Work/life balance: A misnomer masking the real problem
Career fulfillment is the responsibility of employee and employer alike. Making it a priority would help erase the perceived distinction between vocation and avocation.
Work/life balance is a concept I love to hate. Here’s why:
The notion of work/life balance is artificial at best, and at worst, it’s a false way of describing a very serious problem that exists in our workplaces.
Work is part of life—no work, no money, and no money, no food or roof to live under or (insert other necessity of survival here). Work and life aren’t separate; they never have been.
Work is part of who we are and what we do. We spend more time working than we do any other activity except sleeping. So, to suggest that work is separate from life is ridiculous.
A lack of fulfillment
Here’s the real problem: Most people are working in jobs or at organizations they hate.
OK, maybe that’s a little strong. Maybe they don’t hate it, but they certainly aren’t getting fulfillment from their work, it doesn’t connect to their passions, or they just aren’t happy.
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