Work-life balance is traditionally presented as a binary concept. It suggests that work and life are expected to have equal or calibrated weighting. In the real-world, however, lives pivot across change, disruptions and uncertainties which can upset the ‘equilibrium’. This can lead to personal stress, suboptimal coping or failure. In the context of prolonged and/or unpredictable disruptions, personal resilience reservoirs can quickly deplete. A more flexible acknowledgement of the continuum of life rhythms may lead to contextually sustainable and resilient approaches for workers and teams.