When Work-Life Balance Isn’t the Point Anymore
Alignment matters more than balance. It’s not about splitting hours evenly, but making sure the hours count. Here’s why shifting from “balance” to “alignment” can help you create a life and work that truly fit together.
Recently, I’ve come to see that alignment in life matters more than balance.
For years, I believed work-life balance was the ultimate goal – as if life and work were two opposing forces to be weighed and adjusted. But balance is a metric, not a destination. You can log the perfect split between “work time” and “life time” and still feel drained, distracted, or unfulfilled.
Just as a single number can mislead in communication measurement (think of AVE, for example), a “balanced” calendar can hide the fact that what fills it might not matter all that much.
My Journey – From Hustle to Alignment
Last December I wrote about moving away from hustle culture and designing a more intentional life. The move in October to our new home in Somerset – and the creation of my garden studio – became both a symbol and a space for that change.
It was never just about a quieter workspace. It was about aligning my time and energy with what I actually value:
- Writing that feels purposeful, not just regular.
- Work that supports meaningful relationships and leaves room for curiosity.
- Conversations that matter, like the FIR podcast and interviews that challenge my own thinking.
- Judging digital PR and social media awards, gaining continuing insight into how others are changing this space.
Those choices didn’t happen by accident. They came from asking a harder question than “how do I balance this?” – instead, it was “what do I want my days to feel like?” and “how can my work serve the life I want to live?”
Alignment isn’t about equalising the hours. It’s about making sure the hours count.
Why “Balance” Can Be a Distraction
The trouble with the work-life balance concept is that it focuses on the mechanics, not the meaning. It assumes that if you divide time neatly between the professional and the personal, you’ll be fulfilled. That’s not always true.
Balance can become a distraction if:
- You focus on hours, not outcomes.
- You treat rest as recovery from burnout rather than a core part of life.
- You adjust the scales without questioning if what’s on them is worth carrying.
It’s like measuring communication success purely on outputs – counting the press releases issued, the likes gained, or the column inches “earned” – without asking if any of it actually made a difference.
The Case for Alignment
Alignment starts with values. It’s shaping your work to serve your life, not forcing the two into equal halves.
For me, alignment means:
- Purpose-driven work – choosing projects because they matter, not just because they’re available.
- Environment that supports focus – my garden studio isn’t just an office, it’s a creative space where work and reflection naturally co-exist.
- Flexibility – leaving space for curiosity, unexpected opportunities, and the things that energise me.
It also means letting go of opportunities – even interesting ones – if they don’t fit the bigger picture. Alignment isn’t about doing everything. It’s about doing the right things for the life you want to live.
How to Start Your Own Shift
If work-life balance has always felt out of reach, try replacing the goal with alignment:
- Define what matters most – write down the values, priorities, and experiences you want more of.
- Audit your time – see how your current work and commitments support (or conflict with) those values.
- Make one intentional change – adjust your schedule, decline a project, or carve out space for something that aligns with your priorities.
- Measure the right thing – don’t just count hours worked or hours off; notice whether your days feel more like the life you want to live.
Closing Thought
Balance might help you keep going. Alignment helps you move forward in the right direction.
For me, that’s the real point now – not splitting the hours evenly, but making sure the hours count.
Have you found ways to align your work and life, or does “balance” still feel like the right goal for you? I’d love to hear your perspective.
Related Reading:
- Intentional Aspirations and Work-Life Balance (8 December 2024)
- A Garden Studio Opens a New Chapter for Work-Life Balance (19 November 2024)
