Work/Life Balance = Guilt

Four and a half years ago Allan and I started Less Everything. We wanted to build a product company that would sustain us with recurring revenue, and finance the building of our products by charging people enough money to build outstanding products for them that we would have enough time and money left over to build our own. This means we work a lot. No, even more than that. Since starting Less we have often been about how to maintain a work/life balance. Our answer was simple: “What balance?,” “There’s no such thing,” or “You don’t.” These answers are easy and were true for the first two years, but they’re not true anymore. Here’s what I’ve finally figured out. 

For me, life forced it’s way in in the form of an ongoing illness that lasted for almost two years. I just couldn’t work like crazy anymore, but I wasn’t exactly enjoying life either. For the past few months I’ve been making time to do other things. I’ve been bicycle riding like crazy, going to yoga, even the occasional dance class (once, but I am going to go back). I’ve been taking care of my kids every other week, when I have them. I’ve been eating better, which means taking time to cook my own meals which means it takes longer to clean up too. All of this takes time away from work. Which makes me feel guilty. I feel like I’m letting Allan or letting our guys down or letting our clients down. I just don’t have enough time. 

So this is what I’ve figured out about life/work balance. To have it you have to trade one thing for another and deal with the guilt of letting someone down. Choose wisely and try for happiness.