time and create a sense of balance:

1. Your calendar

“Our calendar is the only actual time management tool that we have,” Montgomery said. “If you just make that a to-do list item, the potential is that rock is going to get kicked down the road a little bit.”

2. Cut your deadline in half

Shortening your deadline can eliminate unnecessary tasks that don’t add value. In many cases, Montgomery noted that people still complete the work successfully, and gain time back too.

3. Project management systems

Project management platforms such as Asana, Monday.com, Trello, etc., are powerful tools for organizing and tracking tasks across a team. Their customizable workflows help streamline collaboration, while built-in features help reinforce a sense of progress.

4. The Fundamental Five

This approach focuses on identifying five (or fewer) essential tasks to complete each day. “They don't have to be big, huge projects,” Montgomery noted. “In fact, it's better that they aren't. I found the rhythm for me is I can do five things a day and still fill in all of the rest of the emails that come.” The goal is to find a sustainable rhythm.

5. Celebrate the wins

Recognizing both personal and team achievements is essential. Not only does it provide a natural boost in motivation, but it also builds momentum over time. As Montgomery put it, “I just believe that as humans, we don't celebrate enough. We don't want to be braggadocious that type of thing, but we need to. You've accomplished that thing.”

Ultimately, Montgomery’s message was less about achieving a flawless balance and more about building intention into how our time is spent. Perfect balance may be a myth, but with the right approach, a more sustainable and fulfilling version of it is well within reach.

Ready to see what's next for print? PRINTING United Expo — September 23–25, 2026, Las Vegas Convention Center — is where the global print industry gathers to discover new technology, learn from leading experts, connect with peers, and find solutions for every segment of print. Visit printingunited.com to learn more.