Did we really feel that work-life balance was good? Or were we told that it was good?
The debate on work-life balance covers the majority of our news feed these days; from advocates on LinkedIn raging against selfish dystopian-like corporations to the spiraling physical health of the working class due to abnormal working hours.
The concept of work–life balance is not new to our generation nor unique to our profession.
The idea around the time spent at work dates back to manufacturing laws of the late 1800s when the work hours of women and children were restricted.
By 1938, the Fair Labor Standards Act established a 44-hour work week, which has led to the ‘normal’ way of working for the past 85 years.
But if 85 years have passed… economies have transformed… and we’re in the digital age instead of the manufacturing age… shouldn’t this 44-hour work week and concept of work-life balance be revised?
Tech has evolved. And so have people.
Covid-19 has changed our perceptions of work-life balance and people have finally begun to understand the benefits of work-life integration.
The old idea of the work-life balance definition had left many people from different generations disillusioned, burnt out, and losing years of their life - all to chase the dollar to pay their next bill.
People are waking up to the realization that the idea of work-life balance where you are forced to cramp and compromise your:
Family time,
Social life,
Extra-curricular
Passionate activities
Into limited hours late in the evening… doesn’t sound like making good use of the precious time you have on this earth, does it?
Bye Work-Life Balance. Hello Work-Life Integration
We are all plugged into the system. From our every waking hour with our mobile phones to working each minute on our laptops.
You can either choose to switch off (which let’s be frank, isn’t going to happen) or you can find a way to have everything exist in harmony.
There is no need to separate work and life into separate blocks anymore.
With the advance in technology, it has never been easier to integrate work and life.
How Does A Day In Work-Life Integration Look Like?
8 AM — 10 AM: You wake up feeling refreshed and productive. You decide to clear your emails from 8–10 am and decide you need your morning workout.
10 AM — 11.30 AM: You decide to head to the gym and use the time to plan out your day and get some clarity on what’s most important in work and personal.
12 PM — 5 PM: Have lunch, submit your monthly reporting, manage your departmental operations while clearing your inbox, pick the kids up from school
5 PM — 8 PM: Put together that presentation deck & then have dinner and watch an episode on TV with the family
8 PM — 11 PM: Make sure kids' homework is done, put them to bed, and then decide to work on your side hustle whether it may be a business venture, blog, educational courses, or planning for your family’s future and finances.
Work-Life Integration vs Work-Life Balance
Lesser restrictions and zero micromanaging. But with a heavier focus on getting the work done with regard to the company’s objectives and goals.
This mindset of goal orientation instead of hour-punching for the sake of people pleasing, needs to be realized and cultivated early.
So that the current working generations can recoup their lost life experiences before it’s too late…
And so that the next generation does not have to go through the same life cycle leading to their burnout as well…
Work-Life Integration provides you the opportunity to experience life at its core while revolving work around it.
Which do you prefer? Work-life balance or work-life integration?
I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.