The myth of work-life balance: Why clarity is more important than balance
Work-life balance, a beautiful myth? Eight hours of work, followed by sports, art, and culture, time with family and friends, and a long weekend of relaxation. That sounds like the ideal situation. But for managers and ambitious entrepreneurs, it remains just that: a myth. In reality, everyday life looks different. And that’s a good thing!
- Successful people do not have a classic work-life balance.
- Companies that advertise it often live the opposite.
- Work-life balance is not essential; clarity is.
The idea of achieving a perfect work-life balance is not only unrealistic but also potentially dangerous. Because it distracts from what matters: clarity about your priorities. Why? Because real life doesn’t work according to a calendar. Sometimes your job demands more, sometimes your personal life does.
If you want to be satisfied, you don’t need a rigid balance between work and leisure time, but a clear understanding of what is essential at the moment.
Here are four uncomfortable truths about the myth of work-life balance:
1. Success and 9-to-5 don’t mix
If you want to make a difference in your career, you can’t just follow the rules. Whether you’re running a company, leading a team, or getting a project on track, good work requires dedication, flexibility, and going the extra mile.
Significant achievements never happen in your comfort zone.
The harsh reality:
- An enjoyable career requires dedication.
- Companies that want to make a difference expect commitment.
- No one has ever achieved anything significant with a strict 40-hour week.
However, that doesn’t mean you should let yourself be exploited. But if you believe that success and comfort go hand in hand, you should consider whether you have chosen the right career.
Keep in mind:
- If you want to thrive in your job, you need passion instead of clocking hours.
- If you only care about leaving at 5 p.m. sharp, you’re in the wrong job.
- The goal is not to work less, but to work better.
It’s not about working less, but about doing the right thing.
2. Those who find meaning in their work don’t need work-life balance
The assumption that “work” is the problem and “life” is the solution falls short. Many people find fulfillment in their careers because they do what fits their values.
What if the job is not the enemy, but my source of energy?
The best in their field often struggle with achieving a work-life balance. They have work-life integration. They do not separate “life” and “work” because they see both as part of their identity.
- Successful people do not need clear boundaries because they are absorbed in what they do.
- Successful people don’t have a “leisure time vs. job situation,” but rather a meaningful combination.
Consider this:
- If you are dissatisfied with your job, you should not think about work-life balance, but about change.
- If you see your job as a burden, you should ask yourself: “Is this the right job for me, or am I just being lazy?”
- Those who love what they do will draw energy from it and not suffer from it.
When you do the right thing, work doesn’t feel like a burden.
3. Companies advertise work-life balance. It’s fake!
Flexible working models, home offices, feel-good offers: it sounds good, but often seems like window dressing. Because deep down, there is usually a different culture.
The reality:
- Meetings at 6 p.m. because “everyone is flexible”
- Emails on weekends because “no one is forced to read them,” but it is expected
- Constant availability because “everyone can set their own pace”
A work-life balance that serves only as a marketing gimmick leads to dissatisfaction in companies.
Consider:
- Companies need to speak plainly with their employees. What do we expect?
- No blah blah blah about balance, but real cultural change: What counts in the company? Results or presence?
- Managers must lead by example.
Successful companies have a culture where results count, not constant availability.
4. Instead of work-life balance: Set conscious priorities
Each phase of life requires us to focus on different things. Sometimes family is more important, sometimes a strategic project. It’s not about daily balance, but about long-term satisfaction. And that’s precisely why work-life balance is a myth: there are no fixed rules.
Consider:
- Instead of seeking balance, everyone should ask themselves: What is important to me?
- Which phases of life require more focus on work and which require more focus on private life?
- Balance is not “the same every day,” but means doing the right thing in the long term.
The real goal is not work-life balance. The goal is satisfaction that comes not from rigid rules, but from conscious decisions.
Leadership means deciding what matters now.
Conclusion: Forget work-life balance, find clarity!
The concept of work-life balance may be appealing and marketable, but it often falls short in real life. If you want to be successful and satisfied in the long term, you need one thing above all else: clarity about yourself, your role, and your goals.
Keep in mind:
- Count fewer hours, find more meaning in what you do
- Live less by rules, more by your priorities
- Seek less balance, do more of the right thing
Because real life doesn’t work according to rigid rules, it belongs to you, so shape it in a way that works for you, because you and only you are responsible for it.
In my profession, my passion, I deal with people who want to shape companies, not just manage them. And they know that life cannot be divided 50:50. Every life has phases. Sometimes, the business needs more attention, sometimes the family does. The trick is not to tear yourself apart, but to make conscious decisions.
Success doesn’t start in your calendar; it begins in your head!
Finding new paths together
Think boldly. Dare to change.
Alexander d’Huc