Work-life balance is used to refer to everything from the need for more leisure or family time to self-care. But what exactly does it mean, and is it a helpful framework to aspire to? The concept of work-life integration has become more popular in recent years.
Work-life integration differs from work-life balance
Integrate work, family, and personal life to create more synergies
- Emphasize gentle pivots rather than hard boundaries
- Flexibility is ideal for professionals who have the ability to shape their own workday
Remain committed to some boundaries
Set aside time each day and week to block out thoughts of work and focus exclusively on the people and activities that matter most to you
- Work-life integration, just like work-life balance, is a helpful framework to help us do this, but the secret to prioritizing what we value most is in the execution.
Why Work-Life Integration is Not a Perfect Solution
There can be a slippery slope to work-life integration, especially for entrepreneurs
- You may be tempted to fill every nook and cranny of life with work without giving your health, community, and family the same level of priority
- We all default to paying attention to our jobs first
Create a schedule
Though it may feel strange to formally schedule activities like “family dinner” or “workout at the gym,” doing so will make it far more likely that these activities actually happen
