Illusion of Work + Life Balance

Years ago, I gave up the aspirations of balance and picked up the idea of work/life integration. It is the most freeing, and liberating, move I’ve made. When you take on a posture of work/life integration, it creates an opportunity to lean into how life actually happens versus how society norms manufactures that it should; it gives us a chance to be our real selves.

For the last few years, this concept has been embedded into the fibers of our household. It isn’t uncommon for my kids to say, “okay, so what’s it looking like today?”; I will reply with, “I have a grant due so I’m 90% worker bee and 10% Mom or ‘Momming’ today”. And guess what, they adjust and appreciate the honesty. Or, “I’m on adulting sabbatical today, kids, so I’m 100% ‘Momming’ and my phone and computer are closed and I’m ready to go”!

When you try to achieve work/life balance, expectations can become a weapon; but when you incorporate work/life integration, expectations become a tool, a love language, and opportunity.