The debate over working hours is heating up, but work-life balance isn’t a one-size-fits-all ?
Like many working parents, I’ve wrestled with this question—and over time, I’ve learned that balance isn’t just about time management; it’s about aligning your life with what matters most.
How My Balance Evolved
- Starting Out: As a young pharmacist, I worked 10–12-hour days, including Sundays.
- Post-Marriage: Family changed everything. Long hours became burdensome. Missing weekends with loved ones hurt, and anything beyond 8 hours drained me.
- Entrepreneurship: Starting my business brought back long hours—10+ physical hours a day, plus constant mental preoccupation. My wife and daughter joked about my “selective memory disorder,” and they weren’t wrong.
My wife, juggling her own demanding career, carried the extra load for years.
That’s when I realized: balance wasn’t just about me—it was about us.
Our Recipe for Balance
- No TV Policy: We said goodbye to TV 25 years ago, freeing up time for conversations, hobbies, and meaningful moments together.
- Annual Trips: Every year, we take a 10–12-day family vacation to laugh, reconnect, and recharge. These trips are non-negotiable.
- Shared Meals: Dinner time is sacred. No matter how hectic the day, we sit down, talk, and share our stories.
- Purposeful Outings: Instead of casual outings, we dedicate time to social causes as a family. These experiences bring us closer while making a difference.
Work-life balance isn’t about perfection—it’s about intentional choices that reflect your family’s values.
Have you found your recipe for balance? What’s worked (or not worked) for your family? Let’s learn from each other.