A Personal Note from the Author
I write this not as a theorist, but as someone who has lived through the chaos, the rush, and the long nights. After 38 years of professional life — spanning over 10 organizations across government and corporate sectors, rising through senior roles — I now reflect not just on the achievements, but also on the sacrifices. In the pursuit of professional success, I missed precious moments with my parents, family, and especially my children. The idea of ‘balance’ never quite existed — it was always about the next deadline, the next promotion, the next goal.
It wasn’t until much later in life, when the addiction to being ‘always on’ had rooted deep in my system, that I hit pause. It took a personal wake-up call — including time in a rehabilitation center — to truly see how distorted my priorities had become. What changed me? Friends. Real friends who intervened, who reminded me that life isn’t just about climbing ladders, but also about holding hands, sharing laughter, and being present. I can’t rewrite the past, but I’ve chosen to reclaim the future. This article is my reflection — and perhaps, my redemption.
So many articles. So much advice. So little reality.
Everywhere you look, someone is preaching about work-life balance — blogs, videos, motivational posts, HR webinars. They offer you checklists, productivity hacks, and routines, telling you how to manage your 24 hours to squeeze in career growth, exercise, family time, mindfulness, hobbies, sleep, and more. But have you ever stopped and asked yourself: Does any of this really work in real life?
Let’s start with the basics. What is work-life balance supposed to mean?
- You can work hard and succeed professionally without constantly feeling stressed or burnt out.
- You still have enough time for your family, friends, hobbies, rest, and personal growth.
- Your physical health (through sleep, nutrition, and exercise) and mental wellbeing (reduced anxiety, sense of purpose) are protected.
- You can switch off from work after hours, guilt-free.
Sounds amazing, right? Too good, in fact. Because in most practical scenarios, it’s a mirage.
Theory vs Reality: The Great Disconnect
Work-life balance sounds great — in books, in classrooms, in HR policies, or in countries where job security is institutionalized. But in fast-paced, hyper-competitive, corporate or entrepreneurial environments, where your performance is under constant scrutiny, the idea starts to unravel.
For professionals who have to prove their competence every day, fight for relevance, and stay ahead in cutthroat industries — balance becomes a luxury they simply can’t afford.
It’s no surprise that:
- We are technically at work 24/7. Emails, WhatsApp groups, Slack messages, and Zoom calls don’t care about office hours.
- Smartphones have made it impossible to disconnect. Urgent emails at midnight are no longer exceptions — they’re the norm.
- The line between work and personal life has completely blurred.
The Curse of Technology
Before smartphones, there were boundaries. You finished work and came home. Emergencies were rare. People respected personal time. Visiting friends and family didn’t require an appointment or “calendar invite.” Evening tea at 5 PM wasn’t a privilege; it was routine.
Today, we have:
- Children addicted to screens from infancy. We use YouTube to make them eat, sleep, stay quiet.
- Parents complaining about kids not spending time with them — forgetting that they were the ones who handed over the phone in the first place.
- Professionals who can’t switch off from work even during dinner, holidays, or while lying in bed.
We’ve bred an entire generation that’s always on — always connected, always accessible, and therefore, always mentally exhausted.
The Illusion of Leave and Succession Planning
How many of us can truly say we’ve been “on leave”? Even when we take time off, we’re still plugged in — answering calls, making decisions, firefighting over email. Succession planning in many organizations is theoretical. We stay involved not because we’re irreplaceable, but because we’ve never been trained to disconnect.
Even in multinationals where structures exist, the pressure to perform is so high — and our addiction to being “in control” so strong — that delegation becomes an illusion.
Writers vs Practitioners: Who’s Telling the Story?
Many of the loudest voices writing about work-life balance are academics, columnists, or influencers who may never have faced the day-to-day pressure of deadlines, team management, KPIs, or client escalations. It’s easy to preach balance from a distance. But living it? That’s a different game altogether.
The Disappearing Attention Span
Today’s professional reads less, skims more. Research shows that if you don’t capture a reader’s attention in the first 3 seconds, you’ve lost them.
In the workplace:
- Long emails are parked for later (which usually never comes).
- We forward detailed reports to juniors, asking for summaries — not as delegation, but because we can’t focus long enough to read them ourselves.
Books are out, audiobooks and summaries are in. We read what’s trending, what’s being talked about, what boosts our image — not necessarily what enriches our minds.
The Unseen Sector: What About the Retailers and Laborers?
Almost all books and articles focus on office professionals — white-collar workers. But what about:
- Retail shopkeepers?
- Utility service providers?
- Small business owners?
- Cash-paid employees in unregulated sectors?
For them:
- There’s no concept of leave, let alone work-life balance.
- Payments are made in cash, without formal records.
- There’s no insurance, benefits, or structured time off.
- If their employer is kind, it’s considered generosity — not a right.
Children born into these family-run businesses are trained from a young age. They do “on-the-job training” by default. They inherit the work culture — and the exhaustion — from their parents.
So… What’s the Solution?
After years of contemplation and experience, I’ve reached a conclusion: work-life balance is not an individual’s responsibility alone. The system must evolve.
Here’s what needs to happen:
- Companies must drive the culture shift. Work-life balance must be baked into organizational DNA — not just as a slogan, but as a lived value.
- Educational institutions need to play a role. Schools and colleges must introduce courses that teach students how to manage work and personal life in the digital age.
- Clear leave policies must be enforced. If an employee is on leave, they should be on leave. No work, no calls, no emails.
- Restrict official access on personal devices. No official emails on phones. Period. Let people disconnect.
Final Thoughts
We must fundamentally redefine what success means. If success comes at the cost of your health, your relationships, your peace of mind — is it really success?
A title, a promotion, or a bigger paycheck means little if you’re burnt out, emotionally drained, or disconnected from the people and moments that truly matter.
Work-life balance should not remain a corporate myth or a buzzword on HR posters.
It must be real, visible, and non-negotiable — something we build into our culture, enforce through systems, and measure with honesty.
Because when we sacrifice balance, we aren’t just giving away our time.
We’re losing life.
Remember:
“What is meant for you will find you — no matter how fast you run, or how hard you chase. Inner peace is not a delay to success, it is the essence of it.”
Please do go through my article “Time is too Short” https://mansoormasood.com/life-is-too-short/
Loved your insights