The myth that work-life balance is a myth

Fast Company ran a piece recently claiming that work/life balance is a myth. I’ve heard this notion before. And it’s total crap.

The author tries to justify his stance by saying no one can achieve absolute, 50/50 balance. Therefore, balance is unachievable. 

Brilliant. If only his logic made a lick of sense. 

Does anyone really set out to achieve perfectly symmetrical balance between their work and home lives? No one I know. The author’s argument comes down to semantics (taking the word ‘balance’ incredibly literally), which is a pretty weak premise for a piece in a major magazine.

For most people, the idea of balance simply means paying attention to all aspects of their lives. Work should be inspiring. Relationships should be fulfilling. Home life should be rewarding. 

Make all of those things happen and I’d say you live a pretty balanced life. And it’s really not that hard to do. It just takes a little focus. 

You need to treat each part of your life like it matters. Work isn’t the only part of life you need to work at. Relationships take effort. Taking care of a home requires constant attention. 

Yes, it can all be overwhelming. And there will always be times when everything feels out of control. That’s normal. But that doesn’t mean balance is unachievable. It simply means it’s not easy. 

But who ever said life was supposed to be easy?