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Work-Life Blend:
Mix, Don't Shake

  • Work-Life Blend:
    Mix, Don't Shake

The pursuit of work-life harmony has become a cultural obsession in recent years. We all understand the importance of maintaining this equilibrium, and many people are on a continuous quest to achieve it.
However, in the digital age and with constant connectivity, this task is becoming increasingly complex. The traditional notion of work-life balance is giving way to a new concept: work-life blend. Rather than a strict separation of the two, this approach emphasises the harmonious integration of professional activities and personal interests, allowing for more effective time management and a fuller enjoyment of life.

Let’s explore: What distinguishes the familiar concept of work-life balance from the newer and less familiar term, work-life blend? And what strategy should you choose to become more productive and satisfied with your life?
Origins of Work-life Balance
1.
  • Origins of Work-life Balance
Work-life balance seeks to equitably allocate time and resources between work and personal life. This means focusing exclusively on work tasks during office hours and ignoring potential distractions, while after-work hours are dedicated to rest, hobbies, sports, and other activities that enrich your life.
The concept of work-life balance dates back to the 1970s and 1980s during the Industrial Revolution. Businessman Robert Owen proposed the idea of dividing time into 8-hour segments: 8 hours for work, 8 hours for rest, and 8 hours for sleep. He sought to improve the lives of factory workers who often worked 10-16 hours a day with little to no breaks.

In 1817, Owen began campaigning for an 8-hour workday, but his proposal did not gain widespread support.

The situation changed in 1914 when the Ford Motor Company invested significant effort into studying the optimal work volume for factory workers to achieve maximum productivity with minimal errors. Each task was analyzed to determine how to achieve peak efficiency.
The research team concluded that an 8-hour workday was nearly ideal for employees to fully engage in their tasks and "get into the zone."

Ford decided to implement a 40-hour workweek, which significantly increased the company's productivity and efficiency. Inspired by Ford's success, many companies soon adopted a similar approach.

By the late 20th century, the 8-hour workday became a new standard, and the concept of balance took root in the minds of millions around the globe. Personal growth and time management experts began recommending strict separation between work and personal life: all work tasks stay at work, and personal matters are handled during free time. This approach was intuitively appealing to both employers and employees.
Like any theoretical concept, work-life balance has its pros and cons.
Pros:
  • Improves mental health
  • Enhances productivity
  • Increases employee loyalty
  • Strengthens family and social bonds
Cons:
  • Difficult to maintain a constant balance
  • Dependent on corporate culture (not all colleagues and managers share the same work values)
  • Life can become monotonous
  • Personal development and ambitions might take a backseat
Technology: Friend or Foe in the Workplace?
2.
  • Technology: Friend or Foe in the Workplace?
In a world where technology is rapidly advancing, one would expect new opportunities to make life easier. More companies are adopting flexible work formats, offering partial or full remote work. This approach seems like it should liberate us from routine and make life simpler and richer. However, the reality is somewhat more prosaic.
There is a so-called "flexibility-accessibility paradox". On one hand, technology provides access to a personalized work schedule—thanks to the internet, we can work anytime, anywhere, blending work with other aspects of life. On the other hand, these same technologies make us always available for supervisors and new tasks, blurring the lines between personal and professional spaces.
So, how does an employee navigate the constant availability, 8-hour workdays, and rigid boundaries?
Work-Life Blend: A New Era
3.
  • Work-Life Blend: A New Era
Increasingly, people are questioning whether the concept invented in the late 20th century is as ideal as it seemed at first.

According to the new concept of work-life blend, achieving harmony and success in life involves not separating work and personal matters into distinct spheres. Instead, it requires integrating both areas so that work and personal tasks smoothly coexist and flow into one another. This allows for the enjoyment of leisure time while staying productive.
In 2013, management professor Christine M. Riordan introduced the term "Work-Life Effectiveness" in an article for the Harvard Business Review. She argued that it is impossible to evenly distribute time between work and personal life; instead, a more sensible strategy is to integrate professional activities into other aspects of life.

In the same year, Emily White, Facebook’s (Meta) executive director, coined the term "work-life merge", which later evolved into the more popular "work-life blend". This concept gained wide acceptance during the COVID-19 pandemic and enforced isolation.
Work-Life Balance:
  • Work and personal life are completely separate spheres that should not be mixed.
  • Life should be adapted to a specific time interval reserved solely for work-related matters.
  • Fixed working hours (not a second more or less).
  • Personal time is a reward earned through work achievements.
  • Work is for earning money, after which you rest.
  • Every day you must figure out how to allocate time equally between work and life.
Work-Life Blend:
  • Work and life can intertwine and be in balance.
  • Life's schedule is intuitively aligned with personal productivity hours and task priorities.
  • Flexible work schedule without strict time boundaries.
  • Personal time is necessary to avoid burnout and work productively.
  • Work time and tasks are opportunities for personal development and a better life.
  • Time for work and personal matters is not fixed. Today’s priority may be one thing, tomorrow something else.
The "work-life blend" philosophy sounds uplifting, but it is not without flaws. This theory can also negatively impact a person's life if planning and self-discipline are lacking (e.g., leading to overwork or spending too much time on personal life).
A Guide to Mastering the Work-Life Balance
4.
  • A Guide to Mastering the Work-Life Balance
The work-life blend introduces new rules of the game. Here are some useful tips to help you find new sources of inspiration and productivity by blending personal life with professional fulfillment:
Find Your Peak Productivity Hours
Start with self-awareness: Assess when you work most efficiently and determine the optimal amount and timing for breaks. Apply this to other daily activities: Exercise in the morning or midday when the gym is less crowded, or meet friends during the day for relaxation.
Time for Everything
Don’t mix tasks like working on your laptop at the beach or handling work issues at the movies. The work-life blend isn’t about combining tasks but about comfortable and smooth transitions. Plan your schedule wisely and prioritize correctly to avoid reduced efficiency and increased errors.
Focus on Results
The concept suggests moving away from traditional work hours.
While it’s important to understand how long tasks take, evaluating effectiveness based on results rather than time spent is preferable.
Respect Work Time
Don’t naively assume that taking a break in the middle of the workday will resolve tasks by themselves. Respect your work time and commit to it without procrastination.
Finding Your Perfect Equilibrium
5.
  • Finding Your Perfect Equilibrium
Everyone is unique. Finding happiness and improving quality of life are principles that blend old and new concepts. Don’t be afraid to experiment and develop the perfect formula that works for you. After all, no expert or personal growth consultant can provide a universal solution to make everyone on Earth happy.
The success of these methods depends on various factors: professional activities, personal character traits, external circumstances, and more. The key is not to get too caught up in the concept of balance itself and avoid an endless pursuit of an ideal setup.
Perhaps you’ll even find that achieving harmony with yourself requires neither a "blend" nor a "balance"—it’s all up to you!
Natalie Peter
Writer / Tech Enthusiast / Wordsmith