Having a “work-life balance” means something different for everyone.  

For Post Falls resident Niko Salinas, it means being able to leave work behind at his desk at the end of a workday.  

“I’m fortunate to work from home for a Fortune 500 company,” Salinas said in part. “While the job can sometimes bring stress or moments of anxiety, I try to stay proactive and maintain clear boundaries so that work doesn’t take over my personal time.” 

Friends, family, and his passions outside of work are what get him through the day-to-day demands of his job.  

“I always try to have something to look forward to, whether it’s short-term plans like going to the gym or a league night at Avondale, or longer-term things like an upcoming trip or vacation,” he said. “These moments help me stay motivated and keep perspective during busy or stressful periods.” 

Having a creative outlet helps, too. 

Salinas is also a short-form video content creator, a hobby he says has given him another way to create meaningful moments with loved ones. 

“Being able to capture and share those experiences while always having something meaningful to look forward to keeps me grounded and reinforces the strong sense of community where I live,” he said.  

Regardless of how people juggle the demands of their work and other aspects of their lives, work-life balance has evolved from being a perk that people would like to have, to being the most important factor when choosing a job — even surpassing pay, according to SurveyMonkey’s 2025 Workplace Culture and Trends data.  

Among the over 3,500 full-time employees that were surveyed, 28% ranked work-life balance as a top motivator at their job. Compensation, for comparison, was ranked as a top motivator by 27% of surveyed employees.  

“This preference is even more marked in Gen Z workers, 32% of whom say work-life balance is the most important aspect of a job. This is compared to career growth (22%) and compensation (20%),” SurveyMonkey’s Sam Gutierrez wrote. 

The emphasis on balance reflects broader shifts in workplace culture in recent years, as remote and hybrid work arrangements have become more common and employees seek greater flexibility in their schedules. 

SurveyMonkey data also suggests that many workers still struggle to truly disconnect from their jobs.  

More than half of surveyed employees (55%) say working long hours or being “always on” is the norm at their company. Meanwhile, 54% report checking work email while taking time off, and 32% say it can be difficult to disconnect from work even during vacations. 

At the same time, a majority of employees say their current roles do offer a healthy balance. About 78% of workers surveyed said their job provides a good work-life balance, suggesting that many employers are making efforts to address burnout and improve workplace culture.  

These numbers suggest that maintaining a work-life balance often requires intentional effort from employees themselves. 

For Salinas, that means setting clear boundaries and prioritizing time with the people and activities that matter most. 

“Because trust me, my personal time is very important to me living in such a beautiful area,” Salinas said.  

    Niko Salinas captures the moment his friend catches some air on Lake Roosevelt, Wash.
  

    Post Falls resident Niko Salinas unwinds from work through hobbies like fishing with friends.