You don't deserve work-life balance

Before you go off on me, allow me to explain...

Many of us in developed nations are enshrouded in privileges that we often overlook, unaware of the stark disparities that mark our world. This piece is not to judge but to unveil our privileges, fostering humility, gratitude, and empathy, urging action for the countless who live amidst struggle and want.

So, what are these “privileges” we experience in the developed world?

1. Life’s Lottery: The Undeniable Advantage

Living in a developed nation equates to striking gold in life’s lottery. To provide some context, the facts below were directly copied from worldvision.org.

• 719 million people — 9.2% of the world’s population — are living on less than $2.15 a day.

• Children and youth account for two-thirds of the world’s poor, and women represent a majority in most regions.

• Extreme poverty is largely concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa.

• 24% of the world’s population, which equates to 1.9 billion people, live in fragile contexts, characterized by impoverished conditions and dire circumstances.

• By 2030, more than half of the world’s poor will live in fragile contexts.

• About 63% of people older than 15 who live in extreme poverty have no schooling or only some basic education.

• 1.2 billion people in 111 developing countries live in multidimensional poverty, accounting for 19% of the world’s population.

• 593 million children are experiencing multidimensional poverty.

• Over 37 million people were living in poverty in the U.S. in 2021. Children account for 11.1 million of those.

2. The Unseen Potential and Lost Opportunities

Around 258 million children and youth globally do not have the opportunity to enter or complete school, and 617 million children and adolescents cannot read and do basic math. Numerous diligent and deserving individuals are compelled to traverse illicit paths to ensure the survival of their families, painting a grim picture of lost potential and forced compromises.

Were you really smarter, or did you just have much better access to education?

3. The Unseen Foundations

We are shielded by robust infrastructure and healthcare systems, the unseen lifelines of our societies. But, billions worldwide lack access to essential health services, and approximately half of the world’s population does not have full coverage of essential health services.

Imagine dying from a fever simply because you don’t have access to a doctor, let alone a hospital. Or worse, making it to a hospital but only to be turned back simply because you can’t afford the treatment. Unfortunately, this is the stark reality for much of the world.

4. The Luxury of Philosophical Thinking

While we have the liberty to explore profound philosophical concepts, such luxuries remain distant for many, mired in a relentless battle for survival. We must remember that the privilege to ponder life’s deeper meanings is a direct result of living in a society where basic needs are exceeded. 

If you haven’t eaten in 2 days, you’re not thinking about how to save the corals. You’re just wondering when your next meal will be.

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So, this bring me back to the title of this article...

Much of what we in developed countries consider as "rights" are actually "privileges" - including "work-life" balance.

Why do people think they deserve work-life balance?

Our humane working conditions are a stark contrast to oppressive work regimes in places like China. It's crucial to value our balanced lives when millions are entrapped in inhumane working conditions and still combat unemployment. As of the time of this writing, China is experiencing a record-high youth unemployment rate. So high that the Chinese government decided to stop publishing unemployment figures.

While “996” culture (working from 9 AM to 9 PM, 6 days a week) is common in places like China, the US auto unions are making demands for 40% raises and 4-day work weeks. If any of you think this demand by the auto union is unreasonable, then you can see how people from China may view our idea of "work-life balance".

In short, in many parts of the world, you're lucky just to have a job, let alone "work-life balance".

I want to clarify that I'm not saying "996" culture is what we should strive for. "Work-life balance" is certainly the direction we should all go towards. However, there's a stark difference between what we should strive for, and what we deserve for simply existing.

Many people in the world are much more intelligent and hardworking than you and I (well certainly myself), but simply do not have access to the same opportunities people in developed countries take for granted every day. I’m not saying you should go out right now and start donating to charities. I simply hope you recognize and cherish the situation you’re in, and not waste it.

Recognizing this has helped me personally. I feel less desire to watch Netflix or scroll through TicTok all day because I’d rather do something more productive. Because I know, billions of people (literally) would kill to have access to opportunities I may take for granted every day.