Why 'Work-Life Balance' Is a Myth—and What to Do Instead
Psychology Today | 24.08.2026 04:31
In my work, I generally dislike the concept of "work-life balance" for several reasons. First, it treats work and life as opposites. But increasingly for many people, these two intermingle. There is no clear ability to separate the two. If you’ve ever had a call from your child’s school while at work or had a work email or call show up while spending time with your family, you know that the days of keeping these things separate are no longer. Second, the idea of “balance" suggests that these two aspects are sitting on either end of a scale, and the goal is to get them level and keep them there. That image implies a finish line. But there is never a “finish line” when it comes to managing these aspects of life. They constantly change and we must constantly adjust. So the idea that we can find a perfect “balance” makes for an unrealistic goal. In sum, the idea of “work-life balance” is nonsense. So what should we focus on instead?
