The Secret to Finding Work-Life Balance

I’ve unlocked the secret to finding work-life balance and I want to share it with you. 

The secret, which you may be surprised to hear, is to stop striving for balance in the first place.

Why?

Because balance suggests equality. Balance suggests an even distribution. Balance, as formally defined, means that one thing carries the same weight as something else.

But your work and your life aren’t meant to be equal. They are meant to be integrated. To integrate, is to combine and become whole. And that’s why I recommend you strive for work-life integration instead. 

So, what does it mean for you to stop the endless quest for work-life balance and begin to work towards finding a career that you can integrate well with your life?

It means that on some days, your career may simply require more of your attention. You may be working towards a deadline or spend more time on a big project. You may need to invest in preparing for an important customer meeting or stay late to help a colleague. On these days, you might find yourself spending more time at work, and that’s okay. 

There will be other days, of course, where you may decide to take time off to spontaneously spend the day at the beach. Or you may take an extra long lunch break to go for a run while the sun is shining. You may even carve out some time for a personal appointment or to spend time with your family. On these days, you’re more focused on living a full life by having fun, enjoying nature, and nurturing relationships. 

When you begin to think about your work and your life in this way, it helps alleviate the pressure that there always needs to be a perfect balance. The reality is that some days your work will demand more from you and some days your life will demand more from you. 

And this is why you’ve got to plan to integrate the two well. And even more specifically why I am a Coach for both your Life & Career. Because I believe we all feel most fulfilled when we are well connected to both. When we are living as whole and complete humans making a difference in the world, but also enjoying the ride.