By Nadine Araksi, Toronto-based Story Coach

Do You Really Want Work-Life Balance? A Midlife Perspective

The women we meet often find themselves juggling the diverse responsibilities of work, home, community, and family. Striving for work-life balance seems like an elusive goal, frequently leaving us feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, and like we’ve somehow failed the “Adulting” class we were never actually offered.

Hands up if more work-life balance meant you might:

• Leave work at work so you can be more present at home.
• Be rested, find time to work out, and make healthy meals without drama.
• Have time for fun and friends and to try cool, new things.
• Have a home worthy of Architectural Digest.

But what if work-life balance is an unachievable myth? At Kickstartology, we believe that a better goal is work-life alignment. But first…

Does Work-Life Balance Exist?

Let’s debunk the myth of work-life balance. The notion of achieving an equal distribution of time and energy between work and personal life sets unrealistic expectations. Instead, we recognize that midlife is complex and dynamic, a phase where multiple roles and commitments intertwine. It’s time to release the pressure of achieving perfect equilibrium and embrace a more fluid and fulfilling concept of alignment.

The truth is that the feeling of a more balanced life is created through a million micro-decisions throughout your day. Real life doesn’t have neat little edges that start at 9 and stop exactly at 5. Kids, pets and other humans don’t see that you’re working and immediately step aside so you can get shit done. 

Midlife is a time of profound personal growth, self-discovery, and reevaluation. It’s an opportunity to reconnect with our passions, values, and dreams. By acknowledging the unique challenges and opportunities of this life stage, we can embrace the multifaceted nature of our identity and align our choices with what truly matters to us.

What is Work-Life Alignment?

Work-life alignment refers to a gentler, holistic approach that emphasizes finding fulfillment by aligning your work and personal life with your values, priorities, goals, and desires. Unlike the traditional notion of work-life balance, which aims for equal distribution of time and energy, work-life alignment recognizes the dynamic nature of life and the need to integrate various aspects seamlessly. Work-life alignment allows you to thrive in all areas of life, experience greater satisfaction, and cultivate a sense of purpose and well-being.

Embracing Your Priorities to Create Work-Life Alignment

Do any of these sound like you?

• If I say no to my boss, I won’t be the star employee.
• If I say no to my kids, I’ll be a bad mom.
• If I say no to my parents, I’m a horrible child.
• If I say no to that invite, I won’t be invited next time.
• If I say no to the charity, I’m a terrible human being.

At the root of saying yes to everything and everyone is a desire to be needed. And that in itself isn’t a bad thing. If you’re reading this and seeing yourself, you’re likely an amazing, capable and giving person to be around. Over the years, you may have built up stories that made you believe that your self-worth and value come from doing more, especially for others. You may subconsciously believe that things feel “out of balance” or “out of control” because you just need to work harder. But all that “selflessness” can slowly lead to burnout, building resentment, anger and frustration.

The Case for Boundaries to Build Work-Life Alignment

When we say yes to everything and everyone, we build the habit of teaching others they can ask us for anything, and that they can count on us to drop everything and say yes. 

One of the keys to work-life alignment is setting clear boundaries (and forgiving yourself when you allow others to trespass upon them due to old habits). Midlife women often have a natural inclination to put others’ needs before their own. However, prioritizing your well-being, your life and your career goals is essential for a balanced and fulfilling life. Learn to confidently say no, delegate tasks, and create space for self-care, allowing you to thrive in every aspect of your life. It’s gonna feel super uncomfortable at first! (Psst… one of our superpowers is teaching you how to get comfortable feeling uncomfortable, and then doing what’s right for you anyway.)

Self-Care: Reclaim Your Energy Via Work-Life Alignment

Self-care is not a luxury. It’s not about bubble baths and trips to the spa (though we like those things!). It’s a necessity for midlife women navigating multiple roles and responsibilities. By prioritizing self-care, you can reclaim your energy, enhance your resilience, and cultivate a greater sense of well-being. Explore practices that nourish your mind, body, and soul, enabling you to show up fully in every area of your life. Bonus: By doing so, you will model what taking care of oneself looks like to others in your life who may be watching and learning from you. (We’re looking at you, moms!)

How Alignment Coaching Teaches Work-Life Alignment

When we say “work-life balance,” what we really mean is feeling more in control of our calendar and how we spend our days. And to get there, it takes real honesty about where you are at right now. What habits and decisions are keeping you from having that feeling? Who gets your time, attention and energy? Are you focusing on the things that will get you closer to how you want to feel?

At Kickstartology Coaching, we understand the unique challenges and desires of midlife women, because we ARE midlife women! Our Alignment Framework is taught in structured modules, yet flexible enough to be personalized to you. Through transformative coaching sessions, you’ll gain clarity, uncover limiting beliefs, and develop strategies to find work-life alignment.

The simplest and fastest way to get to alignment is with the Kickstartology Alignment Framework. Period.

Book an exploration call today!

You will come away knowing exactly what steps you need to take next, no matter what the specifics of your situation. And there will be no “shoulding” all over yourself. We’ll get you in alignment with your desires through a simple, practical way forward. We will break down why what you have been trying doesn’t work, what you have not considered yet, and what you can realistically expect (might be more than you think).

If you find yourself saying, “I just have to get through ___ first,” this is exactly for you. Don’t wait. The sooner you do this work, the sooner things are going to start feeling easier.

P.S. Find out how to work with me if you're ready to break the patterns keeping you stuck and get out of your own way: Let's talk.

Book a free coaching exploration call and I will tell you everything you need to know and what results you can expect with my group coaching program for women or 1-on-1 coaching.

Free: Get unstuck with our mini starter course:

KICKSTART: THE FIRST STEP

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