Ten Work-Life Balance Myths

Work-life balance is really popular right now. Sadly, it appears that the majority of what we have been told is untrue.

These ten fallacies about work-life balance will make you anxious and set you up for failure.

Myth #1: It’s actually about achieving balance.

The biggest myth about work-life balance is this one. Balance doesn't exist, and that is the harsh reality. Although it would be wonderful if it did, silos do not exist in our life.

Despite your best efforts, there will inevitably be instances when work interferes with your personal life and vice versa. You are not completely free from work just because you clock out for the day. You might still need to check your schedule or reply to an email. Being an entrepreneur means that you are constantly considering employment in some way.

What is the answer if there is no balance? Integration is the key, according to Meeta Vengapally, founder and CEO of Garnysh. Because "it's about not isolating the parts of your life, but rather thinking about them in terms of the total," integration is required. For instance, you could make a quick business call while at your child's soccer game. Ask a friend to come along if you need to run errands for work.

The Jeff Bezos strategy is another choice. Bezos told Thrive Global, "I think work-life harmony is a terrific framework. "I like the word harmony better than balance since balance usually implies a tight tradeoff," the author said.

You'll be more productive and motivated at work if you're pleased outside of work. Additionally, if your work fulfils you, you'll be happier at home.

Myth #2: Life needs to be compartmentalized.

The idea that we must compartmentalise our lives is another illusion. Some of us interpret that as splitting our time evenly, with 50% spent at work and 50% at home. Others believe that it is structuring our days into 8-8-8 hour chunks. We have this ingrained belief that we should work for eight hours, sleep for another, and then set aside another eight hours for leisure and social activities.

The problem is that you can't divide your time evenly. On certain days, you'll put in 10 hours of effort. When you only work a few hours, there will be others as a trade-off.

Spend the appropriate amount of time on your current priorities rather than forcing yourself to compartmentalise your life. You might have to put in lengthy hours of labour if a deadline is looming. Currently, you can miss out on spending quality time with your family and friends. However, you make up for lost quality time when you meet the deadline and celebrate with a trip.

Myth #3: You can have it all.

You still have to make a sacrifice even if your schedule permits you to work out, spend time with your friends and family, and do all of your tasks. I'll need to travel a lot if I want to help my company expand. I will be out of town and unable to spend that time with my family, whether it is to check in on my remote team or to give a conference presentation.

Avoid falling into the trap of thinking you can have it all or do everything you want. While pursuing your ambitions and desires, there are moments when you must give up some things. You'll be able to eliminate the unnecessary from your life more quickly the earlier you discover this.

Myth #4: Time management is the answer.

I support effective time management. On the other hand, it's an old idea. The majority of time management strategies that we value highly were developed before we had access to constant connectivity.

I wish I could entirely unplug so I could relax or be free of interruptions. The truth is that I can't totally disconnect from the outside world since I own a business. You must choose wisely how you use your time in order to combat this. By doing so, you commit your energy to the appropriate tasks at the appropriate moments.

Myth #5: Technology will give you more free time.

Without a doubt, automation has greatly improved the quality of living. However, there is no assurance that it would suddenly extend your day by more hours. Chatbots can be used, for instance, to address important customer service inquiries. Using artificial intelligence, you can receive insightful meeting scheduling recommendations. However, you must continue to engage in direct client contact and organise your own fruitful encounter.

Or to put it another way, technology is a help. However, it won't solve all of your problems literally. You still have to exert some effort.

Myth #6: It’s what employees care about most.

Although they like it, flexibility isn't always at the top of the list for employees. The majority of them desire fulfilling employment. They also yearn for acknowledgment and want to contribute to a culture that values empathy.

Balance is crucial for your team, to reiterate. Balance is important, but it is overshadowed by making sure that your staff is aware of how they fit into the bigger picture, appreciated for their efforts, and aware of their needs.

Myth #7: The early bird catches the worm.

I get out of bed at 5:15. Many prosperous people do. Being up early gives you more time to accomplish your goals, according to the theory. You'll have more time to take pleasure in the results of your labour as a result.

But not everyone can make that work. Some people work better at night. Additionally, whether you're aware of it or not, you're lengthening your workday. When there is a deadline or a fire to put out, that isn't so bad. However, you'll burn yourself out if you do it in the long run.

Workarounding your productivity peaks is the key. Therefore, if you're more focused and attentive around 10 a.m., it might not be wise to

set your alarm at 4 a.m.

Myth #8: You never have to work during off-hours.

You never have to work during "off-hours," which is perhaps the most persuasive argument in favour of work-life balance. That luxury isn't always available to business owners. Even when on vacation or spending time with our families, we occasionally need to stay connected to our business. And for some of us, even when we're not at the office, the work doesn't stop because we love what we do so much.

So living a fulfilled life doesn't need always adhering to rigid rules. Work if you want to when you're in the zone. Additionally, don't feel bad about tuning out work when you would rather spend time playing board games with your family.

Myth #9: The less you work, the happier you’ll be.

You won't necessarily be content just because you can do your work in 20 hours. I am aware of many unhappy folks who do not put in excessive Elon Musk hours. And some people don't mind working more than 40 hours per week.

In other words, it doesn't matter how many hours you work or what you do for a living. It has to do with the calibre of your time use.

Myth #10: Everything has to be scheduled.

I always schedule important events and chores on my calendar. But that doesn't imply you have to physically schedule your whole life. It's unreasonable and only adds to your already stressful existence. Additionally, it has been discovered that unplanned leisure activities make people happier.

So, while using a calendar to keep your life organised is a good idea, don't go overboard. Leave open spots so you can relax and think about your day or go get coffee with a friend.