Work Life Balance: Can it Really be Attainable?
Work Life Balance: Can It Be Attainable?
Work life balance is something we might all strive for, but it may be harder to maintain than we think. As defined by the Cambridge Dictionary, work-life balance is described as: “the amount of time you spend doing your job compared with the amount of time you spend with your family and doing things you enjoy.” Thus, work-life balance is essentially managing one’s work while also all other areas of life beyond one’s career which can sound overwhelming.
I have been curling since I was 12 years old, and throughout my time as a student-athlete with a part-time job, I have often struggled to find a healthy work-life balance. Over the years, I have worn many hats: I am a master’s student, an administrative and financial coordinator, a psychometrist, and a curler. As a current competitive women’s curler, I continue to navigate the challenge of balancing these different areas of my life. I value each of these roles, but it can be difficult to give each one the time, energy, and focus it deserves.
Over the last couple of months, I wanted to work on developing a schedule and routine that would work well for me before my curling season began. I hoped that doing so would make the transition into a busy curling season more manageable. Because curling is such an important part of my life, alongside my schooling and current jobs, I knew I needed some additional support when it came to managing my work-life balance. I decided that in my next personal counselling appointment, I would make work-life balance the main focus of the session. I wanted to gain some practical tools to better manage my responsibilities while minimizing the risk of burnout. Through this conversation, I gained several tools and ideas that I have continued to reflect on:
- Working on boundaries – knowing when to say “no” and prioritize my wellbeing. Setting boundaries allows me to protect my time and energy while still being committed to all areas of my life.
- Leaning on others for support – letting my family and friends know how I was feeling. Allowing others to understand what I am experiencing can help me feel supported.
- Noticing and managing burnout – noticing how my body physical feels and the signals it is sending me is important before my burnout becomes overwhelming. Practicing sitting in the present and noticing how I am feeling is one of the first steps I take to manage my burnout.
- Making time for self-care – I am learning that in my busy schedule, fitting in self-care allows my body to recharge and sets the tone for my work schedule the following day. Taking walks in nature, practicing mindfulness, focusing on my breathing, or reading a book are some of my current self-care activities.
Overall, I am recognizing that work-life balance is not necessarily about giving every part of my life an equal amount of time, which would be impossible. Instead, if I am intentional with all areas of my life and take time to check-in and see how I am doing in each of my roles which moves me closer to the balance of work and life. If you are looking for more resources on work-life balance, these short podcasts provide extra tips and information on work-life balance:
- How to Craft the Work-Life Balance You Deserve – How to Be a Better Human
- How to Improve Your Work-Life Balance – The Motivated Mind
- 3 Rules for Better Work-Life Balance | Ashley Whillans – TED Talks Daily
References
Cambridge University Press & Assessment. (n.d.). Work-life balance. In Cambridge Dictionary. Retrieved September 25, 2026, from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/work-life-balance
Blog Post By: Taylor Stremick, Administrative and Finance Coordinator and Psychometrist with Wildflowers Therapy
