The Great Work/Life Balance Myth

Let’s cut to the chase: I don’t believe in work/life balance. There, I said it. It’s a myth—a unicorn, a mirage, a pie-in-the-sky idea that just doesn’t hold up in real life.

Think about it: work is a part of life, not some separate thing we’re supposed to balance against. And the whole idea assumes there’s some perfect, magical harmony we can achieve. After years of coaching and working with people, I’ve yet to see this mythical “balance” in the wild.

So what should we aim for instead? I like to think of it as a life blend. You’re the artist, and each day is a blank canvas waiting for you to create your own masterpiece. Every paint color on your palette represents a piece of your life - work, family, friends, hobbies, YOU.

Some days, your canvas might be all work. Other days, it could be a mix of work and family. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll get a day where you can throw some “me-time” on there (re: the rare self-care splatter).

Here’s the thing: if you were to line up your last 365 canvases, none of them would look exactly the same. Some might be more chaotic, some more balanced, and some might have colors bleeding into each other (re: sick kid at home and a work deadline). That’s normal. That’s life.

The key is to step back and reflect on your art. Are your canvases making you happy? Does your blend feel good? Are there colors you want to add, subtract, or tweak?

For me, the idea of a life blend feels way more fun and freeing than chasing some impossible balance. Every day, I get to choose how I’ll mix my colors, and I love knowing that it’s okay for the blend to shift and evolve.

Because here’s the truth: life isn’t about finding a perfect balance—it’s about creating something beautiful out of all the pieces that matter to you. And that? That feels a lot more achievable and a lot more fun.

So grab your brush, pick your colors, and start painting. Your masterpiece is waiting.