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HELP! I can't get the right work/life balance

If you’re tired all the time, love your work but miss your family, and feel guilty whether you’re working or not, you’re not alone — many of us are searching for that elusive balance where work and life don’t have to compete.

HELP! I can't get the right work/life balance

“I’m tired all the time.”

“I love my work, but I miss my family.” 

"I feel guilty when I stop working... and guilty when I don’t.”


If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many of us struggle to find the “right” work/life balance — the sweet spot where our careers and personal lives don’t compete.


At Gestalt Encounters, we believe this struggle is less about managing your time perfectly and more about becoming aware of how your choices, patterns, and values are playing out in daily life.


Here we explore what work/life balance really means, how imbalance can affect your emotional health and relationships, and how Gestalt-informed counselling and professional supervision can help you to recalibrate.



What does the “right” work/life balance look like?


There is no one-size-fits-all answer. For some, work is deeply fulfilling and energising. For others, it’s a means to support life outside of work. A healthy balance means:


  • You feel grounded — not constantly rushed or overwhelmed.

  • You have time to rest, play and connect — without guilt.

  • Your values align with your daily choices — even when things are busy.

  • You can set boundaries — and hold them kindly and consistently.

  • You feel emotionally available — to yourself and to others.


In Gestalt terms, it’s about awareness and contact. Are you present in the different areas of your life? Can you respond, rather than react, when things feel off-kilter?


When balance tips into burnout


Chronic imbalance often shows up first in the body and emotions. You might notice:


  • Irritability or emotional numbness.

  • Difficulty sleeping or waking.

  • A sense of disconnection from loved ones.

  • Lack of motivation or joy in work or leisure.

  • Feelings of guilt, anxiety, or failure.

  • Over-reliance on coping strategies (like overworking, screen time, alcohol, or perfectionism)


Over time, these patterns can strain your relationships — with your partner, your children, your friends, and most of all, yourself. You may begin to feel like you’re living on autopilot, with little space to reflect, feel, or grow.


Gestalt counselling and professional supervision: A way back to you


At Gestalt Encounters, we support people through professional supervision and relationship counselling to reflect on how their work and life are shaping who they are — and who they are becoming.

Professional supervision isn’t just for therapists or carers. Anyone in emotionally demanding or people-focused work can benefit. Together, we look at:


  • What’s draining you and what’s sustaining you?

  • Where are you over-functioning — and why?

  • What do you say yes to out of fear or habit?

  • How do you want to feel in your work and home life?


Gestalt therapy brings you back into contact with your experience, helping you notice patterns, build awareness, and take action in ways that feel aligned and authentic.


Practical steps toward a healthier balance


Here are some beginning steps we might explore together in counselling or supervision:


1. Slow down and get curious

Imbalance often comes from unexamined habits. Are you over-working to avoid something? Are you saying yes when you mean no? Start noticing your internal reactions before acting.


2. Reconnect with your needs

What restores you? What relationships bring joy? What boundaries feel nourishing? Use your feelings as signposts — not problems to fix.


3. Name what’s not working

Together, we create a safe space to express what’s stuck or overwhelming. Sometimes just naming the reality can open new possibilities for change.


4. Experiment with boundaries

Try a small change — turning off emails at 6pm, taking a full lunch break, saying no to one extra meeting. Gestalt encourages experiments over rigid goals.


5. Bring the body into it

Work/life imbalance is not just a mental issue — it lives in the body. Gestalt therapy works with the body to help you regulate your nervous system and feel more present.


You don’t have to do it alone


Whether you're a busy professional, a caregiver, or someone who simply feels stretched too thin, you deserve support. At Gestalt Encounters, we don’t believe in giving you a formula. We offer compassionate presence, skilled listening, and space to reorient toward a life that fits you.


You may not get it perfect. But you can move toward something more spacious, more fulfilling, and more real.


Ready to reconnect with your life? We offer individual counselling, relationship sessions, and professional supervision, in-person and online. Reach out to begin a conversation with Gestalt Encounters — no pressure, just a gentle step toward balance.



Photo by Jeremy Thomas on Unsplash


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