Is Work-Life Balance Still Achievable In This Digital Era?

Ting! Ting!

You hear your phone buzz at 9 a.m. on a bright, laid-back Sunday. Although your alarm usually goes off at the same time, you know that this one’s the type that you couldn’t snooze. So, just like a machine that was hurriedly turned on, you grab your phone and read the Viber notification—it’s your boss, asking for revisions on your report ASAP.

- Justine Punzalan

“It’s Sunday!” you type as a reply on the app’s message box. But, like all other crazy thoughts you’ve had in the office, you decide to erase this one completely. Then, you get up and click open your laptop. And while the system boots, your mind starts to cry, “Is work-life balance still possible in this digital age?”

The concept of creating a good balance between work and other life roles was formally recognized during the late 1980s in the US. The United States National Center for Biotechnology Information explains this in an article published on their website. It narrates that in order for women to be accommodated in a then male-driven workforce, “flexible working schedule and maternity leave were popularized.” Initially, this concept was only for females so they can perform well as employees, parents, and homemakers simultaneously. Soon enough, men were also granted the same right.