By Miller Chibomba
The older I get, the more I realize that work-life balance is not something you achieve. It’s something you constantly protect.
There was a time in my career when I believed working longer hours was a sign of commitment. The earlier you started, the later you finished, the more dedicated you appeared. Like many professionals, I convinced myself that once the project was completed, the system was implemented, the issue was resolved, or the next milestone was reached, life would somehow slow down.
It never did.
There was always another project.
Another meeting.
Another email.
Another problem that needed solving.
What I’ve learned over the years is that work is infinite. Life isn’t.
Perhaps that realization became clearer through my experiences outside work. Walking through a national park or my street with a camera. Watching a sunset. Travelling with my family. Spending time with my wife & daughters. Discovering parts of Zambia I had never visited before. Standing quietly while waiting for a bird to land in the perfect spot for a photograph.
Ironically, some of my best ideas, toughest decisions, and clearest thinking have happened when I wasn’t working at all.
That’s why I sometimes smile when people talk about work-life balance as though it’s a destination.
You don’t arrive there one day and stay there forever.
It’s a series of choices.
Choosing to leave the office when there’s still work to do.
Choosing to take leave and actually disconnect.
Choosing to attend your child’s event instead of another meeting.
Choosing to pursue a hobby without feeling guilty.
Choosing to be fully present wherever you are.
I’ve also come to appreciate that balance looks different for different people.
For me, it isn’t about working less.
I genuinely enjoy what I do.
I care deeply about transformation, technology, governance, leadership, and helping organizations improve.
The goal isn’t to work less.
The goal is to ensure that work doesn’t become the only chapter in the story.
Because one day, nobody will remember how quickly we replied to an email.
Nobody will remember how many meetings we attended.
Nobody will remember how many reports we completed.
But our families will remember whether we were present.
Our friends will remember the time we spent together.
And we will remember the experiences we made time for.
One of my favourite reminders is this:
The camera roll on your phone is a far better measure of balance than your calendar.
If every photograph is from an office, a meeting room, or an airport lounge, it might be worth pausing for a moment.
Life is happening now.
Not after the next project.
Not after the next promotion.
Not after the next deadline.
Now.
And that’s why work-life balance remains something I’m passionate about.
Not because I have mastered it.
But because I continue to learn how important it is.
In the end, a successful career is something to be proud of.
A successful life is something to be grateful for. ❤️
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