I gave up on work life balance!

E Shaw

April 24,2023 at 1:54PM UTC

Welcome to Fairygodboss!

We’re the largest online career community helping women achieve their career goals. Gain access to articles, jobs, events, and a supportive network of women and allies. Membership is free, always.

I gave up on work life balance!

My goal is to achieve Life-Work Fulfillment. The word “life” comes first because having a fulfilling life is my priority. Work is a part of my life.

I focus on what are the things I need to do to feel fulfilled in my personal and professional life. Sometimes that means blurring the line between the two like hanging out with my daughter at the coffee shop while I work on my business and she works on her homework.

Are you still striving for work life balance or Life Work Fulfillment?

Why women love us:

Daily articles on career topics
Jobs at companies dedicated to hiring more women
Advice and support from an authentic community
Events that help you level up in your career
Free membership, always

10 comments

Share your insight

Join an authentic community that helps women support each other at work. Share your professional experience or ask for advice — you can even post anonymously.

10 Comments

Join the conversation

Lesa Edwards, Career Coach & Master Resume WriterApril 24,2023 at 4:28PM UTC
Here's another perspective I talk to my clients about: Work/Life Blend.
When I think of Balance - I think of a teeter-totter. One side goes up, the other goes down.
When I think of Blend, I think of putting the ingredients my life needs for that week, that day, that hour into a blender. Sometimes the mixture is necessarily heavy on work ingredients, other times the mixture needs to be heavy on life ingredients.
I've talked on my podcast about how to make the most of the life part of your blend when work is particularly demanding - and vice versa. If you're interested in giving a listen: https://www.exclusivecareercoaching.com/posts/2018-12-17-050-work-life-blend-balance-is-a-myth
AnonymousApril 27,2023 at 1:33PM UTC
I will take a listen. The challenge is when BOTH work and life demands are heavy at the same time. For instance, my mom was in hospice nearby at the same time I was dealing with heavy work deadlines at my corporate job. Extreme example perhaps, but one I personally experienced and struggled with the balance part.
Lesa Edwards, Career Coach & Master Resume WriterApril 27,2023 at 4:44PM UTC
That's a tough one...something's got to give.
AnonymousApril 27,2023 at 3:31PM UTC
I really like the term “blend”. I’ve been using “work-life integration” and will change it to work-life-blend. I’ve got a job and career that I love. I also have relationships and personal activities that I love. I also have things that must get done or are part life & work that I don’t like, but that’s how it goes.
I don’t look at it by day, because we all have bad days. I try to fit many good things into a day (don’t get me wrong), but I do it more on a weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly basis. This helps me think of weekends, vacations and other events in my life to look forward to or remember. Many of those good things are often work things too. Being happy, fulfilled, experienced and with good memories are what makes that “blended smoothie” the best.
AnonymousApril 25,2023 at 5:38AM UTC
I love this. I found a way that works best for me and my son. When the pandemic hit, I went four months straight of single mom life to a 2 year old and maintaining a senior position in my company. I arranged my living room to which I worked at my desk and had view of my son playing with toys, doing activities, TV time, nap time, tent reading time, and blocked off the hallway so my kid doesn't wander off while I am on a call. It's chaotic. I cannot tell you that this is possible nor can someone handle it around the clock with schools closed and I gotta maintain a living - work remote. I guess when the kids are older, it would be easier. Life Work Fulfillment - that came out recently about the 168 Hours book right?
E ShawApril 25,2023 at 6:12PM UTC
There will always be things that come up that make our situations less than ideal. The key is figuring out what works for us. I don’t think anyone would say the pandemic was fulfilling. However I think many people had time to reflect and realize what wasn’t fulfilling in their lives and made plans to change.
E ShawApril 25,2023 at 6:12PM UTC
Exactly!!
CJB62April 27,2023 at 1:21PM UTC
Both are important. Most want their life and work life to be fulfilling but work life balance is important - making sure that you put the necessary effort into work but also have time to pursue relationships and interests outside of one’s job - that can also be fulfilling and help one deal emotionally with the work stresses. The “balance” is trying to not let work demands become so much that one doesn’t have time/space to have a life/relationships outside of work.
Jennifer AndersonApril 27,2023 at 3:04PM UTC
I don't know how many times in my career I answered IT calls at the soccer field. The rule was, as long as my kid wasn't playing, I would answer the phone and if my kid started playing they could wait and/or I would call me back.
Work/life balance is important but it doesn't always mean that you have to segregate the two unless you need to. I grew up with a business owner and a sales professional. We didn't get to separate work from home or we didn't eat. We learned early that you have to blend the two and make it work for you or else life just sucked!
Joann S. LublinApril 27,2023 at 7:01PM UTC
And the way to achieve work-life fulfillment is by practicing "work-life sway," Learn more about this intriguing concept by reading my latest book, "Power Moms: How Executive Mothers Navigate Work and Life." Happy to answer related questions. Just email me: joannlublin@gmail.com and thanks!