Work-life Integration And Not Balance Should Be The New Mantra

The debate sparked by Narayana Murthy’s call for young Indians to embrace 70-hour workweeks and L&T Chairman SN Subramanian’s suggestion of a 90-hour workweek has divided opinions across the nation. On one side, proponents argue that such dedication is essential to making India a global economic force. On the other, critics question whether this comes at the expense of health, well-being, and overall happiness. But here’s the thing—it’s not an either-or situation. The conversation isn’t about choosing between hard work and personal time. It’s about reframing the way we think about work and life altogether.

Let’s face it—“work-life balance” is one of the most overused and misunderstood concepts out there. Everyone talks about it, but no one knows how to achieve it. For most people, it feels like a constant tug-of-war, where you’re either sacrificing work for life or life for work. Maybe it’s time to stop pretending this balance is achievable and start looking at it differently. What we need isn’t balance—it’s work-life integration.

Work and life aren’t meant to be at odds with each other. Instead, they should blend seamlessly, allowing people to thrive in both areas. But for this to happen, corporate leaders need to evolve. The focus needs to shift from clocking endless hours to creating an environment where employees feel excited, motivated and happy to contribute.

Let’s be real—burnout is a growing epidemic. Overworked employees might get the job done for a while, but at what cost? Creativity fades, productivity dips, and engagement disappears. On the flip side, people who are refreshed, energized, and happy at work bring their best selves to the table. They don’t just deliver results—they go above and beyond.

The job of a leader isn’t just to push harder or demand more hours. It’s to inspire. People should wake up in the morning and feel a rush of energy to come to work, not dread it. When employees enjoy what they do and feel valued, they don’t count the hours—they make the hours count. And that’s the real game-changer.

At its core, work-life integration is about quality over quantity. It’s not about how many hours you put in, but what you achieve in those hours. A 90-hour week filled with stress and inefficiency can’t compete with a shorter, more focused workweek where people are truly productive. Efficiency, creativity, and meaningful outcomes should be the metrics of success—not the number of hours worked.

The debate about long workweeks misses one critical point: happiness matters. It’s not just a feel-good concept—it’s a tangible driver of productivity and success. Companies that prioritize happiness see better results because happy employees bring more energy, innovation, and commitment to their work.

So, instead of asking how many hours people should work, maybe we should ask how we can make those hours meaningful. Work-life integration isn’t about working less or working more—it’s about working smarter, feeling fulfilled, and thriving both personally and professionally. Happiness is the missing piece of the puzzle, and it’s time we made it a priority.

Raj Nayak

Guest Author Founder, happyness.me and Founder & Managing Director, House Of Cheer Networks