In the age before iPhones and email, leaving the office meant a solid end to the workday. You were away from your office phone and your colleagues, and could enjoy the evening with family and friends or in restful solitude. Now, this is often not the case. No matter how far from our desk chairs we go, technology ties us back to our professional roles. In fact, this remains true even if you don’t go into a physical office at all. Due to technology’s proliferation, we are almost never “unattached” from work in the way we used to be.

A new question has emerged: how do we integrate our jobs and our personal lives in a way that helps us flourish in each?

Work-life balance

Work-life balance emerged as a term in the 1970s, rising in popularity in tandem with more women entering the workforce while refusing to sacrifice starting a family or other personal desires. It has gained new prevalence in recent years as personal wellness becomes a larger focus for many employees.

The pandemic took this to new heights. For employees who could work remotely, jobs became more intertwined with family and personal life. But the pandemic was far from a golden era for the workplace. This unprecedented time presented both pros and cons for work-life balance:

  • Many employees who shifted to remote work were able to spend more time at home and with other members of their households, including family and loved ones. They also did not spend time and money on things like getting ready for work and commuting.
  • However, this lifestyle also meant that the boundaries between work and home life could easily crumble. The physical separation of these spaces that was inherent before remote work became technologically possible provided a natural sense of separation; when we live in the same space where we work, do we ever really “leave”?

Shifts back to in-person work in 2025 can be beneficial to employers and employees. But it’s crucial that employees view these policies as respecting their lives and values. The solution? Work-life integration.

How is work-life integration different from work-life balance?

To “balance” implies opposites—two objects sit on opposite sides of a scale, competing with each other. Integration, however, can be envisioned as more of a blending, in which two once-distinct elements begin to coexist and even collaborate.

Workplace strategist Jennifer Moss says, “When I see people that really have that healthy harmony between work and life, they’re so high performing…They don’t feel like one is stealing from the other.”

Tips for work-life integration

Work-life integration may sound like a lofty concept or impossible goal, but small changes can make a big difference. Everyday practices for work-life integration can include:

  • Tech-free hours: Try ditching your phone an hour before bedtime. Blue light’s bad for your sleep cycle anyways.
  • Entertainment on-the-go: If you take public transit to work, you can use your commute time to do something you enjoy, like reading a book or drawing. Even if you drive to work, you can still use this time to listen to the latest album by your favorite artist or catch up on that podcast your friend keeps recommending.
  • Do Not Disturb mode: Want to keep your phone on without the intrusion of work-related notifications? iPhones allow you to silence all notifications when Do Not Disturb mode is on, and you can even create custom settings to silence notifications only from certain apps.

Integration is a generative thing. When employees feel inspired and replenished in their personal lives, they have more to offer all around.