What is work-life balance?
Work-life balance refers to how you divide your time and energy between your career and other important areas of your life - such as hobbies, family, relationships, health, and rest.
Work-life balance will vary from person to person and can change over time. For instance:
- At the start of your career, you might prioritise learning, growth, career progression, and having fun.
- Later in life, your focus may turn towards family, personal goals or well-being.
- You might have periods where work takes priority and others where life outside work becomes more important.
Rather than striving for a perfect split, think of work-life balance as a flexible, evolving state that helps you feel content and aligned with your values. Some people prefer the term ‘work-life blend’ - a more integrated approach to managing responsibilities. Try both concepts and see which feels more realistic and empowering for you.
In this video, life and wellbeing coach Rebecca Norton explains the importance of work-life balance and how a coach can help cultivate a balance that works for you.
Why does work-life balance matter?
For many of us, work is a major part of life. It provides income, purpose, and opportunities to grow. Whether you’re supporting a family, funding your passions, or building your career, your job plays a big role. But, it’s important to remember: work is just one part of life. Striking a balance between work and personal time can help you feel more fulfilled, motivated, and in control.
The impact of poor work-life balance
Today’s always-on culture makes it harder than ever to switch off. Whether you're working in an office or remotely, it’s easy to blur the lines between work and personal time.
Without balance, you may notice:
- increased stress, irritability or fatigue
- trouble sleeping
- lack of motivation or purpose
- burnout or emotional overwhelm
- strained relationships
Over time, this can lead to more serious health issues, both mentally and physically. That’s why it’s so important to make space for the things that bring you joy, connection, and rest.
Employers play a key role in supporting a healthy work-life balance. From flexible working to mental health support, discover how employers can promote better work-life balance in the workplace.
How does working from home affect work-life balance?
With more people working remotely or running businesses from home, the lines between work and personal life can become even more blurred. While flexible working can be a huge benefit, it also brings challenges:
- Work hours can stretch into evenings and weekends.
- It may feel harder to switch off mentally or physically.
- Home responsibilities and distractions can impact productivity.
- You might miss out on social interactions and boundaries that come with a separate workplace.
If you work from home, consider creating structure around your day:
- Set clear working hours (and stick to them).
- Create a dedicated workspace, even if it's a small area.
- Schedule regular breaks and time outdoors.
- Establish a clear ‘end of the day’ ritual - like a walk or a phone call - to help your mind shift out of work mode.
Coaching for work-life balance
Finding the right balance between your career and personal life can be challenging - especially when life feels busy, overwhelming or off-track. While some people can spot the signs early and make changes, others may feel stuck, unsure of where to start or how to regain control. This is where coaching for work-life balance can make a real difference.
A coach provides a supportive, non-judgemental space to explore what’s working and what isn’t. Rather than offering quick fixes, coaching helps you gain clarity around your values, priorities, and goals so you can make intentional changes that support your well-being in and outside of work.
Whether you're navigating burnout, struggling to set boundaries, or simply wanting more fulfilment in your day-to-day life, a coach can help you create a version of balance that’s sustainable and meaningful to you.
How can a coach help improve work-life balance?
Working with a coach offers personalised support that goes beyond advice from friends or self-help books. You’ll be guided through a process of reflection, self-discovery, and action planning that can lead to lasting change.
With the support of a coach, you’ll be able to:
- Identify the roadblocks standing in your way - such as unrealistic expectations, overcommitment, or self-doubt.
- Recognise signs of stress and burnout before they escalate.
- Set and maintain healthy boundaries between work and home life.
- Build confidence in making decisions that align with your values.
- Improve time management and reduce overwhelm.
- Reconnect with what brings you joy, purpose, and energy.
Most importantly, coaching empowers you to take ownership of your time and choices. It’s not about striving for perfection - it’s about designing a life that works for you, both professionally and personally.
If you’re ready to reclaim your balance and move forward with intention, coaching for work-life balance could be the step that changes everything.
Self-help tools to improve work-life balance
If you're feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or simply out of sync, you're not alone. Sometimes, it’s obvious what’s causing the imbalance but, other times, it can be harder to pinpoint exactly what’s off.
Self-help tools can offer a helpful starting point, giving you space to reflect, assess, and explore areas of your life that may need more attention. From practical activities to reflective exercises, these tools can help you move from uncertainty to clarity.
Before diving in, it may help to explore some of the common challenge areas that often impact our work-life balance. These include time, relationships, health, finances, and purpose - areas that may be contributing to feelings of stress or dissatisfaction.
Once you've identified what may be out of balance, the following tools can help you assess your current situation and start making meaningful changes:
The wheel of life
This coaching tool offers a simple but powerful visual way to assess different areas of your life - such as career, health, relationships, personal growth, finances, and fun.
Each area is rated on a scale from one to 10, then plotted on a circular wheel. This creates a picture of your current satisfaction across life areas - and can highlight imbalances at a glance.
Ask yourself:
- What might be different if one area had a higher score?
- If this part improved, how might it impact the rest of your life?
- How might you feel if things changed in this area?
These questions can help you move from surface-level awareness to deeper insights and goal-setting. Often, what feels like a career issue may turn out to be about time management, boundaries, or health - and not the job itself.
Try the wheel of life for yourself and reflect on what it reveals. It could be the first step toward realigning your priorities.
A balance diary
If you’ve yet to pinpoint the problem but are experiencing signs of stress, or if you think you have a good work-life balance, yet people are telling you otherwise, consider keeping a diary. To get an idea of your current work-life balance, track your daily activities for one or two weeks. Note:
- How much time you spend working.
- How much time is spent on rest, meals, social time, hobbies or self-care.
- How you feel each day (energy levels, emotions, stress).
- Sleep patterns.
At the end of the week, assess everything you’ve done. Highlight your time in different colours - work, rest, fun, etc. - to visually assess where your energy is going. This can reveal if you're spending too much time in one area and help you spot patterns that need shifting.
Remember, balance doesn’t mean equal. It's about what feels right for you at this stage of your life.
