Earlier this year, James Watt, co-founder of the brewery and bar chain BrewDog, sparked an important debate surrounding work-life balance with his divisive remarks.
He dismissed the idea, stating that “the whole concept of work-life balance was invented by people who hate the work that they do.” Instead, Watt advocates for work-life integration, a model that encourages fully blending professional and personal lives.
This perspective is certainly shaped by his unique role as the co-founder of a successful company. With this in mind, it’s understandable that his business activities play a significant role in his life. Work-life integration, therefore, does seem like a sensible way to describe what works for him within the context of his personal and professional experience.
The importance of switching off
A serious issue arises, however, when this very particular case is treated as universal, and when it prompts statements that only those who hate their jobs would seek separation between work and non-work-related activities. This approach does not account for the diverse nature of today’s workforce, with its varying needs and expectations. It ignores the reality that different individuals have different ways of achieving balance and wellbeing in their lives, which consequently impacts their engagement and productivity.
There are plenty of people who love their work and are fully engaged and committed to the company’s goals, but who also see the value in separating both spheres, switching off, and spending time, fully present, with people and on things they love that contribute to the whole human, not just the bit that does the day job.
There is now a growing appreciation that linearity in any activity is the enemy of creativity, innovation, and high performance. This being the case, there is a corresponding acceptance that focused time, intentionally directed to non-work activities, functions as an investment in personal performance sustainability – something that business owners should support, not denigrate.
Unlike computers, humans are not built to be ‘always on’, which can be the result of work-life integration when life is what is being integrated into work. This is not a flaw, but rather a fundamental aspect of our physiology. Ancestry has seen to it that we are wired for repeatable survival ‘sprints’ rather than marathons. As a result, physical and mental renewal is a necessity and the foundation of personal sustainability.
The bigger picture
Given our 24/7 connectivity, the concept of work-life integration is an approach that, whilst not new, can be seen as appropriate for our times. But performance sustainability rests on the ability to switch focus regularly and that means deliberate, even strategic, separation between work and non-work activities – essentially, establishing clear boundaries.
The pursuit of good work-life balance should not therefore be seen as motivated by a desire to maximise leisure time, possibly at the expense of work. Instead, it should be considered a critical part of leadership and employee self-management. By creating time and space to look up, reconnecting to the bigger picture (whatever personal goals or purpose might be), and in so doing actively renewing personal resources, employees can deploy all their competencies whilst they are at work.
The pressure for businesses to achieve more with the same – or even fewer – resources is likely to remain a key challenge in the coming months, much as it was last year. In fact, the current trends suggest that these demands are only intensifying. The burnout statistics do not seem to be heading downward either, signalling that the traditional approaches to maximising productivity are not yielding sustainable results.
Time to recharge
In light of these growing concerns, it’s more crucial than ever that organisations recognise the importance of personal renewal for both leaders and teams. Allocating time for recovery and self-care is not a sign of weakness, but a strategic investment in long-term personal sustainability and overall organisational success.
Rather than viewing the blurring of work-life boundaries as a measure of commitment or engagement, we need to reshape the conversation to emphasise balance – acknowledging that true productivity comes from individuals who are empowered, recharged, and mentally equipped to perform at their best.
Ultimately, the key lies in choosing what best suits your unique needs, values, and circumstances. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to wellbeing. What works for one person may not work for another, and understanding this is essential for performance sustainability as well as both professional and personal fulfilment.
Whether you lean towards clearly defined boundaries between work and personal life or favour a more blended approach, the most important thing is to remember that taking time to recharge and maintain physical and mental health is a necessary component of lasting success.
Lesley Cooper is a management consultant with over 25 years of experience in the design and delivery of all elements of employee well-being management programmes. In 1997, Lesley founded WorkingWell, an award-winning specialist consultancy that helps companies manage workplace pressure in a way that facilitates growth and development. She is also the co-author of "Brave New Leader: How to Transform Workplace Pressure into Sustainable Performance and Growth".
