WHY ‘BALANCE’ IS OVERRATED — AND WHAT TO AIM FOR INSTEAD
we’re constantly told to find “balance.”
balance between work and rest. hustle and peace. ambition and gratitude.
sounds good, right?
but here’s the thing no one tells you: balance can become a trap.
if you spend your whole life trying to keep everything “even,” you might never go all in on anything. and sometimes, the thing you want requires you to go off-balance - for a while.
BALANCE FEELS SAFE. OBSESSION CREATES RESULTS.
some of the biggest growth seasons in my life didn’t feel balanced.
they felt intense. uncomfortable. even isolating at times.
but they were also the seasons that built momentum.
when i committed harder. trained harder. showed up louder.
and yeah, that meant some things had to take a backseat temporarily - less social time, less “chill,” fewer yes’s to distractions.
that’s not burnout. that’s focus.
burnout happens when you chase everything and stand for nothing.
STOP CHASING BALANCE. START CHASING ALIGNMENT.
balance says: “fit everything in.”
alignment says: “put your energy where it matters most.”
you don’t need to split your time evenly across all parts of life.
you need to give enough to the parts that actually move the needle.
ask yourself:
1. what actually matters to me right now?
2. what season am i in?
3. where would my future self want me to double down?
LIFE MOVES IN SEASONS - AND THAT’S THE POINT.
you’re not meant to be 100% productive and fully rested and completely social and wildly creative all at once.
some seasons are for building.
some are for recovering.
some are for refining.
but they don’t happen all at the same time.
when you accept that, you stop shaming yourself for being “off-balance.”
you start honouring where you’re at - and showing up fully for it.
SO WHAT SHOULD YOU AIM FOR?
instead of balance, aim for:
clarity: what matters right now?
intention: are your actions supporting that?
flexibility: can you adapt when seasons change?
you’ll feel more grounded when your energy is aligned with your priorities (not when your calendar looks symmetrical).
FINAL THOUGHTS.
balance isn’t the goal.
clarity is. alignment is. progress is.
so if you’re feeling “off-balance” right now, maybe that’s not a bad thing.
maybe it’s a sign you’re finally giving something the energy it deserves.
go all in. recalibrate later.
you’ve got time to pivot.
you don’t have time to play small.
stephen x