Work-life balance: what if it wasn’t just a question of time? – Article

We often talk about work-life balance, but what is it really?
During group discussions with my clients, one common point emerged: for them, private-pro balance is above all the ability to be fully present in what you’re doing, whether at work or at home.
In other words: being mentally and emotionally where you’re supposed to be, so that one area doesn’t encroach on the other.
In the end, this balance is above all linked to our ability to live in the present moment.
A personal, shifting and constantly evolving balance
Clearly, this balance is neither rigid nor set in stone:
it evolves according to our stage of life, our energy, our priorities, the seasons…
- We don’t have the same needs when we leave school, when we become parents or when the children leave home.
- The energy we have when we’re 30 is not the same as when we’re 50.
- Our priorities and needs change, and so does our balance.
The balance between work and life is therefore deeply personal.
There is no universal recipe: it is intimately linked to our values, our needs and our desires.
Some people love working and thrive at it; others need much more personal time.
Everyone has to find their own path.
Systemic and individual obstacles
Even with a clear definition of our balance, it is not always easy to achieve it, because of multiple constraints:
On a systemic level :
- Restrictive working hours
- Work-related travel
- Workload
- Family organisation (where women still often take the majority of the mental burden)
Teleworking can sometimes help… or, on the contrary, blur the boundaries even further.
On an individual level :
- Perfectionism
- Difficulty letting go
- Difficulty saying no
- Compulsive need for control and responsibility
Result: even with ‘reasonable’ working conditions, you can feel overwhelmed if you can’t mentally separate the two spheres.
Once again, staying in the present moment becomes a key lever.
A few concrete ways to rebalance your life
Of course, it’s not enough just to think about private-professional balance… It’s essential to make it a reality by taking action.
Here are some powerful levers:
- Rethink your priorities
- Prioritise the quality of time spent rather than the quantity
- Agreeing to lower your demands
- Learn to say no without feeling guilty
- Delegate certain tasks
- Letting go of what’s not essential
- Take real time for yourself
- Getting away from injunctions such as ‘I must’ or ‘I have to’.
Practical examples:
- Practising cardiac coherence or meditation to get out of mental agitation
- Stick to fixed working hours
- Give the children household chores (setting and serving the table, putting away the washing, etc.)
- Apply the 80/20 law (80% of the result comes from 20% of the effort): better done than perfect!
- Don’t say ‘yes’ automatically: let your answer mature.
- Take out a subscription to a sporting activity (a worthwhile investment!)
- Find a buddy to motivate you to take care of yourself
- Limit the amount of time you spend on your smartphone to avoid wasting unnecessary time and energy
The diary: an essential tool
To make it all happen, our diary is our best ally.
To plan :
- Breaks from work
- Time with friends
- Sport sessions
- Time for you, quite simply
Because if it’s not planned, it won’t get done.
A final word of advice: think small!
Don’t overload your diary with a thousand new resolutions.
When setting up these new habits, it’s a good idea to think small. If you go too fast, too hard, you run the risk of quickly running out of steam and giving up.
So start small:
- 3 × 5 minutes of cardiac coherence
- 10 minutes meditation
- 15 minutes of yoga, walking or just time for yourself
That’s 40 minutes that can transform your day… and your balance.
Where are you in your quest for work-life balance? What tips are working for you?
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