Simmer Don’t Burn: Work-Life Balance Through a Chef’s Eye
In the kitchen, timing is everything. Too much heat, and a dish scorches before it ever reaches the plate. Too little, and it never develops the depth of flavor it deserves. Finding the sweet spot, that gentle simmer, creates magic.
Work-life balance is no different.
The Lesson of the Simmer
Chefs know that simmering allows flavors to develop slowly, deeply and with intention. It’s patient, it’s steady and it respects the ingredients. In life, simmering is about pacing yourself and giving attention where it’s needed without rushing or burning out.
Too many of us live on a constant boil: work deadlines, personal commitments, family obligations. The result? Burnout. Just like food left on high heat, we dry out and lose our flavor.
Mise en Place: Preparation is Balance
Before a chef ever turns on the stove, they practice mise en place (everything in its place). Ingredients are chopped, sauces are ready, pans are preheated. That same principle applies to work-life balance.
When you prepare (planning your week, setting boundaries, or organizing priorities) you create the conditions for balance. Life feels less chaotic and you can focus on what really matters. With so much chaos going on in the world, having someone to talk to is highly recommended. Doesn’t need to be a professional but someone you trust; parent, sibling, spouse, etc. Set rules and let the conversation flow
The Right Ingredients
A balanced dish needs the right mix: sweet, salty, acidic and savory. But when it comes to life, the most essential ingredient is family. Family is the base stock, the flavor that everything else builds upon. Work, rest, relationships, creativity and self-care all matter, but without the grounding presence of loved ones, the recipe feels incomplete.
Family first doesn’t mean ignoring other ingredients; it means letting that connection infuse everything you do. A shared meal, a quick phone call or simply showing up for one another creates the warmth and stability that make work and play more meaningful.
Ask yourself: What’s missing from my life’s recipe right now? Am I overloading on work while leaving out time with family? Am I pouring in commitments but skimping on the joy that comes from being present with the people who matter most?
Rest Is Not Wasted Time
Every chef knows the importance of letting meat rest after cooking or letting dough rise before baking. Rest allows things to settle, to strengthen, to become their best.
The same is true for you. Rest isn’t weakness. It’s essential. Taking a walk, enjoying a meal with loved ones, even sitting quietly with a cup of tea. It’s in those pauses that balance is restored.
A Chef’s Reminder
Balance isn’t about perfection. Even the most experienced chef occasionally over-seasons or lets a sauce go too long. The key is adjusting, tasting and trying again.
Life will never be perfectly balanced every single day, but with intention and care you can find your simmer.
So take it from a chef: Simmer, don’t burn. Your best life, like your best dish, deserves the right pace, the right ingredients and the time to fully develop.
