My Problem With The Work Life Balance & What We Should Focus On Instead

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Welcome back, dads! Today, I want to talk about something that’s often discussed but rarely questioned—work-life balance. Many of us strive to balance our time between the office and home, especially with the rise of home offices, which promise the best of both worlds. But I have a problem with this concept and want to share why I think it doesn't work, particularly for us dads.

The Myth of Work-Life Balance
The idea behind work-life balance is that you can seamlessly manage your work and personal life by setting clear boundaries between the two. However, I believe this approach is fundamentally flawed. Life isn't just about work, and work isn't something that can be entirely separated from life. The notion that we can switch between work and personal life like flipping a switch is unrealistic.

A Different Time, A Different Approach
In the past, work and family life were more integrated. For example, when most people were farmers, the family and work were one and the same. The family farm was both the source of livelihood and the center of family life. Today, work and home are often seen as separate entities, which leads to a constant struggle to balance the two.

The Problem with Separation
I believe that trying to keep work and life separate can lead to more stress rather than less. For many of us, our families are our top priority, and work should be an extension of that, not something that competes with it. The concept of work-life balance suggests that work and life are opposing forces, but I think they should be complementary.

The Reality of Work and Family Life
In reality, our thoughts and responsibilities are never as clearly divided as the concept of work-life balance suggests. For example, you might be at work thinking about a family event, or at home brainstorming solutions to a work problem. Our brains naturally shift between different aspects of our lives, and it’s unrealistic to expect them not to.

A More Integrated Approach
Instead of striving for work-life balance, I advocate for a more integrated approach. This means designing a life where work is a part of your family life, not something that pulls you away from it. It’s about creating a flow where you can seamlessly transition between your responsibilities as a parent and as a professional.

One of the reasons I’m passionate about starting my own business is that it allows for this kind of integration. With a business, I can decide when to focus on work and when to focus on family, depending on what’s happening in both areas. This flexibility is invaluable and more in tune with how our minds and lives actually operate.

The Flow of Work and Life
Our minds naturally flow between different tasks and responsibilities, whether they’re related to work or family. By allowing ourselves to work in this natural flow, we can reduce stress and be more effective in both areas. This approach acknowledges that work and life are interconnected and that they don’t need to be at odds with each other.

Final Thoughts
The idea of work-life balance might sound appealing, but in practice, it often doesn’t work the way we want it to. Instead of trying to balance two separate entities, I believe we should aim to integrate them in a way that aligns with our priorities and natural rhythms.

I hope this perspective has been valuable to you. I’d love to hear your thoughts on work-life balance and the idea of integrating work with family life. Please share your comments below, and let’s continue this conversation. If you want more content like this, check out the next video. See you then!