How I Stopped Chasing Work-Life Balance and Found a Better Way to Live
Rethinking Work-Life Balance
Work-life balance. How many times have you heard that phrase, and what feelings does it evoke in you? The idea of balance is often depicted as a scale—two weights on either side, needing to be perfectly equal to maintain equilibrium. Or perhaps a seesaw, where two people of the same weight must keep each other level.
But how realistic is it to achieve “true” work-life balance based on this metaphor? Not just for a fleeting moment—but to actually maintain it?
I stopped chasing this kind of balance when I had my second child ten years ago. Up until then, I had worked hard to keep everything in check—my career, my personal life, and my time with my firstborn. But when my second child arrived, the delicate balance I had so carefully built completely unraveled. Suddenly, it wasn’t just about managing work and home life, but also ensuring both children received equal attention. I even found myself keeping mental score—playing extra games with Play-Doh to “make up” for a day when the baby had been unsettled. Thinking back on it now, I can’t help but laugh.
Add in a long work to-do list, and my idea of work-life balance flew straight out the window.
A Different Approach to Balance
So how do we manage it all? How do you run a business or hold a job, stay present with family and friends, and still make time for your health and wellbeing?
Let me share the simple shift that has become my lifeline.
I stopped dividing my life into separate categories. Instead of splitting my time into “work,” “family,” and “health,” I now see my life as one whole. I no longer separate work tasks in my calendar or make distinct work to-do lists—I create life to-do lists and prioritise from there.
A typical Tuesday in February might look like this:
Workout
Meeting with a supplier
Doctor’s appointment with my eldest daughter
Budget meeting
Write newsletter
Daily walk during my youngest’s dance lesson
Pay bills
This approach has created so much more space in my life. It has made planning and prioritising easier, and most importantly, it has helped me recognise that my “mum duties” and “health goals” are just as important as my “work tasks.” If I have a doctor’s appointment or a school meeting, I don’t overload my list with too many other commitments.
I’ve also learned to make better use of transitional moments. When I’m waiting at dance class, I bring my walking gear and go for an hour-long walk—regardless of the weather. Sometimes, I use this time to reflect on a blog post I’m writing, to think through a problem, or simply to allow my mind some well-deserved white space.
Your Life as a Whole
As women, as mothers, as people, it’s easy to compartmentalise our lives—to separate our roles and have them compete against each other, leaving us feeling as though we’re never doing enough in any area.
But what if we saw life as a whole? What if we treated our time as sacred? Work can happen on a park bench while the baby sleeps. Family time can take place during an event you genuinely want to attend. Movement can happen in the parking lot behind the football field.
Perhaps it’s time we stop trying to balance it all—and instead, redefine work and focus on our whole life.
Alexandra Nash is a dynamic leader, entrepreneur, and mother with a remarkable journey. She has founded and sold multiple businesses, worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs worldwide, and previously served as a tech CEO and business owner. Currently, she is the Head of Sustainability and holds multiple board positions.
Passionate about creating impact, Alexandra founded the social enterprise Yuhme and contributes to Ndara ti Beafrika. She also volunteers as a mentor at NyföretagarCentrum, supporting new entrepreneurs in their journeys. As the writer of the Substack publication The Diary of a Sustainability Advocate, she brings important conversations to the forefront.
Beyond her professional achievements, Alexandra is a former Swedish World Cup swimmer—demonstrating her drive, resilience, and dedication in all areas of life.
