The Core Files: Work Life Balance, Lazy Jobs & Leaning Out

If you've read my work over the last 10 years you likely know this — when it comes to work life — individual differences rule.

No one can tell another what works for them regarding work; the industry they choose, the setting in which they feel most comfortable or whether they wish to work at home or the office (yes, many actually prefer an office).

But something else holds true. How we engage with our work is also personal. This may evolve as we progress through the chapters of our lives, yet we cannot minimize that how we prioritize our lives outside of work is a major factor. What we might be willing to give up for our work lives is — yep you guessed it — also personal.

We have differing views as to the time and energy we are willing to invest.

And some of us would rather "lean out", so to speak.

When I first ran across a post about the popularity of the #lazygirljob hashtag on Tik Tok, I wasn't sure what to think. Then I dug in a bit deeper and realized this was far less about being lazy — and much more about making choices concerning how work is placed within the work/life continuum.

Here are a few more thoughts:

• Lazy was added for emphasis. The word "lazy" was essentially added to the hashtag to increase exposure for the growing sentiment of "leaning out" — and has nothing to do with fulfilling the tasks/obligations of a role. Personally, I would characterize this as enlightened or aligned, in the sense that an individual should give thought to what they would like to commit to a role or organization.
• This isn't a gender issue. Gender has nothing to do with someone who wishes to achieve their notion of work life balance. This is a life issue, pure and simple.
• This is progress. Just as the hybrid work conversation has led to the realization that individual differences matter, so to is the entire work life balance conversation. Our jobs and how that job fits into the particular "work lifestyle" that we have chosen is vital. No one can make the decision for us. The level that feels right for one individual — has nothing to do with someone else's opinion of what might be right for their own situation.
• This is about choice, not judgements. By and large, how work sits within our lives is dependent on our current life situation (and to some degree wishes). Moreover, just as some of us aspire to rise to management or becoming entrepreneurs (and all that these roles bring) — others do not. Judgements concerning those choices are unreasonable and only debate common sense.
• Organization should expect more of this. Thinking that every contributor would sacrifice their entire world to reach another's definition of success, is completely outdated and unrealistic. If more time was taken to discuss these matters, we'd likely have many more engaged employees. While Gen Y witnessed what their parents went through during the financial crisis of 2008 and what Gen Z has now realized, is that work life will not progress without making bold statements about how they might envision their lives. Their perspectives on work life, are indeed a new universe that all of us should be willing to explore.

Marla Gottschalk, Ph.D. is an I/O Psychology Practitioner who explores core stability and the dynamic nature of work life & organizations. A charter member of the LinkedIn Top Voice Program, her practice helps people, teams & organizations build stronger foundations through the practice of core stability. Her thoughts on work life have also appeared at the Harvard Business Review, Forbes, BBC Work Life, Quartz and The Huffington Post