Why Chasing Work-Life Balance Can Cause Anxiety, and How to Adopt the ‘Pendulum Lifestyle’ Instead

While striving for work-life balance is often considered the ideal, it can be overwhelming and even lead to anxiety. Jeff Karp, a professor of biomedical engineering at Harvard Medical School and MIT, offers an alternative approach: the “pendulum lifestyle.” In his book LIT (Life Ignition Tools), Karp suggests that instead of constantly seeking perfect balance, we should embrace the natural fluctuations in life—like the swinging of a pendulum.

Karp explains that the pursuit of balance can feel unattainable, creating frustration when life doesn’t align with the ideal state we envision. “We’re never in that state,” he says, which often leads to anxiety. The pendulum lifestyle, on the other hand, acknowledges the natural rhythms in life, like energy levels, motivation, and even sleep. By accepting these ebbs and flows, we can be more at peace with the ups and downs of daily life.

5 Practical Tips for Living the Pendulum Lifestyle

1. Mindfully observe what’s happening: Pay attention to how daily habits affect your mood or energy, and make small adjustments that align with your well-being.
2. Take note of your natural energy patterns: Identify when your energy peaks and dips during the day or week and adjust your schedule accordingly. Use high-energy periods for productivity and low-energy times for rest.
3. Be curious: When faced with challenges, approach them with curiosity and see what you can learn. These difficult periods often build resilience.
4. Understand that every swing has a counter-swing: When you’re in a slump, remember that it’s only temporary. An upward shift is likely to follow.
5. Check in with yourself regularly: Periodically assess your life and determine if there are areas of imbalance. Then, take small steps to improve those areas over time.

For instance, if you’re experiencing poor-quality sleep, adopting the pendulum mindset might involve small actions like going to bed earlier or practicing relaxation techniques before sleep. It’s about recognizing what’s working, what isn’t, and making incremental improvements to shift the pendulum back in your favor.

By embracing the pendulum lifestyle, we can stop chasing an unrealistic ideal of balance and instead learn to live in harmony with the natural rhythms of life.