The Myth of Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? Something that especially ambitious people aim for, and they are sure that if they could find this balance they’d be productive at work, present with their family, and still have time to hit the gym, read a book, and get a full eight hours of sleep.

Well this might hurt but .…. Work-life balance is a myth. And chasing it is probably making you feel more stressed and less satisfied.

I know, because I’ve been there, my husband has been there, my father has been there too —trying to keep every area of our life in perfect balance, and feeling like a failure when inevitably there was no balance. And oh boy...the guilt you feel.... is like a mountain on your shoulder isn't it?

Simply the idea of balance makes it seem like work and life are two separate things you can divide evenly, like slicing a pie into perfect halves. But life isn’t a pie—it’s a messy, unpredictable mix of priorities that are constantly shifting.

Don’t believe me? Think about it:

•  Some days or weeks, work needs more of your time and energy.
•  Other weeks, personal life takes the spotlight—whether it’s a sick kid, a family emergency, or just needing a break.

The problem with chasing balance is that it makes you feel like you’re doing something wrong if one area demands more of you than the other. But that’s life— and what I’ve learned it’s that life should not be about balance; I think should be much more about harmony.

So Instead of thinking about balance, I started to think about alignment.

Harmony means knowing what matters most to you in this season of your life and aligning your time and energy with those priorities.

For example If your career is your focus right now, you might spend extra hours at work, but you can still spare intentional time for family dinners or personal needs- just not equally with the time you spend at work.

Or if your family needs you more, you might step back from work projects or say no to extra commitments without guilt, because anyway your mind will always tell what your priorities are wherever your body is.

Harmony doesn’t mean everything gets equal attention. It means the things that matter most at that time get the attention they deserve.

I like balance truly but in some aspects of life that idea of keeping everything in balance might be overwhelming. I can’t do it all as I wish or how I see others on social media exposing the ideal life ( let’s not get into this topic….not just yet).  So I have accepted it and I started to ask myself, "What matters most to me right now?" And I try to be honest even though sometimes I feel that in that moment it matters more to finish a project than to see movies with my family. Your priorities might change over time, and that’s okay. Feeling guilty won't help much as long as what you do is still not aligned with your values or with what you wish you were doing.

That's why when I am with loved ones, I acknowledge they are my priority so I put my work on the side and I am present, even when this might take a few days not just a few hours. I learned that dividing my attention only creates stress, especially if I fight with the guilt that I should divide myself and my time equally when really what I want is to do is more work in this period of my life.

Disclaimer:

When we talk about harmony and prioritizing what matters most, it’s easy to fall into a trap—thinking that it’s okay to put everything else on hold while focusing entirely on one part of your life. But harmony doesn’t mean neglecting the rest of your life indefinitely.

If you focus on work for too long, thinking you’ll “catch up” with family, friends, health or rest later when you’ll be done with reaching your goal, you might find there’s nothing left to return to. Relationships can grow distant, your health may deteriorate, or you might lose the joy you once felt in the things that matter most.

On the flip side, trying to be present with loved ones or friends for too long neglecting work or while your thoughts are stuck at work doesn’t create the connection you’re aiming for—it creates frustration for you and for them.  

This is why it’s important to be mindful of the timeframe you dedicate to any one area of life. Seasons of focus are normal, but they should come with check-ins to ensure you’re not losing sight of the bigger picture.

It might help to ask yourself:

•  Am I giving my current priority the time and attention it truly deserves?
•  How is this focus impacting the other areas of my life?
•  What small steps can I take to stay connected to the things I’ll need to return to later?

So this is my conclusion that work-life balance isn’t about splitting your time 50/50 between work and personal life— it means being present where it matters most and ensuring that no part of your life is sacrificed beyond repair. 

I think that if you let go of the myth of balance and focus on harmony, you’ll find more freedom, less guilt, and a deeper sense of fulfillment.

XoXo,

Larisa Pop