Is work-life balance possible?

There are a lot of critics of work-life balance these days. I often see posts from people arguing that it’s not possible to attain or that it’s not worth pursuing.

I find that very interesting because I feel like I have achieved my ideal work-life balance and I’ve been able to maintain it fairly well for the last 3 years.

And I strongly believe that my life is better as a result.

Before that it was severely lacking for me as I was working too much and trading too much of my life. So I set out to correct it.

I've spent years pursuing my ideal work-life balance.

These are a few of the lessons I've learned along the way.

❌ Work-life balance is not a goal to be achieved.
✅ It's a process to be enjoyed.

❌ It's not a static target.
✅ It's a feeling that fluctuates.

❌ It's not controlling the number of hours you work vs. live.
✅ It's allowing yourself to enjoy more of your work and life.

❌ It's not de-prioritizing work all the time.
✅ It's knowing when one part of your life deserves more focus.

❌ It's not the same balance for every person.
✅ It's a personal practice for living with intention.

You have to define it for yourself and structure your life to make it work for you.

Your definition will change depending on:
Your job,
Your goals,
Your health,
Your energy,
Your relationships,
The season,
And more.

My definition today is:

Work-life balance is the feeling I have when I am in control of my time and I am able to make progress on the things that are most important to me right now.

I feel out of balance when one part of my life is taking too much time from another area that matters (like my work taking away from my relationships).

What does work-life balance mean to you?