Things We Believe About Work Life Balance That Simply Aren't True

One of the most annoyingly overused concepts in the world of work is the sought after, ever-elusive idea of work life balance. If we were to define work life balance, we’d probably be inclined to say that in order to truly enjoy your life, you should only have to wear your work hat between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. (or whatever combination of an eight-or-so-hours shift that works for you), forgetting all about your career outside of those hours.

Here are five common misconceptions we’re taught to believe about balancing your home life and career and how to kick these beliefs to the curb.

Lie No. 1: The Less Hours You Work, The Happier You Will Be

The first thing most people think of when trying to implement order in their work and home life is to decrease the hours spent at the office or negotiate some sort of flexible work arrangement. While this approach may work in the short term, reducing your office hour time won’t do much for long term work-life symmetry.

There are so many factors that affect balance outside of the number of hours worked per week. This is why there are just as many unhappy people in jobs that require 15 hours per week as there are in jobs that require 50. True balance should take into account not only how many hours you work but also your family priorities, hobbies, health and wellness needs, stress management, work load and career goals.

Lie No. 2: The Perfect 50/50 Split is Possible Between Work and Life

You probably don't need the reminder, but … perfection does not exist. If you’ve got to go to an annual regional conference, then you may have to miss your child’s school concert. If you’re going to get happy hour drinks with your office pal, it means you won’t be able to stay late and finish that presentation.

Your goal should be to take a holistic view when it comes to your commitments at work and home. There will be times when work spills into home life and vice versa. The key to any real type of equilibrium depends on your ability to accept the fact that there is an inevitable ebb and flow that’ll mean sacrificing different areas of your life at various times.

Lie No. 3: What Works for Me Will Also Work for You

Maybe as a parent working through lunch and bowing out of leading the major project your team is working on so you can leave the office early two days a week to make soccer practice with the kids. The opposite may be true for someone who's on the fast track for the next big promotion at work, who doesn't mind spending 60 hours per week in the office as long as they have an hour during lunch break to hit the gym. The real key here is to figure out what the ideal balance set-up looks like specifically for you and your goals, and then work toward them. No one else can tell you how to manage the time in your life because no one else gets your life the way you do.

Lie No. 4: The Boss Has It Better Than Everyone Else

Ask any executive if balance gets easier to manage once you move up the ranks and they’ll most likely pat you on the head and laugh in your face. Everyone has to manage work and life demands—no matter their level. Getting promoted to that corner office isn’t going to automatically solve all of your issues with harmonizing your worlds (in fact, it may make it even more challenging).

Make it your objective to set clear boundaries for yourself. Identify what you’re willing to tolerate as far as time management, work load and hours, and stick to those boundaries.

Lie No. 5: You’re the Only One Who Feels Unbalanced

Everyone struggles with finding the right balance. It doesn’t matter if your friend has a four-minute commute, works from home three days a week, or takes two-hour lunch breaks to run errands (that sounds like an amazing set-up, BTW)—there are still complicating factors.

Having a perfectly balanced work and home life is a complex process that truthfully never ends. Even when you’re able to successfully get your work and life demands in sync, because life, and your priorities, are constantly changing, you’ll need to re-assess and restructure often.

The moral of the story is that as life is a unique experience for every person, so is the art of balancing it. To truly become successful at finding that perfect mix, you’ll have to set realistic expectations for what an actual career within a constantly changing, imperfect life looks like.

Instead of trying to completely separate your work from your home life, the goal should be to integrate your two worlds with the intent to accomplish your professional goals in a way that is most comfortable for you. It’s a work in progress, so be prepared to cut yourself some slack and course correct when it makes sense to.