The world has changed dramatically over the last few decades, and work-life balance is no exception. It’s not just about having flexibility in your schedule or being able to work from home—those are becoming table stakes for most jobs—but rather about adapting your life and priorities as circumstances change.
At different periods of your life, your priorities will be different too
As you go through different stages of life, your priorities will change.
In your 20s, you may be focused on work and career. In your 30s, the family might take priority. And in your 40s or beyond, financial security might dominate your thoughts.
Demanding priorities mean sacrifices on other fronts
It’s important to be aware of the tradeoffs you are making and to make sure you’re not sacrificing the wrong things. For example, if your career is demanding your attention at this point in your life, that’s perfectly fine–but it means other priorities will suffer. If you want children but don’t have them because of work demands, or if your spouse wants more time with friends but has been spending all their free time helping out with work projects instead? That’s going to create tension between partners over time.
It’s also possible that some people might find themselves changing careers later in life due to changes in their priorities and interests.
New technologies allow new ways of working and living
The way we work has changed dramatically over the last few decades. New technologies allow more people to work from home, and this has changed the way we work. We are no longer tied to an office, so you have more choices to direct things in your life. You can choose when you want to work, where you want to live, and who your colleagues will be. In addition, because there is often no commute, it saves time and money, which can be used elsewhere, like spending more time with family or friends.
It is ok to adjust your life and work to changing circumstances
As you go through life, there are going to be times when things change. You may get married, have kids, or lose a loved one. These changes can affect your priorities and how you spend your time at work and at home. It’s important for everyone to be flexible about their work-life balance because it isn’t always easy to predict what might happen in the future.
If something comes up that requires you to adjust how much time or energy is spent on one aspect of life over another, then it’s okay to make adjustments as needed so that everything keeps running smoothly without any problems occurring later down the line.
You have full agency to choose what is right for you today
You can go back to school in your 50s or start a new career path after 20 years in one company. You can dedicate yourself to a social cause or take up an interest that has been on the back burner for decades. The possibilities are endless as long as they align with your values and goals, which may change over time. The point is that there is no template career anymore; late bloomers can thrive just like their peers who started early! A book by Rich Karlgaard called “Late Bloomers” outlines this idea just right!
It is important to keep in mind that the “balance” can be different for everyone. What works for one person may not work for another; therefore, if you aren’t happy with where your life is right now or your priorities change over time (which is absolutely expected and normal), then it may be time to make some changes!
