Shawnee Love   •  
March 30, 2017

The phrase “Work -Life balance” is bandied around like it’s really possible, but I just read an interesting article in Inc that seems more real.  In the article, Randi Zuckerberg (Facebook founder’s sister) was reflecting on the challenges of launching a start up and tweeted out a lament on the harsh choices to be made.

“Entrepreneur’s dilemma.

Maintaining friendships. Building a great company. Spending time w/family. Staying fit. Getting sleep.

Pick 3”

It seems to me, those choices and tradeoffs are faced by almost every adult I know.  Although “build a company” may be an entrepreneur’s shtick, you could replace that with your own version:

• innovate a creative logo,
• teach a great class,
• help a new patient,
• write a best seller,
• feed a hungry patron, etc.,

and make Randi’s lament fit you too.

Although the specifics differ, we all face similar choices of how to invest our time and energy.  I have been guilty of drinking the work-life balance kool aid and always feeling vaguely guilty that I could never quite get there.  Upon reflection, the idea that work and life (e.g., friends, family, sleep, fitness) can be in “balance”, i.e., level or equal never has worked for me.  For that reason, I am now going to use:

Work Life Harmony.

Harmony implies my choices are pleasing to me but not necessarily equal or even constant (which is closer to my truth).  Some weeks, are heavy on the work, family and fitness, other weeks find more sleep, family, and friends.  I am not certain my blend of choices is going to lead me where I hope, but at least I am not feeling guilty about never being in balance and that’s a good start.

How about you? Do  you have work life balance or harmony or is this discussion just a first world problem?