Dr. Dayna Lee-Baggley, a clinical psychologist at Saint Mary University, USA, suggests that framing "work-life balance" implies work and life are opposing forces. She notes that separating them is increasingly difficult.
This boundary blurs in common situations, such as receiving a call from a child's school during work, or handling work emails during family time. The concept often leads people to envision work and personal life on opposite ends of a scale, aiming for equilibrium.
However, life has no fixed destination. At different stages, work or family demands greater priority, requiring continuous adjustment. Therefore, Lee-Baggley believes "harmony" is a more fitting concept than "balance". Harmony is not about dividing time equally, but finding ways for different demands to coexist.
Instead of seeking balance, the expert suggests asking: "How can I allocate energy among competing demands?"
She proposes three energy management skills:
Identifying energy drainers: Each person has different factors that either increase or decrease their energy. It is important to note which circumstances and activities help recovery and what causes fatigue.
Proactively recharging energy: People often look for a charger when their phone battery is low, but rarely do the same for themselves. Some activities, seemingly relaxing, can be more draining, like using social media. Energy recovery does not necessarily involve standard routines; sometimes, it is simply doing things that bring joy and smiles. The simplest way to identify this is to ask: "After doing this, do I have more energy than when I started?"
Choosing how to use energy: When energy is insufficient to meet all demands, it is necessary to determine which tasks must be done personally and which can be delegated.
Lee-Baggley states that "trying harder" is not a scientifically based strategy for habit formation. Instead of pursuing an illusory equilibrium, individuals should observe their energy sources, proactively restore them, and use them for what truly matters.
Nhat Minh (According to Psychology Today)
