Lena Gercke: Mastering the Balance Between Career and Family

Lena Gercke makes the whole “having it all” thing look easy, right? But scroll past the glossy Instagram pictures, and you’ll find it’s more about real planning, compromises, and clever hacks than pure luck. If you’ve ever tried to answer a work email with a toddler tugging at your sweatpants, you’ll relate.

Lena’s not just fitting a family into her schedule — she’s mixing in big TV gigs, fashion campaigns, a business, and global travel. Sounds impossible? That’s what makes her story so interesting. She doesn’t pretend everything runs smoothly all the time. In fact, she’s open about the mess, the missed sleep, and why she loves routines but sometimes ditches them for family fun.

If your days feel like a mad juggling act, you’re in good company. There are simple tricks in Lena’s playbook that actually work for regular folks, not just celebrities. She swears by shared calendars, quick “reset” breaks when things get wild, and letting go of perfection (seriously, who’s folding laundry perfectly every time?).

• Lena Gercke’s Busy World
• How She Keeps Work and Family in Sync
• Tips from Lena for Everyday Balance
• What We Can Learn (and Steal!) from Her Routine

Lena Gercke’s Busy World

If you look at Lena Gercke's calendar, you might want to lie down. She’s not just a model—you've probably seen her win the first season of Germany’s Next Topmodel way back in 2006, but that’s just chapter one. Now, she’s a regular on German TV as a presenter, a fashion entrepreneur with her own line "LeGer," and pretty much always in the spotlight. It’s a lot for anyone, let alone for someone raising a young daughter.

Weekly, Lena might switch between leading a campaign shoot in Ibiza to filming "The Voice of Germany" auditions, and then back home for story time with Zoé. She’s open about how these rapid jumps keep her on her toes but also keep things interesting. And let’s be real—her phone is never out of reach. Most of her work gets squeezed into odd hours, and she’s turned juggling WhatsApp calls with designers or producers while making breakfast into an art form.

It’s not just glam. Flying between cities means time zones mess with routines. Lena leans hard into tech to keep up. She uses shared digital calendars with her husband and her team, plus a family group chat that keeps everyone in the loop—especially when plans change (which they do, a lot).

• She often wakes up early to knock out work before family time.
• Her mom sometimes steps in as backup childcare when both Lena and partner Dustin Schöne are busy.
• Travel bags are always packed for the next shoot; Lena admits she keeps a double set of essentials in case she grabs the wrong suitcase.
• When she’s filming or live on TV, she checks in with her daughter by video call, just to catch a sleepy smile or hear about preschool.

Here’s a quick run-down of what one typical month can look like for her:

That busy world means something’s got to give. Lena says she lets go of guilt and focuses on where she’s needed most each day. She refuses to pretend it’s perfect—she just makes it work.

How She Keeps Work and Family in Sync

When you watch Lena Gercke bouncing between runway shows, TV studios, and family time, it’s easy to think she has some secret superpower. Actually, she’s just got a few tried-and-true habits that help her pull off this balancing act. For Lena, it all starts with setting real priorities. She’s been open in interviews about how sometimes work takes the front seat and at other moments, family does. “You can’t give 100% everywhere at once,” she told Gala magazine. Instead, she looks at her schedule weekly and makes small shifts to keep things balanced.

Lena is big on routines, both for herself and her daughter. Breakfast together is a non-negotiable—even if she’s got a 6 a.m. call time, she wakes up early enough to eat with her family. She explained in an interview how small consistent habits like these keep everyone connected:

“It’s not about spending all day together—it’s about creating important little moments, no matter how busy things get.”

Co-parenting is another key. Lena and her partner work as a team, sharing school drop-offs, bedtime routines, and sometimes even joining meetings via video call from home when schedules clash. According to a 2024 survey shared by Bunte, about 60% of German working moms say a flexible partner is their top help in managing both career and home life. Lena’s story fits this stat perfectly.

• Shared Google Calendar: Everything from photoshoots to pediatrician appointments goes on it. If it’s not on the calendar, it doesn’t happen. Lena swears this keeps drama to a minimum.
• Delegation: Lena’s comfortable asking for help, whether it’s from family, a babysitter, or her assistant when things get hectic. She’s public about letting go of “mom guilt” for not doing it all alone.
• Clear boundaries: When Lena is home, she puts her phone in another room for chunks of time. She’s spoken about this helping her be fully present, and honestly, a lot of us could steal that trick.

Keeping those boundaries and routines in place means Lena’s not just pretending at work-life balance—she’s making it happen. And the fact she’s open about the messier moments? That’s the real refreshment here.

Tips from Lena for Everyday Balance

Ever wonder how Lena Gercke keeps her cool when juggling a packed work agenda and family life? She’s not hiding a magic secret—just a bunch of small habits and honest boundaries that actually work. You can try these out, no matter if you’re running a business or wrangling kids at the supermarket.

