"Is Work-Life Balance A Myth?"

Hey FunLifers, 

We throw around the term work-life balance all the time, but what does it actually mean?

For years, I thought my 9-to-5 (or in my case, owning a business) was getting in the way of my life. When I was tired, burned out, or anxious, it was easy to point fingers at work. But the truth? It wasn’t my job that was draining me — it was my lack of intention outside of work.

 When Life Gets Dull — and You Don’t Know Why

A few weeks ago, I went through nearly a week of sleepless nights. No stress I could pinpoint — just restlessness. At 3:00 AM, I’d find myself scrolling my phone, overthinking everything:

· Am I really happy at work?

· Am I in the right career?

· Am I optimizing my life, or just getting by?

It’s crazy how quickly exhaustion can distort your perspective. As soon as I got one solid night of sleep, all those thoughts quieted down.

That experience reminded me of something Alex Hormozi once said:

“Never make a big decision in life or business when you’re tired.”

When we’re run down, everything feels heavier — work, relationships, purpose. The key isn’t always to change everything. Sometimes it’s to rest, reflect, and refocus.

 Reconnecting with What Fills Your Cup

For me, that meant getting back to the beach. Santa Cruz has always been my place — skimboarding, surfing, or just sitting with a cup of coffee watching the waves. It’s where I recharge.

Before I opened my gym in 2017, I was at the beach multiple times a week. Once business took over, I convinced myself I “didn’t have time.” But that was the trap — blaming work instead of taking ownership of how I spend my time.

The truth?

It doesn’t take much to refill your tank.

A few hours a week doing something that truly energizes you can completely change how you show up everywhere else — work, relationships, health, everything.

 The 9-to-5 Isn’t the Problem — Your 5-to-9 Might Be

There’s a saying I love:

“It’s not your 9-to-5 that’s killing your dreams — it’s your 5-to-9.”

Most of us work about 40 hours a week. There are 168 hours in total. Even if you sleep 8–10 hours a night, you still have over 50 free hours each week. What we do with those hours determines whether we feel fulfilled or drained.

When we waste that time — scrolling, numbing out, distracting ourselves — we lose our spark. But when we invest that time — in hobbies, in health, in family — everything else feels lighter.

 The Importance of Presence

When life feels off, it’s often because we’ve lost presence.

At work, I wear my “business Corey” mask. When I’m working out, I’m fully there. When I’m with my wife, that’s where my attention goes. But when stress or distraction bleeds between those roles, everything starts to dull.

The lights don’t go out — they just dim.

You go through the motions instead of feeling alive.

The fix isn’t always huge. Sometimes it’s as simple as doing the small things that make you feel like you again.

 The Power of Hobbies

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: hobbies might be the most important thing a person can have.

For me, it’s skimboarding, golfing, cars, or riding my Harley. For others, it might be art, hiking, or spending time with friends. Whatever fills your cup — do more of that.

Because when you stop doing the things that light you up, everything else loses color.

“Awareness not followed by action equals anxiety.”

You can know exactly what’s off, but until you do something about it, that unease just grows. Action is what restores energy, clarity, and peace.

 When Work Feels Like the Problem

Now, let’s be real — sometimes work is the problem. Maybe you’re overworked, underappreciated, or stuck in a job that doesn’t align with your values.

In that case, you might need what I call the Slingshot Effect — taking a small step backward to move forward in a bigger way.

That could mean changing careers, taking a pay cut for peace of mind, or starting something new. I’ve done it myself — I left a six-figure job to open my gym, and for a while, I didn’t pay myself at all. But that “setback” slingshotted me into something that gave me purpose, ownership, and fulfillment.

Sometimes going backward is the only way to move forward.

 Seasons, Cycles, and Balance

Work-life balance isn’t about dividing your time evenly every day — it’s about honoring the seasons.

Some seasons are heavy on work.

Some are heavy on family.

Some are for growth. Others are for rest.

Balance doesn’t mean doing everything equally — it means giving the right energy to what matters most right now.

And when you fill your own cup first, you’ll have more to give — to your work, your clients, your partner, your family.

 The Takeaway

Balance isn’t a myth. It’s a practice.

It’s the daily decision to:

· Be present where you are.

· Do more of what energizes you.

· Take action when something feels off.

· See life and work as two sides of the same coin.

The more you nurture yourself outside of work, the better you’ll perform in work — and vice versa.

“The grass isn’t greener on the other side — it’s green where you water it.”

 Watch Episode 14: “The Pursuit of Balance”

Available now on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcast

Thanks for reading — and for constantly striving to live a more intentional, fulfilled life.

I’ll be taking a quick break next week while I’m on my honeymoon in Italy but I can’t wait to come back recharged and ready for the next episode.

Until then —

Stay balanced,

Corey