It’s a question that many ambitious professionals quietly wrestle with: Does loving your job make it harder to maintain a healthy balance? The honest answer? Yes and no but the truth lies in the nuance.

When your work is more than a payslip, when it fuels your passion and sense of purpose boundaries can blur quickly. Late nights feel worthwhile, weekends become extensions of productivity, and time for yourself can feel almost indulgent. But loving your job doesn’t mean you should sacrifice your wellbeing. In fact, passion, when handled with intention, is a gift not a burden.

When Is It Okay to Be ‘Out of Balance’?

Let’s be clear: there are seasons when leaning heavily towards work is not only acceptable, but also necessary. What matters is that it’s a conscious choice, not a reaction to fear, guilt, or societal pressure. You have to learn to be present in the moment to know what is driving you.

It’s okay to be out of balance when:

• You’re launching a new business
• You’re in a period of intense creativity
• A once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity arises
• You’re studying or upskilling for your next chapter

The key? These phases must be intentional, time-bound, and followed by recovery and recalibration.

The Benefits of Maintaining Overall Balance

Balance doesn’t mean splitting your time equally. It means aligning your choices with your wellbeing, relationships, and ambitions.

Different Seasons of Life

Our priorities naturally shift with life’s seasons. Recognising this is crucial:

Times to lean into work:

• Starting a business or project
• Climbing the career ladder
• Creative ‘flow’ periods

Times to prioritise life:

• Raising young children
• Supporting an elderly or poorly loved one
• Navigating grief, burnout, or mental health challenges

Balance is never fixed – it’s about knowing what season you’re in and choosing consciously, rather than being swept along by circumstance.

Case Study: Emma Grede – Co-Founder of SKIMS

Emma Grede, featured on The Diary of a CEO podcast, is no stranger to the work-life balance debate. As the co-founder of SKIMS and Good American, and a mother of four, Emma has publicly stated that achieving balance is a personal responsibility – not an employer’s.

In her words, “Your work-life balance is your problem, not your company’s.” She openly admits that during intense growth periods, work dominates her time – but that’s her intentional choice. Critics argue this risks burnout and reinforces outdated expectations, particularly for women.

But Emma’s experience highlights an important truth: in certain seasons, leaning into work makes sense. The difference lies in choosing it, not defaulting to it unconsciously.

The Gendered Double Standard

Let’s not overlook that women often face different expectations when it comes to balance:

• Ambitious women are labelled ‘neglectful’ far quicker than men.
• Society still positions women as primary carers, making work intensity seem selfish.
• Women who prioritise career may be seen as cold or uncaring.

These outdated stereotypes mean women who lean towards work must often defend, justify, or downplay their choices in a way men rarely do.

The Benefits of Intentional Balance

Choosing your version of balance brings:

• Empowerment: You lead your life, rather than being led by circumstance.
• Authenticity: Your actions reflect your values, not external pressures.
• Energy & Fulfilment: Burnout is replaced by sustainable, energising success.
• Freedom: You can unapologetically lean into work – or life – as you see fit.

What derails balance most often is unconscious imbalance – driven by people-pleasing, fear, or invisible triggers we haven’t yet recognised.

How to Maintain Balance, Even in Passionate Seasons

1. Reflect weekly – Is your current pace sustainable? Are you choosing it?
2. Name your season – Work-heavy? Family-focused? Recovery period?
3. Protect your rituals – Sleep, exercise, time off, all non-negotiable.
4. Set clear boundaries – Be honest with yourself and others.
5. Regularly reassess – Life evolves so should your balance.

Final Thoughts

Yes, loving your job can make balance harder – but only if you stop paying attention. With self-awareness, courage, and clear choices, you can honour both your work and your life.

There will be seasons where imbalance is the price of passion – but with intention, it never becomes the cost of your wellbeing. Personally, I think passion is a gift and only becomes burdensome when you’re no longer present or no longer enjoying the journey.

Curious how to create your own version of intentional success?

Hi! I’m Roksana. I’m a life coach for women in St Albans, Hertfordshire. I run face to face and online sessions via Zoom. I also specialise in trauma healing. I’m always happy to answer your questions around any of my methods or approaches. Long term changes begin with a guide who has walked a similar path, has a blueprint, will give you support and accountability every step of the way. If you’re interested to know more then please book a FREE call with me.