Work/Life Balance is a myth.
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This week I had three speaking events in 28 hours on opposite sides of the country. Last week I did four events in four cities in five days. It’s the busy season for speakers, and the question I get a lot is, “What about work/life balance?” I love that question, because it allows me to share one of my favorite hot takes: Work/life balance is a myth. It doesn’t exist! At least, it doesn’t exist in the way I often hear people talk about it. People talk about work/life balance as if it is a state that can be achieved permanently, as though if you get your calendar set up juuuust right, you’ll achieve a perpetual state of balance between your professional and personal goals. You’ll have time for career, family, creative fulfillment, and even a massage and a game of pickleball if you’re lucky. But that’s not how balance works. The only things that stay balanced over the long term are things that don’t move. Work, family, community, health, art… these things are ever-changing. And when things are changing, balance is bound to shift. A tightrope walker will lean to one side, then to the other, then back again as they seek equilibrium. They do this because as they move (and the tightrope moves), the center of gravity shifts. Work and life are the same way. There are seasons when you have to lean into your personal life, and seasons when you have to lean into your work. I’ve had weeks where I was sitting with a friend going through a mental health crisis, or nursing a back injury, or taking my family on an adventure. And I’ve had other weeks where I was speaking nonstop, or working on a creative project, or editing a book. The important thing isn’t balance in the moment, it’s balance over the long run. I’ve had some of my biggest creative breakthroughs during seasons that felt wildly unbalanced, when I was juggling travel, deadlines, creative projects, and family life. That tension does two things. First, it creates friction as the different areas of your life collide with each other, which often leads to connections you wouldn’t have spotted otherwise. A conversation at your kid's basketball game leads to a breakthrough on the report you're trying to finish, or a work colleague tells you about a fun event that you end up taking your family to. Second, it forces you to focus on what’s important. Busy seasons bring clarity, and clarity brings focus. That focus helps you eliminate the unnecessary and get the job done. Last week I got home from my trip and spent time with my family. I got in the sauna with my kids, cheered my wife on as she ran a 25k trail race, and laughed with friends in the hot tub. I helped my daughters with their learning fair projects, took my wife on a date, knocked out a bunch of house projects, and took naps. And when everyone was in bed, I worked on my book manuscript. Then I packed my bags and headed back to the airport. I don’t know what season you’re in, but I’d wager a bet that it doesn’t feel particularly balanced. Maybe you’re waist-deep in a creative project right now, or maybe a family emergency has you putting your career on the back burner for a minute. I’m here to tell you that’s ok. Moments are often unbalanced. Lean one way when you need to. Just make sure to lean back the other way when the moment passes. Happy Friday, friends. Make it a good one. Kyle Scheele |
Kyle Scheele
One useful idea about creative leadership, once a week
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