I’ve come to the conclusion that work-life balance is a bit of a unicorn – a lovely idea that doesn’t actually exist in the wild. The very phrase suggests a seesaw where both sides are perfectly level, but life is rarely that symmetrical. Lately, I’ve been leaning more towards the concept of work-life integration or, better yet, work-life seasons.

There are times when your career is going to demand a Herculean effort, and your personal life will inevitably take a backseat. Conversely, there are periods where family or health must be the absolute priority, and work just has to tick along in the background. Trying to maintain a 50/50 split every single day is a recipe for burnout and a sense of perpetual failure. We need to stop flagellating ourselves for not being perfectly balanced and start accepting the ebb and flow of our priorities. It’s about being present in whichever season you currently find yourself, rather than constantly feeling guilty about the one you’re neglecting.