‘Work-Life Balance’ Might Be Hurting You. Try This Instead.
Photo: Hernan Sanchez, Unsplash
There has been a lot of discussion lately about the future of work. New technologies are creating amazing opportunities for the workforce and for businesses. And there’s much more to that than on-site, hybrid, and remote work. Is "work-life balance" the key to a happy, productive life? What if this idea is actually holding us back?
The term suggests a constant struggle to keep work and life in equilibrium, often causing stress when not aligned. Instead, consider a different approach: work-play balance. By integrating play into our routines, we can boost creativity, reduce burnout, and make work itself more enjoyable. It’s time to rethink how we balance our days—and bring a little more fun into the mix.
The Problem with Work-Life Balance
When we talk about work-life balance, we’re putting "work" on one side and everything else on the other. It assumes that work is just one half of our lives, while "life" is some kind of opposing force. But life is far bigger than just the time we’re not working. And guess what? Many of us find parts of our lives in our work—especially if we’re passionate about what we do. For some, their work is good work, and not just hard work, but meaningful and rewarding work. We should all be fortunate to be where our great gladness and a great hunger in the world meet.
Work isn’t the enemy of life, but framing it this way can make it feel like a battle. There’s also hidden pressure with this concept. When we fail to perfectly balance these two forces, it can lead to guilt, stress, or burnout. Life is messy, and work sometimes spills into personal time (and vice versa), so the idea of keeping things in neat compartments doesn’t always align with reality. Maybe the real solution is to stop trying to balance work against life and focus on something more playful.
Enter "Work-Play Balance"
Instead of drawing a line between work and life, what if we thought about balancing work with play?
Why play? Because "life" encompasses much more than just relaxation. Play, in its many forms, can help us unwind, spark creativity, and fuel our productivity. When we think of play, we might picture kids with toys or video games, but in reality, play is anything that brings joy, stimulates creativity, or refreshes our minds.
There are many different types of play, depending on how they engage our minds, curiosity, and creativity, such as…
Free play (unstructured time for creativity)
Game play (competitive or cooperative activities)
Role play (imagining ourselves in different scenarios)
Advanced play (pushing boundaries, trying new things)
And there are also multiple forms of work, complementary to these categories of play, like…
Directed work (following specific tasks or instructions)
Applied work (problem-solving and active engagement)
Administrative work (organizing and managing)
Maintenance work (keeping things running smoothly)
Instead of treating work as the heavy burden to be "balanced," what if we thought of it in harmony with types of play that recharge us? Work-play balance means creating flexibility, where we blend productivity with moments that refresh and inspire. This is about doing meaningful work and having meaningful play—not keeping the two constantly at war.
The Science of Play at Work
There’s plenty of research to support the idea that incorporating play into your routine can actually boost productivity and creativity. One fascinating study published in The International Journal of Creativity & Problem Solving (West, Hoff, Carlsson, 2013) found that employees who engaged in playful activities, whether through work itself or structured play breaks, were more likely to show high levels of creativity and problem-solving at work. The study showed that these playful moments stimulated areas of the brain tied to innovation, leading to more effective teams and better workplace outcomes.
Incorporating play doesn't just make work more enjoyable; it makes us better at what we do. When play is treated as an essential part of the work experience, we unlock new ways of thinking. And that’s when the real magic happens.
Work-Play is Advanced Play and ‘Hard Fun’
Advanced play is a form of play that involves pushing boundaries, experimenting with new ideas, or engaging in complex, goal-oriented activities. It goes beyond basic fun by challenging participants to think creatively, solve problems, and take risks in pursuit of growth or mastery. The value of advanced play lies in its ability to stimulate deeper cognitive processes, encourage innovation, and build resilience, making it a powerful tool for personal development and professional problem-solving.
Hard Fun (n.): The sweet spot where brain-bending challenges meet playful exploration, creating a flow state that turns "impossible" problems into intellectual adventures with meaningful impact.
Recently, LEGO designers engaged in a project called LEGO House, where they explored unconventional building methods to create a full-scale experience in Billund, Denmark. The challenge involved experimenting with intricate techniques and materials beyond standard LEGO brick usage, such as incorporating robotics, augmented reality, and environmental design elements. This advanced play pushed their creativity to new heights and resulted in an interactive space that bridges play, architecture, and technology, demonstrating the powerful role of pushing creative boundaries for real-world applications.
Have More Fun. Get More Done.
When we rethink work as something that needs to be balanced against play, we open the door to a more flexible, fulfilling approach to productivity. By integrating play into work—and giving ourselves permission to blur the lines—we can have more fun and get more done.
Instead of constantly trying to keep work and life perfectly balanced on the scale, ask yourself: where can I bring more play into my day? The results will energize you.
How do you bring play into your workday? Let us know in the comments or share this post with someone who could use a little more fun in their routine.