1. Block Your Calendar for Family—and Stick to It
Lena openly shares that she schedules family time in her calendar just like a business meeting. Even if managers or producers try to sneak in calls, she doesn’t budge. Whether it’s bedtime stories, walks with her daughter, or Sunday breakfasts, these slots are non-negotiable. If your job is chipping away at your personal time, start putting your family first on your calendar. Hold those blocks as tight as Lena holds onto her morning coffee!

2. Say “No” Without Guilt
This one took Lena a bit to learn, but now she credits a lot of her career balance to getting comfortable with the word “no.” She’s mentioned in interviews that turning down some jobs actually opened doors for bigger opportunities and more quality family time. It feels risky, but protecting your energy and schedule means you’ll show up as your best self—at home and at work.

3. Keep Routines Simple—but Flexible
Lena likes a solid routine for her daughter’s sleep and meals, but she’s not afraid to break it when life gets wild. She’s talked about the importance of adapting—sometimes a late-night work call means a quick breakfast instead of a planned morning routine. The real win? Not feeling guilty if every day isn’t picture perfect.

4. Use Digital Tools (Seriously!)
Ditching paper calendars, Lena relies on apps and synced calendars to keep everything together. She shares events with her partner, which means fewer missed appointments and double-bookings. If your family is always out of sync, try a shared family calendar (even a free one, like Google Calendar). Add dentist visits, work trips, or kids’ playdates—if it’s not on the calendar, it won’t happen.

5. Don’t Hide When It Feels Tough
Lena’s pretty brave about sharing the rough stuff on social media—think sleepless nights or work days where nothing goes right. Admitting it’s hard sometimes helps more than pretending there’s no struggle. If you feel overwhelmed, talk about it with someone. You’ll be surprised how many other parents feel the same way.

6. Outsource When You Can
No shame in getting help. Lena has admitted to getting help with household jobs, like cleaning or meal prep, when work ramps up—especially during big shoots or TV projects. If your budget allows, look at ways to ease up your load. Even little things, like ordering groceries online, can give you precious time back.

• Block family time in your digital calendar
• Practice saying “no” more often
• Find a daily routine that works—but be ready to tweak it
• Use shared digital tools for better family communication
• Ask for help or outsource when things get too busy
• Talk about the hard days (it helps!)

Want to see how these tips compare to the average? Here’s a look at what German parents (including celebs like Lena) say are their top three tricks:

If Lena can make these habits work with her packed family life and headline-grabbing career, there’s a good chance they can help anyone walk that work-life tightrope a little easier.

What We Can Learn (and Steal!) from Her Routine

If you peek behind the curtain of Lena Gercke's jam-packed schedule, you’ll find a handful of routines and hacks that don’t just work for celebrities. Let’s face it—most of us crave more time for both work and family, but balance often feels like a fantasy. Yet Lena’s habits, right down to her rules around phones at dinner, are surprisingly doable. Here’s what actually sets her apart, with things you can totally try out at home.

• Dedicated "Family-Only" Time: Lena regularly puts her phone away after 6 p.m. so evenings are for family, not emails. She talks about loving tech, but she draws clear lines. Try setting your own no-screens rule for certain hours—maybe during meals or before bedtime.
• Shared Calendars for Teamwork: Lena, her partner, and even her assistants all use a synced online calendar to track family stuff, shoots, and events. If your household is all over the place, syncing Google Calendars (or a paper planner on the fridge!) cuts down on confusion fast.
• Outsourcing and Delegating: She’s open about getting help with cleaning and childcare, especially on travel days. Look, asking for help isn’t cheating—sometimes you need to tag in a friend, service, or babysitter. Lena says it beats burning out.
• Quality Over Quantity: She can’t always be everywhere, so she makes moments count. Whether reading bedtime stories or cooking a quick dinner together, Lena picks presence over perfection. Even a ten-minute chat with your kid or partner is worth more than being half-checked-in all day.
• Honesty about Limits: Lena openly shares her struggles with exhaustion after back-to-back jobs and travel. Instead of pushing through, she’s learned to say no to some projects or, occasionally, family invites. It’s okay to admit you need rest—this protects both career ambition and family harmony.

Fun fact: Lena reportedly keeps her travel days predictable, booking the earliest flight possible to maximize evening family time. In one 2023 interview, she mentioned using meal prep services when shooting abroad, so family dinners aren’t a stress even if she’s not home in time.

Juggling a career and family life like Lena isn’t about being superhuman. It’s picking your battles, asking for support, and building routines that fit real life. If there’s one takeaway, it’s this: You don’t need a famous name to make little changes that have a huge impact on your balance and happiness.