Looking for Work-Life Balance? You Need This One Thing
A work-life balance looks different to everyone, but even workaholics need some semblance of a break to keep their existence in order. So who's mastered it?
A 2026 study by MyPerfectResume found that the greatest predictor of work-life balance wasn’t salary or the ability to work remotely, but education. Workers with doctoral degrees reported the best work-life balance, followed by those with bachelor’s degrees. At the bottom of the rankings were workers with no formal education, followed by those with a high school diploma, followed by those with some college courses but no degree.
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So how does more education help workers achieve better work-life balance? Let's take a closer look.
Money, Control and Work-Life Balance
Contrary to the prevailing narrative, the report found that work-life balance actually improved as salaries went up. Higher pay actually does correlate with better work-life balance, rather than 80-hour work weeks.
Money alone doesn’t guarantee or create work-life balance. Still, better paying jobs also tend to come with more control over your hours.
“Degrees tend to open the door to roles with more autonomy over scheduling, stronger benefits, stable salaried positions and more enforceable rights around things like overtime, leave and accommodations," said employment attorney Edward Hones.
Higher salaries can also help with work-life balance as well, allowing workers to live closer to their jobs for a shorter commute or hire domestic help such as childcare, home cleaning and lawncare.
Don’t Confuse Flexibility With Autonomy
The flexibility to work from home or choose your own scheduling might seem like autonomy and control, but for many workers it just blurs the line between work and personal time.
Workers who feel they’re expected to answer after-hours emails or calls don’t enjoy work-life balance. Likewise, workers need to know which tasks take priority — and which can wait until tomorrow.
Real work-life balance requires true autonomy: clear expectations and the ability to turn off work as you see fit.
Diagnose What’s Compromising Your Control
Before quitting a job, identify what specifically makes you dislike the work-life balance.
Is it an unpredictable schedule? Evening work? Too much work for the available hours? You might be able to solve that specific problem by working it out with your employer.
That starts with setting clear boundaries with your employer. Don’t just passively accept whatever your boss tells you; decide what you can accept and what you can’t. Then have a polite, friendly but firm conversation with your employer about it.
Change Jobs if You Can’t Gain Autonomy
Some jobs will never allow you the control and flexibility you want.
Even so, that doesn’t mean you necessarily need drastic changes. You might be able to move to a new team within your current employer or change jobs with your existing qualifications.
Explore your existing options before you commit to expensive tuition and time-consuming courses. “Compare potential jobs on schedule control and workload practices before investing in more schooling," said entrepreneurial consultant Dr. Morissa Schwartz. “Get a true sense for what your workday will look like on the other side.”
You can always set out on your own as an entrepreneur as well, although that can blur the work-life boundary even further. Many entrepreneurs put in long hours filling a dozen different roles within their business before they reach profitability or grow their team.
A college degree doesn’t guarantee work-life balance, just as remote work doesn’t. But it can open more doors for better-paying careers with more autonomy, which help you build the rounded life you want.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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