A healthy work-life balance is often associated with higher productivity and better mental health. There are many studies online that will tell you about its benefits. However, Reddit co-founder and former executive chairman Alexis Ohanian, who is also the husband of tennis superstar Serena Williams, has a different ideology. He says that there is no such thing as work-life balance and we all should know when and how to adjust our priorities.
In a recently posted Twitter thread, Ohanian said that ‘work-life balance’ is a ‘farce’ and if people are chasing it then they are doing something wrong. He says that anything close to ‘work-life balance’ is impossible to achieve and that people should not even try to do so. According to him, the way to manage both work and life is knowing when to focus on which part.
“Work-life balance is a sham. If you’re chasing it, you’re doing it wrong. You’ll never achieve anything close to it, nor should you. How to Manage Work and Life , the key thing is knowing when to focus on which part you want – accepting that it’s an ever-changing balance. If you’re chasing it, you’re doing it wrong. You should never Nothing will get close to that. Nor should you. The key to managing work and life is knowing when to focus on which part of your life – while accepting that it’s a changing balance,’ ‘ he wrote in a Twitter post.
Ohanian explained his point in more detail in the next two tweets. He wrote that there will come times when you need to devote more time to your career, something all first-time business founders can relate to. And then there will also be times when your personal life demands more attention. There may also be times when you are tired and want to sit back and relax.
He concludes the sutra by saying that people should know what attracts their attention the most and that they should be in tune with themselves enough to know how to adjust their priorities.
“The point is, work/life “balance” isn’t so clear-cut—it’s a spectrum that’s always drifting back and forth. The key is to be yourself so you know when you need to adjust your priorities. And if you have a partner, maintain an open dialogue in the midst of this constant flow,” he said.
Ohanian co-founded Reddit in 2005 with his friend Steve Huffman and stepped down as executive chairman of the brand in 2020. He then insisted that his role should be filled by a black candidate.
“I am resigning as a member of the Reddit board, I have urged them to fill my seat with a black candidate, + I will use future profits on my reddit stock to serve the black community, main To literally stop racial hatred,” he wrote in a Twitter post announcing his resignation.
Currently, Steve Huffman serves as the CEO of Reddit.