Forget Work-Life Balance. Aim for Alignment.
Reflections from the ACJI Webinar on Work-Life Balance
Work-life balance sounds ideal but it’s hard to achieve. That’s because the goal itself is flawed.
In our latest Learn@Work LIVE webinar, Dr. Alex Walker invited justice professionals to stop chasing balance and start focusing on alignment with goals. It’s not about splitting time evenly. It’s about using your energy with intention.
Balance Is a Setup
Let’s be real. There’s no magical 50/50 split between work and life. Life isn’t tidy. Some seasons will pull more from your personal world, others from your professional world. If you keep striving for balance as if it’s a static achievement you’ll feel like you’re failing all the time.
That’s why we’re reframing the conversation. Instead of asking, “How do I balance everything?” we’re asking, “How do I align my energy, attention, and time with what matters most?”
Attention Is the Real Superpower
You can’t create more time in a given day, but you can decide what gets your attention. Attention is currency. It grows what it touches. If you focus on chaos, that’s what multiplies. If you focus on value-driven work relationships, they deepen.
In the webinar, Dr. Alex talked about using tools like focus sprints and digital hygiene (Hello, turning off notifications!) to protect and redirect attention. This is where the shift happens. It’s not about doing more. It’s about choosing better.
Dr. Alex said: “Burnout doesn’t come from doing too much. It comes from doing too many things that don’t matter.” In the chat, one participant echoed this by saying, “My attention goes to every task that needs to be completed and then it becomes overwhelming.”
Reclaiming Focus Through Values
- Where is my attention going?
- Is that where I want it to go?
- What guides my yes and my no?
Restoring vs. Numbing
Not all self-care is restorative.
The work-life balance webinar explored the difference between numbing (e.g., doomscrolling, binging, avoidance, etc.) and restoring (intentional activities that refuel you). Real self-care leaves you feeling more grounded, energized, and clear. That distinction matters, especially when you’re teetering on the edge of burnout.
Webinar participants shared their own restorative practices in the chat: yoga, hiking, reading, archery, and even yard work, but others noticed they sometimes drift toward numbing behaviors when overwhelmed. Dr. Alex named this clearly: “Rest is something you actively give yourself. Numbing is something you unconsciously fall into.”
The 10-10-1 Method
One of the most resonant tools from the session was the 10-10-1 method, which is the subject of one of ACJI’s static Learn@Work videos from the Innovate@Work track. Those who registered for the webinar were given free access to the video (valued at $150) to help hone in on what will help you align and thrive.
That’s really at the core of our Learn@Work offering. Its vision-building meets neuroscience meets hope all thanks to a 15-minute video and one easy-to-follow micro tool. It’s a tangible way to reconnect with your why, even when the day-to-day feels overwhelming.
>>> Build your inhouse learning library with ACJI’s Learn@Work Video Suite <<<
Say No to Say Yes
- “I’m not available for that right now.”
- “Let me check and get back to you.”
- “That’s not aligned with my current priorities.”
The Role of Systems and Support
Justice professionals work in high-stakes, trauma-exposed environments. You can’t restore yourself alone.
Dr. Alex emphasized the need for systemic support, and she isn’t talking about just adopting some wellness days, but ongoing access to tools and resources in your justice organization. As one participant noted in the chat, “We need more than a barbecue. We need consistent support.”
Your Next Step: Align Before You Act
Forget balance. Aim for alignment.
Balance is rigid. Alignment is adaptive. It gives you permission to drop the balls that don’t serve you and hold tightly to the ones that do. Even in chaos, alignment anchors your why, which helps you stay the course.
Reflect: What do you value most right now?
Observe: Where is your attention actually going?
Act: What can you say no to this week?
If you’re ready to build this into your daily work, explore ACJI’s Learn@Work Video Suite or join our Implementation Leadership Academy. You don’t have to chase balance. Just know what you’re aligning for.
Here's The Webinar Recording
We’re honored to walk this journey with you. Let us know what resonated and how you’re choosing alignment over balance on our LinkedIn page. And then join us by signing up for ACJI’s next free Learn@Work LIVE webinar!
