What Does Your Version of Balance Look Like?

When people talk about work/life balance, do you immediately feel like they’re discussing some complex mathematical equation you’ll never solve? There’s danger in comparing your situation to others’ - especially where this powder keg of emotion is concerned. The truth is, “work/life balance” is largely a fairy tale, full of magical thinking, starry-eyed longing and a whole lot of fantasy. There’s no need for you to feel like you can’t crack the work/life balance code for yourself - you’re probably trying to live up to an artificial, unattainable standard. The best you can do is to develop your own, personalized version of work/life balance that suits your needs, desires and situation.

No matter what others claim to be requisite for work/life balance, you are you - not them. Every individual should ideally have the freedom to define their own balance that fulfills what is most important. No other person’s balance needs to dictate what yours looks like, so be kind and generous with yourself when the comparisons come flying.

Work/life balance usually has to do with the opportunities your work affords you to take care of personal and family priorities. However, it can also go the other way, integrating time for work within a family schedule. Since your life is your own, only you can determine what “ideal” balance you’re striving for.

That’s right - I said striving for. No one ever will reach any perfect work/life balance, no matter how hard they try. Things may work out for a while, but everything changes and the scales are going to tip one way and then the other from time to time.

The best you can hope for is that most of the time, you can do more of the things that make you feel like you’re in the driver’s’ seat of your life. That’s all anyone can truly achieve where work/life balance is concerned. Keep the focus on you and your priorities for better success in finding your version of work/life balance.