People want jobs with work life balance — but what if that’s an unattainable goal? Shifting our focus toward work life harmony allows us to allocate our attention to the demands of our professional and personal lives, while recognizing that the natural fluctuations and challenges of life will likely never result in a true equilibrium.

Herbert J Freudenberger coined the term “burnout syndrome” in the 1970s. He recognized that those affected by burnout were tired, snippy, and cynical at work and they had physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach problems, trouble sleeping, and shortness of breath. Fast forward fifty years and burnout levels are at an all time high. What is the cause and — more importantly — what needs to change in the future of work?