the mythical “work-life balance”
Let’s just name it: “work-life balance” can feel like a mythical creature, especially if you’re juggling a career, a family, a relationship, a grocery list, a messy inbox, and your own racing thoughts at 3 a.m.
Just me?
If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at someone suggesting you “just make time for self-care,” you’re not alone. Because let’s be honest: you are making time. You’re squeezing it out of late nights, early mornings, or moments in the car between obligations. But what if balance didn’t mean doing everything all the time, but instead doing the right things at the right pace?
RESOURCE FOR YOU ⟶ Free YouTube training on discovering what matters most (your values)
The Moment It Hit Me
A few years ago, I found myself in the kitchen – phone in one hand, cold pizza in the other – responding to work emails and trying to remember if I’d already sent this same message from my laptop that morning. (Spoiler: I had. My best emails are written at the kitchen counter... just not on my phone. Millennial problems.)
I was exhausted, not just physically, but emotionally. I was performing well – on paper. But I felt disconnected from myself. I wasn’t fully present anywhere, and I didn’t even recognize it as stress until it was way past the early warning signs. That moment was a wake-up call.
And it’s one I've helped so many others navigate. High-functioning doesn’t always mean healthy. And striving doesn’t always mean thriving.
What Balance Really Looks Like
Balance isn’t something you achieve. It’s a rhythm you return to – a realignment that happens again and again and again.
For women, especially, it’s deeply personal. It's also deeply impacted by our roles, expectations, internalized perfectionism, support, and the pace we've learned to keep.
Here’s what balance has come to mean in my world and work:
Saying no without apology
Allowing rest without guilt
Working hard but detaching your worth from productivity
Making room for fun, even when your to-do list isn’t finished
It’s not about less ambition – it’s about more intention.
What Helps (Especially When You're Busy)
Here are a few real-life strategies that help create space without blowing up your calendar:
⟶ Micro-moments of pause
You don’t need an hour to meditate or journal every day (or even 30 minutes). You need 30 seconds of breathing before your next meeting. You need 1 minute to step outside and feel the sun on your face. These small resets help calm your nervous system and ground your energy. I tell my supervisees (all counselors at our offices) to take even 1 short minute in between client sessions to re-center. Set a new intention. Life changing.
⟶ Redefine success daily
The hardest lesson I've learned since becoming a mom to two-under-two: Balance means that not every part of your life will get equal energy every day. Oof. But that’s okay. Each morning, ask: What matters most today? Give that your best, and give yourself grace for the rest. If needed, write a to-do list and a to-don't list.
⟶ Choose your no’s
Protect your peace like it’s your most valuable resource, because it is. Boundaries aren’t selfish; they make life more sustainable.
Balance doesn’t mean doing it all. It means doing what matters, with peace.
You’re doing better than you think.
Thanks for reading! Want more writings and resources?
Here are a few blog posts you might enjoy:
001. Read me if you want more vision casting tips and tools
002. Read me if you're struggling with anxiety
003. Grab my free YouTube training on discovering your top life values
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Disclaimer: This blog is not intended to substitute professional therapeutic advice. Talk with your healthcare provider about your health concerns and before starting or stopping therapies. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct professional advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
