I need to confess something that might make some of you question my sanity: I’m really tired of the relentless pursuit of “work-life balance” . This pursuit seems to dominate every conversation about how to live well. Perhaps it’s time to consider the benefits of intentional imbalance in life, embracing the chaos and finding our own unique path.
Not because balance isn’t important, but because I think we’ve misunderstood what balance actually means.
The way most people talk about work-life balance, you’d think the goal is to divide your time and energy equally among all areas of your life every single day. Eight hours for work, eight hours for family, eight hours for sleep. Plus, carefully scheduled time blocks for exercise, hobbies, personal development, and social connection.
It sounds exhausting just thinking about it.
Here’s what I’ve learned after years of trying to achieve this kind of perfect daily balance: it’s not only impossible, it’s actually counterproductive.
Real life doesn’t operate on neat schedules where every priority gets equal attention every day. Real life has seasons, cycles, and rhythms that require different kinds of focus at different times.
And that’s not a failure of balance—that’s just how life works.
I’ve had seasons where writing consumed most of my waking hours because I was on a deadline or in a creative flow. I needed to honor that flow. I’ve had seasons where the homestead required intense focus because animals were birthing or crops needed harvesting. Also, I’ve had seasons where family situations demanded all my emotional energy.
During those intense periods, I wasn’t “balanced” in the traditional sense. But I was exactly where I needed to be.
The pursuit of perfect daily balance often prevents us from committing fully to anything. When you’re constantly worried about whether you’re spending too much time on work and not enough time on family, or vice versa, you end up half-present for everything.
You end up scattered instead of focused, diluted instead of concentrated.
I think what we really need isn’t better balance—it’s better rhythm. Instead of trying to balance everything every day, we need to learn to move rhythmically between periods of focus and periods of rest. We should alternate between intense work seasons and recovery seasons.
We need to get comfortable with imbalance as a natural part of a balanced life.
This doesn’t mean abandoning all priorities except one, or neglecting important relationships and responsibilities. It means being strategic about where you direct your energy based on what’s needed most right now.
It means accepting that you can’t do everything well all the time, but you can do some things excellently when they need your full attention.
I see this principle at work in seasonal living. Spring on a homestead requires intense focus on planting, building, and preparing. Summer demands attention to maintaining, harvesting, and processing. Fall is all about preservation and preparation for winter. Winter allows for rest, planning, and different kinds of work.
Each season requires imbalance toward different priorities, but the overall pattern creates a sustainable rhythm.
The same principle applies to life seasons. There are seasons for building careers, seasons for raising young children, seasons for caring for aging parents. Additionally, there are seasons for personal growth and exploration.
Trying to balance all these priorities equally during every season leads to mediocrity in all areas. Instead, strive for excellence in any.
I’ve also noticed that the most accomplished and fulfilled people I know tend to be comfortable with imbalance. They throw themselves fully into projects that matter to them. Even when it means other areas of their lives get less attention temporarily.
They understand that sustained excellence requires periods of focused intensity, not constant moderation.
This doesn’t mean being a workaholic or neglecting your health and relationships indefinitely. It means being strategic about when you go all-in on something. Then, pull back to recover and attend to other priorities.
It means understanding that balance happens over time, not in any given moment.
The key is being intentional about your imbalance instead of just letting it happen by default. Instead of feeling guilty when work demands more of your attention, you can consciously choose to focus there for a defined period. Plan for how you’ll reconnect with other priorities afterward.
Instead of trying to be everything to everyone all the time, you can be fully present for what needs you most right now.
This approach requires you to get comfortable with disappointing people sometimes. When you’re in an intense work season, you might not be as available for social activities. When you’re focused on family needs, you might not be as responsive to professional opportunities.
But the alternative—being perpetually half-present for everything—disappoints everyone, including yourself.
I’m not advocating for a life of constant extremes or suggesting that you should neglect important relationships and responsibilities indefinitely. I’m suggesting that the path to a truly balanced might require periods.
Sometimes the most balanced thing you can do is throw yourself completely into whatever needs your full attention.
Right now, I’m in a season that requires intense focus on several big projects. My daily life doesn’t look “balanced” by conventional standards—I’m working more hours than usual, spending less time on hobbies, and being more selective about social commitments.
But this imbalance is serving a larger balance in my life.
These projects align with my long-term goals and values. By focusing intensely on them now, I’m setting myself up for future seasons where I can pull back and focus on other priorities. I’m honoring the natural rhythm of intense work followed by rest and recovery.
I’m being imbalanced in service of a larger balance.
So here’s my challenge to anyone who’s struggling with work-life balance: stop trying to balance everything every day. Instead, ask yourself what season you’re in and what that season requires from you.
Be willing to be imbalanced in the short term in service of your long-term vision for a well-lived life.
Trust that the pendulum will swing back, that intense seasons will be followed by recovery seasons. Know that the rhythm of focus and rest will create a pattern that serves all areas of your life over time.
Sometimes the most balanced thing you can do is embrace the imbalance.
Rhythmically imbalanced and perfectly fine with it,
-Nichole
P.S. This doesn’t mean ignoring your health, neglecting your family, or abandoning all boundaries. It means being strategic and intentional about where you focus your energy based on what’s needed most in this season of your life. Balance is a long-term project, not a daily requirement.
