The Myth of Balance: What Working Women Really Need Instead

We hear a lot about balance - work-life balance, balancing it all, staying on top of things. It sounds like the answer to everything, especially for women who are juggling big roles at work and at home.

But let’s be honest: if you’ve ever chased balance and still felt like you were constantly behind or never quite doing enough, you’re not alone - and you’re not failing.

In fact, the traditional idea of balance might be setting us up for frustration.

Why Balance Can Feel So Impossible

The common version of balance suggests that if we just organise our time better, we’ll feel calm, focused, and in control. But that doesn't reflect real life.

Most women I work with are not only working full-time - they’re also the person holding things together at home. They’re remembering birthdays, managing childcare, sorting school logistics, and checking in on family. And in the workplace, they’re leading teams, managing pressure, and holding emotional space for others.

It’s a lot. So the idea that we can give everything equal attention at all times? It’s unrealistic. And yet, when we can’t make it work, we often blame ourselves.

I used to think the problem was with my planning. If I just woke up earlier, got more efficient, used the right productivity tools - I’d finally feel balanced. But no matter what I did, something always slipped. I’d feel on top of work but disconnected at home, or I’d prioritise home and then feel like I was falling behind professionally.

Eventually, I realised: life isn’t meant to be balanced like a set of scales. It’s meant to flow. Some days will pull more from one area than another - and that’s okay.

What We Really Need Instead

So if the goal isn’t perfect balance, what is it?

What most women actually need isn’t more pressure to fit it all in. They need space. Clarity. Permission to slow down enough to ask: What really matters today? What do I need right now?

In my blog post I share more on what I’ve found helpful, both personally and in my work with clients.

Read it in full here

https://www.alifemoremindful.com/single-post/the-myth-of-balance-what-working-women-really-need-instead

Want more support with this?

If this resonated with you and you’d like to explore how to build in these shifts - either for yourself or for your team - get in touch, I'd love to hear what challenges you are facing and see where I can support you.

Let’s stop pretending balance is the goal and start creating lives that feel more grounded, spacious, and real.

Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash