I found this Instagram post interesting, where Julia as @Mamaschreibt_neliste on Instagram responds to a thought-provoking idea from Kristina as @thehappyworklife on IG. It got me rethinking the whole concept of “work-life balance“. We throw this term around a lot, but actually I agree that it’s not really the best way to describe what we’re aiming for!

“Work-life balance” makes it sound like our work and personal lives are locked in a constant tug-of-war, and we’re struggling to hold some kind of perfect equilibrium. But let’s be honest – achieving a real “balance” seems nearly impossible, at least to me! And do I even want that? I love my job, and I also love my downtime, but it’s never a perfect 50/50 split – and maybe that’s okay!

Here’s my recent experience after returning to work after parental leave, for instance. For the first couple of months, I used to keep a mental tally of my work hours. I couldn’t shake the idea that, for every extra hour I put in, I’d need to compensate by leaving work early, picking my daughter up from nursery sooner, planning a fun family activity for the weekend, and squeezing in adventures to explore the world with her. With a 40-hour work week (ideally!), trying to find another 40 hours to balance being a mum, a wife, a friend, and everything else just seemed impossible. I was struggling.

But my tallies did show me that some weeks, the demands of work were overwhelming, while other weeks, I had the flexibility to leave early and treat my little one to an hour at the playground. It was only when I started to accept this ebb and flow that I began to feel calmer and less worried about being an uncaring, career-driven mother! That’s when I realised: it’s not about achieving a perfect balance but about accepting life’s shifting demands.

So maybe what we should aim for is a satisfactory share of our time across different areas of our lives. That sounds a lot more practical and fulfilling. Kristina and Julia suggest calling it “work-life harmony” and I couldn’t agree more! That term captures life’s ebb and flow. Sometimes we’re immersed in work because deadlines are looming or because the satisfaction it brings is particularly fulfilling, while at other times, we step back to enjoy peaceful moments with our loved ones.

At work, we often find motivation in our passions and achivements, turning challenges into opportunities for growth. Meanwhile, in our downtime, we recharge by enjoying activities that bring us joy and relaxation, whether it’s a quiet walk in the park or quality time with family and friends. Accepting this dyanmic rhythm of life allows us to find a realistic “balance” in our professional and personal roles.

Over to you: How do you navigate the “balance” of work and personal life? I’d love to hear your work-life harmony tips and ideas. Pop a comment below to share your thoughts and experiences!