A myth many people carry is that work-life balance is a one-size-fits-all practice. You know the drill: do some yoga, take some baths, meditate a bit and BAM!, you're balanced. The reality is more complex. As Sandy Cimoroni puts it, "[T]here never is an ideal work-life balance because the balance is always shifting depending on our place in life." Health concerns shift the balance, as do family demands, financial stressors, changes in work expectations, or little things like, say, a global pandemic. What works better is educating ourselves on our own healthy self-preservation practices that will help us achieve balance in our lives no matter what comes our way.
The first step on this path is reflecting on what our lives look like at this moment. We can start by filling out the work-life balance assessment at this link, and base our responses on how satisfied we are in each area right now. When you're done, reflect on your wheel, especially on the areas that are low. What change is needed there? A change in perception? Or a change in action?
May you be happy. May you be well.
