When most people think of work-life balance, they think of the perfect equation where work and life are equal.

However, this is not always possible, especially in today's world. There is a lot of pressure to succeed at work, and it can be difficult to leave work at the office when you're constantly connected to your email and phone. Especially when you are working from home.

So what is the solution? 

In this blog post, we will discuss the difference between work-life balance and work-life integration, and how you can start improving the quality of your life all around.

What is the difference?

Work-life balance is the idea of keeping work and personal life separate so that they don't intrude on each other. 

Great for people who can leave work at work, and have come to establish themselves into a good routine so that they arrive on time and easily switch off when it’s time to bounce. 

Work-life integration, on the other hand, is the idea of blending work and personal life so that they support each other. Making time for both, but being relatively autonomous about how to manage it. 

This is ideally best served by those who like to have more control of their own schedules. As long as the work gets done and their schedule reflects their unique preferences to get it done. 

These folks may have family and personal commitments where the stock standard ‘punch-in punch-out’ time causes friction in the areas of family and health.

For example, shared parenting, school pick up or drop off, acting as a carer, health appointments, or even time preferences for exercise. 

I personally am a big fan of work-life integration because it blends my professional and personal obligations and allows me to find a healthy balance between the two. I have some clients that hate that idea and love walking away from the job at a regular time.

In general, work-life integration is about promoting flexibility and agility in our schedules, so that we can better handle the demands of career and personal life. 

One benefit of work-life integration is that it can lower our stress levels by allowing us to meet all of our responsibilities, no matter what their nature. Whether we're taking care of household tasks or running important meetings at work, the ability to seamlessly transition between these various duties allows us to feel more fulfilled and satisfied with our lives overall. 

At the same time, work-life integration also gives us more freedom and autonomy in how we manage our time. By allowing us to coordinate both our career and personal obligations in a way that works best for us, work-life integration allows us to chart our own path forward and truly make the most of our professional potential. 

So whether you're an entrepreneur building a business on the side or a parent looking for new ways to spend time consider working a lifestyle focused on integration rather than balance. That means aligning with an organization that supports this. 

There is a shift towards this although many industries are still very traditional. So when it comes to work-life balance, there are many different opinions and approaches. It’s important to know this when considering bringing it up with your boss if you have to. Perhaps it’s just assumed that hey “the results speak for themselves, you do you…”

There may also be some inside an organization that sees work-life balance as an unrealistic or even harmful goal that can cause undue stress and anxiety. So whatever you choose for yourself and your lifestyle make sure it’s in agreement with those who count and don’t worry about any other judgments on getting the job done.

So which one is right for you?

For those who prioritize work over their personal lives, a work-life integration approach may be more suitable, while others may find that a more traditional notion of work-life balance allows them to achieve greater fulfillment in both areas of their lives.

At the heart of this issue is the fact that many people today struggle to strike the right balance between their responsibilities at home and at work. For some, being able to spend adequate time with family or friends is seen as a luxury that must be saved for days off and vacation time, whereas for others it is an essential part of their well-being that must be incorporated into their daily schedules. 

Similarly, dedicating time and energy to one's career may mean sacrificing other important parts of life such as hobbies or physical fitness (who would think that!).

Whatever your perspective on this issue, finding a way to balance the demands of your professional life with your personal life is an important step towards achieving true satisfaction in both aspects of your life.

Whatever you choose to do just remember that mindfulness is key to achieving a work-life balance. 

If you can be present and aware of the moment, you can better manage your time and energy. That means being deliberate about how you spend your time both at work and at home.

Here are some of Hartspace’s top tips for succeeding in improving your work lifestyle:

• Start by setting boundaries. If you work from home, set office hours and stick to them. Let your family and friends know when you are working so they don’t disturb you. You may also need to set limits on after-hours work emails and phone calls.
• Next, set priorities. Know what is most important to you and make time for those things. 
• That might mean saying no to some projects at work or social commitments outside of work. And it’s OK to ask for help! 
• Delegate tasks that someone else can handle or hire a babysitter so you can have some free time.
• Finally, be flexible. Life happens! Things come up that we can’t control. When those inevitable disruptions occur, try to go with the flow and be accepting of the situation. 
• Stay mindful. If you can remain calm and present, you’ll be better equipped to handle whatever comes your way.

Our lives are constantly changing, and it can be difficult to keep up with the demands of work, family, and social obligations. It's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life and forget to take care of ourselves. That's why it's important to have a routine that helps us stay focused and present. 

A routine gives us a sense of harmony and well-being, and it reminds us to take time for ourselves. By taking a few moments each day to check in with our bodies and minds, we can help ensure that we're living our best lives. 

So, next time you're feeling overwhelmed, take a deep breath and remember that it's always possible to change your perspective.

The first step is to come back to the breath and come back to the posture. Change both of those to recenter yourself and start again.

Remember that we are all trying to get through the day without losing our cool, and we are all facing our own unique challenges. So be gentle and kind towards yourselves in situations where you feel stressed.

By doing so you begin to foster self-compassion and build resilience. After all, nobody ever succeeded by beating themselves up over their mistakes or shortcomings.

Take the time to care for yourself.

Before finding the right balance of work and life it helps to know if you’re even in the right career. Use our free career assessment tool to see if you're in the right job today.

Get it here

Big Great, 

Alistair Hart