"Work/Life Balance" is a Flawed Concept

Here is the problem I have with "work/life balance."

It's not the idea - I'm a strong advocate for all workers having a strong balance of time spent being a professional and personal time outside of the workplace. 

The problem is with the name.

"Work/life balance" would tend to lead one toward the conclusion that "work" and "life" are at opposite ends of the spectrum;    that time spent at work really is not part of life and conversely, life should be devoid of work.    Both of these are falsehoods that should not be perpetrated.

Do we really want to believe that the time we spend at work, 8 hours. . .10 hours. . .12 hours or more, is not part of our lives?  Do we really believe that once we leave the workplace . . . that we don't have work?

No.

By contrasting "work" and "life" my fear is that we provide both employees and employers alike with an excuse to not be at our best in the workplace, because "after all, it's only work, it's not life." Employers  have the duty to provide employees with workplaces, challenges and leadership that are enhancements to life, not only in terms of providing compensation but in providing purpose and satisfaction in work.    Employees should fully understand, and embrace their responsibility of bringing their best to work to contribute to the overall good of the community.

If you separate work and life. . both become devoid of purpose.

When I hear statements akin to "Now that I've retired, life can really begin," I think how sad it must be for that individual to believe that life only begins once one's professional career has ended.

As part of supporting our workplaces and our employees, let's give voice to the idea that we have mutual responsibility to create workplaces that can be an integral part of life. . .and that includes proper respite from the workplace which should be differentiated as "professional vs. personal time."

Life is short enough: we shouldn't shorten it further by claiming that time spent at the workplace doesn't really count;    work is too important that we shouldn't sell it short by claiming that it doesn't integrate with life.

My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available for e-readers, PCs and tablets on Amazon Kindle.