Work-Life Balance: A Personal Perspective

Having spent years navigating the corporate world and now diving headfirst into multiple projects and experiments, one thing has become increasingly clear to me: Work-life balance is not about the number of hours you work versus the time you spend on leisure. It’s about control....control of your time and how you choose to spend it In my corporate days, I often found myself caught up in a rigid routine. The so-called work-life balance was nothing more than an attempt to compartmentalize work and personal life. But the reality was that the line between the two remained blurred. Now, hustling through various projects and pushing the boundaries of what I can achieve, I am probably working more than ever before. Yet, I feel more balanced because I have control over my time and how I approach tasks. One key lesson I’ve learned is that micromanagement kills balance. When you delegate a task to someone and dictate exactly how it should be done and by when, it not only stifles creativity but also creates an unnecessary sense of pressure. On the other hand, when you delegate an outcome and let people figure out their way of achieving it, they feel more empowered and balanced. It’s less about giving instructions and more about setting expectations and trusting people to deliver. Consider the people who seem to be working all the time yet manage to integrate everything seamlessly. They might be replying to emails at odd hours, taking calls during a family outing, or brainstorming during a workout. But they don’t feel out of balance because they have integrated work into their lives in a way that doesn’t feel forced or unnatural. Work-life balance is not about rigid schedules or dividing your day into chunks of work and play. It’s about owning your time, creating flexibility, and fostering an environment where productivity doesn’t come at the cost of well-being. It’s about letting go of the obsession with balance itself and focusing on integrating work into your life in a way that feels natural. As I continue to explore new ventures and juggle multiple responsibilities, I realize that balance is not a destination but a state of mind. It’s not about how much time you spend working or not working.....it’s about feeling in control of your choices and being intentional with your time. That’s the real essence of work-life balance for me.

Letter To Myself - 1

Right now, you think you have time. You believe life is a straight road….success, happiness, and meaning waiting for you in the future, as if they are milestones you will naturally reach. But that road is not endless. One day, you will stop looking ahead and realize you’re already standing there. And when that moment comes, you will see that the things you once chased no longer hold the same meaning. The security, the recognition, the achievements….they won’t feel as important anymore. The question will no longer be about what’s next, but who you are. Iba introduced me to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and it makes so much sense. In the beginning, you chase security, stability, and belonging. You work hard to build a solid foundation….because survival and external validation seem like the most important things. And that’s necessary. But once the foundation is built, then what? This is when a shift happens. You begin to look inward. What once drove you no longer does. Success starts to feel less about what you have and more about who you truly are. Maslow says this stage looks different for everyone. Some change their work to align with their values. Others focus on creativity or personal growth rather than external rewards. It’s a shift from seeking achievement to seeking meaning. The truth is, most people never venture into this journey of self-awareness. They stay where it feels safe. But for those who do, life becomes about something deeper….fulfillment. Midlife isn’t a crisis. It’s an awakening. If you feel restless, it’s not a problem to fix….it’s a calling to step into your full self, to embrace not just the version of you that the world sees, but the one you’ve hidden. And so, as I step into this journey of self-actualization, I’ll let you know what I find. But for now, I’ll leave you with this: the things you are chasing now? They are just the beginning. What truly matters is yet to come.