I’ve been asked by many companies to conduct training sessions on work-life balance. And there’s a common assumption that somewhere out there, there’s a secret formula to achieve this perfect balance between work and life.
But what if there was a way to instantly balance everything by plugging it into some formula? Unfortunately, that’s not the reality. There’s no one-size-fits-all formula for work-life balance.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t achieve balance. It just means that balance looks different for everyone, depending on their individual circumstances and values.
What Balance Looks Like for You
The key to finding balance is rooted in your values. What do you value most in life? If you can allocate an appropriate amount of time—not too much, not too little—to the things that truly matter to you, you’ll begin to feel more balanced.
So how do you go about figuring out what balance looks like for you?
Start by looking at how you're currently spending your time. If your life feels out of balance, it could be because you're not dedicating time to the things you truly value—or perhaps you’re giving too much attention to things that don’t matter as much to you.
Reflect on Your Time
Take a moment to analyze how much time you spend in different areas of your life. Let’s say 90% of your time is spent working—if work is not one of your core values, then what are you doing? Or, if family is a priority for you, but you spend only 2% of your time with them, can you honestly say that you value family?
The first step to achieving work-life balance is asking yourself, “What do I really value?” Often, we think we value things that society tells us we should value, so it's important to be honest with yourself about what truly matters to you.
Identify Your Values
To get you started, here’s a list of values to reflect on:
Accomplishment
Accuracy
Acknowledgment
Action
Adventure
Beauty
Building
Calm
Challenge
Change
Collaboration
Community
Compassion
Empowerment
Encouragement
Enlightenment
Excellence
Fairness
Family
Grace
Growth
Happiness
Harmony
Health
Independence
Influence
Inner Strength
Openness
Orderliness
Participation
Partnership
Patience
Recognition
Respect
Risk-taking
Trust
Truth
Understanding
This list, adapted from Co-Active Coaching by Whitworth, Kimsey-House, and Sandahl (1998), can serve as a starting point to help you define what truly resonates with you.
Time and Value Alignment
Balance is about how you allocate your time according to your values. Think of it like a budget—you have a certain amount of money to spend, and you allocate it based on your priorities. Similarly, you have a finite amount of time, and you must decide how to spend it.
When you align your time with your values, balance naturally falls into place.
Taking Action
Now, write down your core values. Ask yourself: How much time do I want to spend on these values? For instance, if you value patience, are you practicing patience daily in all situations? If family is important to you, how much time can you dedicate to being with them, either physically or through calls and other means?
Balance happens when your words, thoughts, and actions are consistent with how you live your life. If your life feels out of balance, it’s time to evaluate what needs to change.
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