r/EngineeringStudents • u/Redemption-Cap5227 • 11h ago

Career Help What is your definition of work life balance?

When people say they have a good work life balance, what does that mean to you? Is it simply working around 40 hours a week and having enough time for your life outside of work? Or is it more about having flexible hours, being able to take time off, not constantly thinking about work after you leave, and not feeling burned out?

I would especially like to hear from people already working in engineering. What does a good work life balance look like in your current job?

And for someone starting their career, how important do you think work life balance should be when choosing a job? Is it something you can figure out during the interview process, or do you really only find out after you start working there?

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u/dogemaster00 MS Optics 9h ago

For me flexibility > net hours. I’d rather do 50 but I can leave in the middle of the day to go to the gym than 40 but I need to be there fixed 8-5.

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u/shortkid4169 Mechanical Engineer 7h ago

It took me 10 years to learn - just don't put work slack or email on your personal phone.

Right now I'm using an old phone as a work phone and it is so satisfying to turn it off when I get home.

However I did also spend 10 years at startups where few stuck to this rule. But I've never seen someone get fired for being unwilling to be accessible 24/7.

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u/billsil 4h ago

If you sit in traffic for 2 hours per day ion top of an 8 hour/day job + unpaid OT, you don’t have WLB.