De no ser por la autonomía, no compaginaría trabajo y descanso.

De no ser por means if it weren’t for or were it not for.

So:

• De no ser por la autonomía...
  = If it weren’t for the autonomy/flexibility...

It is a set expression used to introduce a condition. In English, it often sounds a bit formal, and in Spanish it can also feel slightly formal or written.

A very common equivalent is:

• Si no fuera por la autonomía...

Both mean basically the same thing.

Because this structure uses the infinitive:

• de + infinitive

Here, that infinitive is ser.

So:

• de no ser por...
• literally something like by not being for...
• but naturally: if it weren’t for...

This is a special conditional-type structure in Spanish. You will also see similar patterns like:

• De tener tiempo, iría.
  = If I had time, I would go.

So the infinitive is not random here; it belongs to the grammar pattern.

Because the sentence expresses a hypothetical result.

Structure:

• De no ser por la autonomía = condition
• no compaginaría trabajo y descanso = result

In English, this is like:

• If it weren’t for X, I wouldn’t be able to balance Y and Z.

Spanish often uses the conditional in the main clause when the condition is hypothetical or unreal.

So compaginaría means:

• I would balance
• he/she would balance
• you (formal) would balance

depending on context, since the subject is omitted.

Spanish often leaves out subject pronouns when they are understood from context.

So compaginaría could mean:

• yo compaginaría = I would balance
• él/ella compaginaría = he/she would balance
• usted compaginaría = you would balance (formal)

Without more context, you cannot know for sure which one it is. Spanish speakers rely on context much more than English does for this.

Compaginar means to combine, to reconcile, to juggle, or to balance two things so that they fit together.

In this sentence:

• compaginar trabajo y descanso

means something like:

• to balance work and rest
• to make work and rest compatible
• to juggle work and downtime

In Spain, compaginar is very common in this kind of context:

• compaginar trabajo y familia
• compaginar estudios y empleo

It is a very useful verb for talking about balancing responsibilities.

Because in Spanish, when talking about things in a general sense, articles are often omitted more than in English.

So:

• compaginar trabajo y descanso

means to balance work and rest in general, not specific pieces of work or specific periods of rest.

If you added articles, the meaning would become more specific or marked:

• el trabajo y el descanso

That could sound more like work and rest as concepts, or refer to something already mentioned. In this sentence, the version without articles sounds more natural.

Because la autonomía is presented as a specific factor, while trabajo y descanso are being mentioned in a general, article-less way.

• la autonomía = the autonomy / that autonomy / the flexibility being discussed
• trabajo y descanso = work and rest in general

So the article with autonomía helps identify it as a particular thing that matters in the situation.

Yes, absolutely.

• De no ser por la autonomía, no compaginaría trabajo y descanso.
• Si no fuera por la autonomía, no compaginaría trabajo y descanso.

These are very close in meaning.

The second one is often easier for learners because it follows the more familiar si + imperfect subjunctive ... conditional pattern:

• Si no fuera por X, no haría Y.

The version with de no ser por may sound a bit more formal, concise, or written.

Yes, it is common enough, but it is somewhat more formal or polished than si no fuera por.

You may hear both in Spain:

• Si no fuera por ti, no lo habría conseguido.
• De no ser por ti, no lo habría conseguido.

Both are natural. For everyday conversation, many learners will find si no fuera por easier to produce. But it is good to understand de no ser por, because native speakers do use it.

Yes. In this sentence, autonomía most likely does not mean political autonomy.

Depending on context, it could mean things like:

• independence
• freedom to organise oneself
• flexibility
• ability to work on one’s own
• self-sufficiency

So here it probably refers to the kind of autonomy that allows someone to manage their time and therefore balance work and rest.

It can be used both ways.

You can say:

• compaginar trabajo y descanso
• compaginar el trabajo con el descanso

Both are correct.

The version with y simply lists the two things being balanced.
The version with con makes the relationship slightly more explicit.

In your sentence, trabajo y descanso is concise and very natural.

Overall, it sounds neutral to slightly formal.

Why?

• de no ser por is a bit more formal/literary than si no fuera por
• compaginar is a normal word in Spain, but a bit more polished than something very colloquial

So this does not sound old-fashioned, but it is not especially casual either. It would fit well in writing, interviews, or careful speech.

Not very naturally.

A literal translation of de no ser por would sound odd in English. The natural English equivalents are:

• if it weren’t for...
• were it not for...
• but for... (more formal)

So although the Spanish uses de + infinitive, you should not try to copy that structure directly into English. It is better to learn de no ser por as a fixed expression meaning if it weren’t for.