Do not set yourself up for failure by striving for work–life balance.
Strive for work–life FLOW. Do what you love and love what you do.
Donny Walford
I love this quote from Donny Walford in my new book — Do What You Say You’ll Do. Too often we strive for work life balance, thinking that each part our life will be neatly packaged and yes, indeed balanced. And because the reality often looks so very different, it sets us up to think we are failing.
If we take Donny’s advice and go for “flow” instead of balance, it makes more sense. There will be times that one aspect of your life takes more energy, has greater priority, takes up more time. But so long as it flows and it’s manageable and intentional, then it will flow back when the time is right. Ebb and flow imply “rhythm”..
The two aspects that are dangerous around the concept of balance are:
- That life sits into equally contained boxes (because it doesn’t) — there will always be times when one aspect of life takes priority; and
- That if things are out of balance, then we are out of control — just because one area of your life has more attention and energy, it doesn’t mean that the other areas receive NO attention, it also doesn’t mean that things need to fall apart.
Some other points to contemplate:
- Things do become out of control when there is TOO much to do, or disorganisation or chaos starts to reign. This is more about how the HOW you approach what you do.
- Saying “no” can be a wonderfully freeing approach, which can then enable flow..
- Flow doesn’t mean that you need to do it all (now). Flow can mean focus and attention on an area of your life now, with less emphasis on other aspects (now), with the rhythm changing as life changes.
What do you think? Do you strive for balance? Is there even such a thing?
