Work-Life Balance. What Is It?
“Work-Life Balance” – What’s the Deal?
We have been hearing from many people before who said “Work-Life balance” is really important to consider when you are looking for a job. But what is work life balance actually? Before we go throught that we might need to look back to history first.
A Quick History Lesson ⏳
Before we have what we have right now, which is 8 hours working hours, we usually have working hours from 10-16 working hours. And then in the early 19th century, Robert Owen coined the slogan “Eight hours’ labour, Eight hours’ recreation, Eight hours’ rest”.
Fast forward to today – most countries (including Indonesia, though we joined the party a bit later) adopted the 8 hours workday (or 40 hours workweek). In theory this seems perfect, we only have 24 hours a day so we have to split it to 3 section, so we can effectively use most of our day.
Or is it?
When Theory Meets Reality 🚗💨
Here’s the catch:
- Does your 1-hour commute count as “recreation”?
- Is binge-watching Netflix the same as “self-improvement”?
- What if you enjoy learning work-related tech after hours?
The 8-hour rule feels like trying to fit a PS5 into a Nintendo Switch case – messy and slightly unrealistic.
My confessions 😅
When I was younger (and I’m not saying I’m ancient!), I usually doing work for more than 8 hours. In some days I even work for more than 12 hours a day. Do I regret it because it is not work life balance? Of course not. In fact I think, that is helping me to shape what I am right now.
Those chaotic years actually taught me balance. Now I:
- ✅ Deliver better work in less time
- ✅ Can afford to treat my parents to dinner
- ✅ Still geek out on side projects (when I want to)
- ✅ Still have time to spend with my wife and my dog
The Unpopular Truth About Balance ⚖️
So what is actually work life balance? As a senior engineer, I want to say “It depends”
Work-life balance isn’t a rulebook – it’s a rhythm.
- Employers: Respect the 8-hour spirit
- Employees: Speak up when deadlines are wild
- Everyone: Burnout isn’t a badge of honor
Your balance might look like:
- 🌴 Taking a tech-free vacation
- 🎮 Spending weekends playing game or doing some hobby porject
- 📚 Learning Rust “just because”
- 🐶 Actually petting your dog instead of just posting dog memes
You’re the DJ of Your Life 🎧
At the end of the day, you control the playlist. Want to grind hard now to coast later? Go for it. Need to unplug completely every weekend? Do it. Balance isn’t about perfect splits – it’s about designing a life that doesn’t make you dread Mondays.
Now if you’ll excuse me, my dog is judging me for staring at this screen too long.
