In our campus work, "work-life balance" has long been touted as the key to managing our personal and professional lives. This traditional view, where work and life are given equal weight, is elusive and hard to maintain. Whether due to the shifting demands of the usual academic calendar, the ever-present need for student engagement, or the constant drive to innovate and produce, the idea of balance can be, well. . . drastically out of balance!
Work-Life integration is a more realistic and holistic framework for us campus folks. Rather than holding work and life as two opposing forces that must balance, work-life integration means our lives are interconnected and constantly and predictably fluid. Integration provides a more adaptable strategy for navigating the typical ebbs and flows of our academic calendars.
The Great Myth: Work-Life Balance
We sometimes face intense periods of work that can feel like “Good luck with finding balance!” Think of final exams week, or campus recruitment periods, or even flu season. The notion that one "balances" such moments with equal parts rest, leisure, or time away is a non-starter. There will be weeks where we are just going to work harder than we play. We know that. . .
The 411 on Work-Life Integration
Integration is a shift toward flexibility, adaptability, and interconnectedness. It’s not about equal time for work and personal life, but about recognizing, at different moments, one will demand more of our attention than the other. Over time, the goal is to include work in a way that doesn't overpower personal well-being but complements it.
During conferences, student events, or research-intensive periods, work might take the forefront, but at other times, personal life: Family, hobbies, time away, naturally take priority. Rather than striving for balance, we create integration where work and life coexist without one eclipsing the other.
Why is Integration So Darn Special?
Campus is an environment that inherently blurs the lines between work and personal life. We find joy in doing research at home in the evening, while someone else may take personal satisfaction organizing events for students on the weekend. These tasks bleed into personal time, but doesn’t have to be detrimental if we think of integration rather than balance.
We work in a predictable academic cycle: Intense work is followed by stretches where pacing slows down. Work-life integration acknowledges these natural ebbs and flows.
Integration recognizes our passions. We are deeply invested in our work to the point that, for some of us, our roles are deeply intertwined with our identities. Rather than seeing this as a problem to be "balanced," integration means that work is, and should be, part of personal fulfillment.
Snackable Strategies Towards Work-Life Integration
Integration means conscious effort and proactive planning. How about a few strategies for making integration:
- Embrace Flexibility: Take advantage of opportunities for flexible scheduling. Whether it’s working from home one day a week, or setting boundaries around meetings and office hours, flexibility allows for more fluid integration of personal and professional lives.
- I See My Priorities: Not all tasks are equal. Be intentional about prioritizing professional goals and personal needs so neither domain overwhelms the other for too long. During intense work periods, temporarily set aside non-essential home tasks; conversely, during slower work periods, tell work “See ya in a few!” Time away to take care for ourselves is not taking away from work, it is our work!
- Highly Value Downtime: It can be tempting to keep working during off-hours, especially when passion drives performance. Scheduling regular downtime, whether it’s a hobby, exercise, disappearing to the beach, or time with family helps integrate well-being.
- Communicate Boundaries: Thoughtful communication about when you're working and when you are not, is crucial. In academic environments, where work can easily extend beyond traditional hours, setting and maintaining boundaries maintains a sense of control over both.
- Leverage Technology Thoughtfully: While tech allows flexible work, it also blurs lines. Set guidelines for the always lurking email monster or doing work outside working hours. If you work hard, you also get to play hard.
Conclusion: Let’s Make the Move from Balance to Integration
Work-life integration recognizes our challenges and offers a practical approach. By shifting the focus away from a balance to more holistic and flexible integration, we navigate the always present ebb and flow of our personal and professional lives. While there will be times when work takes the lead, integrating helps so this doesn’t come at the expense of personal life and vice versa.
“Don’t Get So Busy Making a Living That you Forget to Make a Life” -Dolly Parton
Cover image by Alicia Steels.