Why I Stopped Chasing Balance

How’s that “work-life balance” working out for you?

For years, I believed it was something I had to chase — that if I could just find the right balance, somehow the stars would align, my kids would be happy, and I would finally feel rested.

I think I was three or four kids in when someone finally told me the truth: work-life balance is a myth. And honestly, it was the biggest relief.

I realized that constantly chasing something I could never actually achieve kept me in a steady state of feeling behind — lacking in every area of my life. Even worse, I found myself comparing my life to what I thought other moms were doing better than me. It was exhausting and discouraging.

So, I’m sharing this especially with all the moms out there — whether your work is inside or outside the home. Balance is a myth. Stop chasing the unachievable. The truth is, we are all struggling and figuring it out as we go.

When I finally stepped off the hamster wheel of trying to create perfect balance, I started asking a different question instead:

Who is God calling me to be for my family right now?

That one shift changed everything. It moved my focus away from what the world, friends, extended family, or even my own expectations thought I should be doing — and centered it instead on listening for God’s direction.

I’ll be honest — I’m still constantly seeking and asking for His guidance. Sometimes I even wish the answer would be different than what I feel called to. But there’s a deep peace in knowing I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, even when it’s hard.

You can keep chasing work-life balance, but I promise you there’s no finish line. There’s always more you could do, more you could improve, more you could juggle. That kind of thinking leads to constant pressure and stress. Settling into where God has placed you brings a different kind of peace.

That doesn’t mean life suddenly becomes easy. I can pretty much guarantee you’ll still be tired, stretched, and challenged. But there’s comfort in knowing you’re showing up where you’re meant to be in this season.

This perspective has been especially important for me because I struggled deeply with being a working mom outside the home. Somewhere along the way, I believed it made me less of a mom because I wasn’t physically with my kids 24/7. Now, I can confidently say that I believe I’m exactly where God wants me — and that He’s using me in ways I may never fully see.

I wasn’t even sure where this blog was going when I started writing. I had planned to write about baseball… but this came out instead. And maybe that’s exactly what someone needed today.

If this encouraged even one mom to release the pressure of “perfect balance” and rest in God’s peace and direction, then it was worth sharing. My hope is that it helps you show up with more confidence, grace, and peace for your own little crew — your own Noisy Dirt.