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WhenWork-Life
Balance Feels
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In a country clocking the longest work hours in Southeast Asia,
Bruneians reflect on burnout, boundaries, and building a life that
doesn’t run on fumes.
BUSINESS & CAREER
In Brunei, where the average workweek is
among the region’s longest-according to the
International Labour Organization (ILOSTAT)
statistics portal - the concept of work-life
balance is often more aspiration than reality.
With high expectations, limited boundaries
and an increasingly blurred line between
personal and professional time, locals
are finding themselves in a daily juggle
of priorities, responsibilities and self-
preservation.
But instead of chasing the ever-elusive
“balance”, some Bruneians are rewriting the
narrative-embracing imperfection, adapting
to their circumstances, and redefining what
a meaningful life looks like, one small win
at a time.
A FAITH-FUELLED RHYTHM
Md Izzullah bin Hj Md Jamil, a 35-year-
old auto-detailer, knows all too well how
exhausting the hustle can be. But instead of
forcing a silver lining, he’s learning to pause
and process.
“When life hands you lemons, sometimes you
don’t need to rush into making lemonade.
There’s no universal
formula to managing
work and life in a
fast-paced, high-
hour environment.
For some, it’s faith
and reflection.
For others, it’s
boundaries, baby
steps, or building
something on the
side. Balance doesn’t
have to be perfect –
just possible.
Maybe what you really need is to pause,
sort through those lemons, and figure out
what each one means to you. Not every sour
moment needs to be sweetened. Some just
need understanding and perspective,” he
said.
His day-to-day life is a juggling act between
clients, cars and carving out time for rest.
The idea of a work-life balance often feels
like a moving target to him.
“Every day is a game of adapting to what’s
been thrown your way. Burnout? That’s
practically a daily companion. But instead
of striving for a perfect balance, maybe it’s
more about finding a rhythm that works for
you in the season you’re in.”
For Izzullah, spirituality plays a grounding
role. Islam’s teachings about divine will (Al-
Qadar), self-control and emotional discipline
offer him a deeper framework for navigating
life’s chaos.
“We believe that Allah (SWT) ultimately
holds the reins–what we call Al-Qadar–but
we’re still responsible for the choices we
make along the way. It’s a balance between
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BORNEO BULLETIN YEARBOOK 2026