How Pursuing Work-Life Balance Can Lead to Unhappiness
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Chapter 1: The Illusion of Work-Life Balance
"How many of you believe that maintaining a good balance between your job and your personal life is crucial? Please raise your hands."
Every graduate in the room immediately raised their hands in response.
The speaker, however, had a surprising reaction.
"Actually, I don't believe that," she declared with emphasis.
"You have only one life, and it's a misconception — a mistake — to think of it as two separate entities that need to be balanced."
She concluded her address with a vital lesson drawn from her experience.
"Seek work that brings you joy — work that reflects who you are. Your future employment should provide both flexibility and accountability, making it a seamless part of your entire life."
After her impactful speech, it was my turn to distribute diplomas.
Before I began, I expressed my gratitude to the speaker for her motivating words and shared that I resonated with her perspective. We shouldn't fixate on achieving a work-life balance. Throughout my career, I've witnessed countless individuals make poor decisions in pursuit of this elusive equilibrium.
Section 1.1: Challenging the Status Quo
Despite the common narrative promoting work-life balance, what struck me about the speaker was her courage to question this widely accepted belief. Her thoughts reminded me of the Apple TV+ series Severance. The characters in this show took the concept of "work-life balance" to its extreme, utilizing a brain implant that created a rigid separation between their work and personal lives.
As soon as they entered the workplace, they had no memory of their life outside, and the reverse was also true. While I won’t spoil the plot, it becomes clear that this separation proved to be a nightmare for the characters, who found themselves trapped in an endless work cycle, leaving their personal lives hollow.
Yet, when I observe people who are fixated on the idea of work-life balance, I can see the appeal of such a severance device. Ironically, striving for a forced "work-life balance" in real life can be even more detrimental, often resulting in feelings of sadness, lack of productivity, diminished creativity, and a sense of being misunderstood.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Limits of Separation
Section 1.2: The Daily Grind
A rigid separation between professional and personal realms often entails spending eight or more hours at the office. Our routines are predictable: arriving at the same time, taking lunch breaks, and attending meetings, only to head home at the end of the day.
I have seen many talented individuals squandering their potential. For them, a typical workday felt like a mental cage. They experienced boredom and a lack of inspiration at work. The strict division forced them to remain glued to a screen during hours they felt least effective. While socializing with coworkers was important, many preferred taking a refreshing walk after a long meeting rather than returning to their desks to await quitting time.
Of course, I understand the risks associated with bringing work home. However, it seems a lesser evil compared to the harm done by keeping life’s various aspects completely isolated. When we deliberately switch off our work-related thoughts and avoid discussing job-related topics with loved ones in the evening, we create a divide that complicates communication.
We end up viewing our lives as two distinct circles: the "work circle" and the "home circle." The prevailing belief is that these two should overlap as little as possible.
In Severance, this separation is enforced through technology, but imposing such a divide on ourselves feels unnatural and contrived. It can lead to misunderstandings and silence at the dinner table.
Chapter 2: The Impact of Corporate Culture
I notice an increasing number of companies marketing "work-life balance" as a key feature of their corporate ethos. However, an obsession with achieving this balance often signals employee dissatisfaction.
Organizations that allow their employees to blend their professional and personal lives tend to foster more creative workforces. A harmonious life, as defined by the employees themselves, empowers them to tackle less stimulating tasks with enthusiasm. This approach elevates diversity and inclusion within the workplace. Unfortunately, many companies still fail to recognize this, often making employees feel guilty for integrating work into their personal lives.
I hope the message from the commencement speaker resonated with this year’s graduates as it did with me. One truth remains clear: it’s time to live with greater intention!