Work-Life Balance is a Tough One

I received a great comment on my last post, “Why True Wellness Is Still So Hard to Implement in Hotels,” saying man, that work-life balance is a tough one. 

I’d love to unfold this topic a bit.

First, let’s explore the term work-life balance, both as a phrase and as separate words. Why? Because words carry energy and shape our reality.

“Work” often has a heavy energy - obligation, demand, pressure.
But personally, I love working on things that bring me fulfillment and contribute to the betterment of society. I actually prefer to say service, vocation, or expression.
What can you suggest?

Second, maybe “work-life” isn’t the best phrase after all, because work is part of life.
Perhaps we could call it doing-being balance, or simply work time and personal time.
What do you think?

Third, why is balance so hard to maintain?
Because we rarely see life holistically as one living organism. We divide it into “work,” “family,” “gym,” “me time.” That’s fine for scheduling, but not for living. Every part plays a valuable role.

And when people look back on their lives before departing, they don’t say, “I wish I worked longer hours.” They say, “I wish I’d loved more deeply,” “I wish I’d apologized,” “I wish I’d spent more time with my loved ones,” “I wish I took life simpler.”
They speak of human connection and inner peace, not productivity.

Of course, service (what we call work) is important, it gives us meaning and moves the world forward. But it’s taken over as the most important thing because it sustains us financially. Most of society still operates from scarcity. That’s what needs to change.

So how do we change it?
By understanding the core of life, our own worth and values. Is it money and possessions? Or is it meaningful service, connection, and joy?

For me, expressing myself through service is vital but so are my daily walks in nature, laughter with loved ones, and the self-value that comes from connecting with my heart and intuition.

Then comes the hardest part, how do we actually change?
By putting philosophy into action.
Not just saying “I value my family,” but spending time with them.
Not just saying “I love nature,” but being in it.
That’s where change happens, through consistency and discipline.

And yes, that’s how we shift the values of society too.

We invest in what we value. That’s why a hotel General Manager earns more than a massage therapist, or a lawyer more than a teacher—our pay scales mirror our collective priorities.

Do we truly value lawyers more than teachers who spend every day shaping the next generation? Is a massage therapist, who works wonders on our muscles and nervous system, less important than a General Manager who ensures smooth operations? Of course, the cost of education plays a role here too, and that’s something we need to reflect on as well. It’s all worth thinking about. 

Now, bringing this back to hotels.
We all know Spa Directors or Managers who work endless hours, including weekends, because hotels operate 24/7 to meet guests’ wellness needs, often at the cost of their own wellbeing.

There’s no simple fix, but there are creative ones, when we shift perspective and lead with values.

If we stop dividing our lives into “work” and “home,” we can live more holistically. Even at work, we can carve out moments of presence and restoration.

Think of Italy’s two-hour lunchtime siesta. Do people suffer because they can’t buy groceries during that time? Probably not, it’s a beautiful pause, a small detox for body and mind. A healthy person can live up to two months without food with access to water.

Maybe balance looks like going home for lunch with your kids or creating flexible schedules that honor real human needs.

It’s about seeing each individual. What schedule helps them thrive? Some people can sustain steady energy throughout the day, while others deliver high quality brilliance in powerful bursts. These rhythms need to be understood and respected.

What’s needed is the intention to make it work for people so that they’re happy not only for the guests, but for themselves too.

When we stop dividing life into compartments, we won’t need to say “work-life balance” anymore.

We can simply call it LIVE balance.