How We Take Care Of Ourselves At Home

How We Take Care Of Ourselves At Home

Welcome, everyone . Today I had the chance to sit down with my good friend Mark Story, and we explored a topic that every construction professional wrestles with at some point: how do we take care of ourselves at home while still showing up with excellence at work? Mark has decades of experience, and I always appreciate the wisdom he brings to these conversations. This blog is all about that balance and what it truly means to build not just projects, but a life.

I opened by asking Mark a simple question: What does it mean for a professional to “make a home”? His answer and the depth behind it set the tone for the entire discussion. He shared how motivations evolve as our careers advance. In the early stages, we chase titles, money, opportunities. We need those things to build a family and a future. But as the years move on, priorities shift. Kids arrive, grow, and eventually start families of their own. Suddenly, time at home becomes more meaningful than overtime at work. That shift is natural, but many of us struggle to adapt to it.

Mark works with a number of professionals who are all in different life stages, and yet they share the same challenge: navigating demanding projects while still being present for the people who matter most. He coaches them on delegation, focus, and planning not just for the project, but for their families. On one project alone, several team members have welcomed new babies, and Mark continues to emphasize that those moments cannot be missed. A hard project may last 18 months, but a child’s first steps happen once.

One idea Mark shared that really resonated with me is planning personal time with the same rigor that we plan project work. He and his wife Julie sit down regularly to map out vacations, family trips, and important milestones long before the year unfolds. He uses a color coded calendar to stay intentional: one glance tells him where he’s going, when he’s home, and whether he’s overloading himself. Once something is on the calendar, it becomes a commitment not a wish.

I’ve gone through my own wake up calls on this topic. Years ago, Kate told me, “You always say it’s a busy time you’ll always say it.” She was right. I hit that moment again when running the business and flying constantly. She even told me, bluntly, “You don’t know how to plan.” That stung, but she was right about that too. I knew how to plan projects, but I wasn’t planning first things first. Once I started scheduling family time, trips, and home weeks in advance, everything began to shift. And just like Mark said, things at work still got done it all worked out.

Mark drew a connection that I loved: if we don’t own our calendar, the calendar will own us. This is true on projects and in our personal lives. When we don’t control our time, we eventually burn out, our families feel the strain, and the quality of our work drops. But when we plan ahead whether it’s a yearly vacation, a week working from home, or simply blocking out evenings we protect our health and relationships. And healthier people lead better teams.

He also talked about something many of us forget: moments of rest heal us. For him, it’s hunting trips, time in nature, or traveling with family. For others, it might be hiking, reading, fishing, or simply being home for bedtime. Whatever it is, it has to be protected, not squeezed in as an afterthought.

By the end of our conversation, one principle stood above the rest: Treat your personal life with the same discipline, clarity, and intention that you bring to your job. Plan it, protect it, and prioritize it. Your work will improve because you improve.

This was one of my favorite discussions with Mark, and I’m grateful for his insight and honesty. I hope this blog inspires you to reflect on how you plan your time and how you care for the people waiting for you at home.