When Does It End? The Ongoing Struggle with Work and Life Balance
Why This Article, and Why Now?
It has been over a year since I last published anything. I’ve at least four drafts just sitting there, frozen with no clear date for release. Some hot takes, some reviews, etc, that were relevant for a week or two, then faded. But this one? This one is still happening. It’s not finished. Maybe it never will be.
This isn’t a polished guide on how to balance work and life. I don’t have it figured out. I’m still in it. Still juggling. Still wondering when this cycle of overworking, burning out, and trying to recalibrate will actually stop.
The Reality Check
Here’s the truth. I’m struggling. I’ve been struggling.
Somewhere along the way, the lines between work and life blurred so badly they disappeared. I work remotely, which sounds like freedom, but more often it just means I never truly log off. Work spills into my evenings, into weekends, into my headspace even when I’m not in front of a screen.
At some point, I realized I hadn’t gone outside in days. I wasn’t seeing people. I was just managing tasks and chasing goals like they were survival tactics. It was product managing my own life, but badly.
So I tried to fix it. I tried the boundaries thing. I told myself no emails after 7 PM. But that discipline crumbles fast when you care too much or feel like everything is urgent.
I try taking breaks, walking more, even going out randomly, just to break the pattern. And sometimes it helps. But it still feels like the imbalance is winning.
The Questions That Haunts Me
- When does it end?
- When does the pressure stop feeling like it’s pressing down all the time?
- When do I stop equating productivity with worth?
- When do I get to feel like I’m doing enough at work and in life without sacrificing one for the other?
I don’t know. I wish I had answers. I only have more questions.
Maybe this writing is more of a checkpoint than a conclusion. A moment to pause and acknowledge where I am. Not fixed. Not balanced. But aware. And maybe that counts for something.
No framework. No five step list. Just this.
If you’re feeling the same way, you’re not alone. And if you’ve figured it out, tell me. Seriously. When does it end?
