It's a constant negotiation about how-and where-you spend your time. The unique nature of each of our lives and our fluctuating responsibilities means that work-life balance and work-life integration look different for everyone. While work-life integration might give you a more holistic framework, work-life balance might emphasize a much-needed sense of division for those who find work creeping into their personal lives. Whatever term you prefer to use, the reality is that both describe our attempt to manage our various responsibilities and goals. Rather than resembling a scale with two competing sides, work-life integration more resembles a Venn diagram of overlapping interests. From this perspective, work is simply one aspect of our lives, which needs to be considered alongside other important concerns, such as our home and family lives, our community, and our personal well-being. In response, work-life integration-or the synergistic blending of our personal and professional responsibilities-has become an increasingly popular concept. However, the term itself can be misleading because our careers and personal lives don't always exist in separate spheres. Many people want to achieve a greater balance between their work life and their personal life so that work does not take up the vast majority of their time. When work demands more of your time or attention, you will have less time to handle your other responsibilities or passions. You also might feel out-of-sorts, overwhelmed, or constantly pulled in many different directions, says Shira Miller, a certified executive coach and author of “ Free and Clear: Get Unstuck and Live the Life You Want.”Īny of these signs hit a bit close to home? The 12 tips below can help you carve out a meaningful, fulfilling work-life balance, on your own terms.Work-life balance is typically defined as the amount of time you spend doing your job versus the amount of time you spend with loved ones or pursuing personal interests and hobbies. you’re emotionally, physically, or mentally exhausted.you’ve become negative, cynical, irritable, or resentful.you’re experiencing difficulties in your relationships.You might have trouble meeting important obligations, feel as if you can’t keep up, or tend to overwork, Carroll says.Īccording to Rebecca Phillips, a licensed professional counselor and owner of Mend Modern Therapy, your work-life balance may need some tweaking if: With so much fluidity, how do you know when things are amiss? We have one life with many roles and facets,” explains Sally Anne Carroll, a life and career reinvention coach and author of the book “ Reinvent Your Reality: A Positively Practical Guide to Revitalizing Your Life & Work.”Ĭarroll notes that having a good work-life balance “means showing up for the various parts of your life in the way that you want to show up, and that no one area has taken control to the detriment of the rest of your life.” “We don’t have personal lives and professional lives. Thanks to remote work, super-smart tech, and more flexible schedules, a distinct divide between your professional and personal lives may feel next to impossible, these days.īut a healthy work-life balance doesn’t involve a perfect, 50/50 split - or any kind of numbers, for that matter. Share on Pinterest Westend61/Getty Images
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