I haven't even been working full time for that long. I don't mind the job itself, but I hate that I have to dedicate so much of my time to it. I see colleagues more than those I care about. Besides the 8.5 hours a day, there's the commute which is a minimum one hour both ways, plus getting ready for work an hour each day. When I eventually get back, I gotta cook and make dinner, take care of personal hygiene, chores, then there's barely just enough time to relax for a short while and watch some TV or something, and then go to bed. It's very unfulfilling. This is not the life I want to lead. Under these circumstances, a work-life balance is unachievable in my eyes. Balance is not sacrificing and neglecting every other aspect of your life for the sake of work. Balance is healthy, and will enable one to cater to all aspects of one's life and to actually be able to focus on achieving personal goals, and work on self-development (which are both signs of success to me).