But achieving that kind of success has come at a cost: Stewart believes the idea of perfectly balancing work and life is a myth.

“There is no such thing as balance—just get that through your thick skulls,” Stewart said earlier this month in conversation with Vivian Tu, who runs the social media account Your Rich BFF. “You can’t balance it. It doesn’t balance.”

Major life events, including marriage and divorce, inevitably throw things off course, Stewart said. And while she acknowledged that some people may occasionally manage to strike a balance, she isn’t convinced it’s the norm.

“This thing about balance, I don’t know who thought about that—but it just doesn’t work,” she said. “Maybe infrequently—and I’m jealous of those people—but they’re also boring.”

Even at 85, Stewart shows little sign of slowing down. She wakes up at 4 a.m., reads the entire New York Times, and heads to Pilates or a session with her personal trainer. By 7 a.m., Stewart is at work on projects ranging from her lifestyle brand to an AI startup—and expects her staff to be working, too.

Stewart Staged a Career Comeback by Embracing Change: ‘I Have Choices’

For Stewart, success also means seeking out excitement and embracing the unexpected.

She brushed off the idea of her career being described in major “pivots”—in fact, she said she “hate[s] the word pivot.” Instead, she prefers to think of her journey as a series of metamorphoses, an idea inspired by author Franz Kafka.

“Why be bored?” Stewart said. “If you even feel a moment of boredom or you can’t get up for some reason—because you don’t want to face the day—that is not good.”

Stewart said if something no longer excites her, she always finds something new to pursue rather than resign herself to boredom.

“When I get up in the morning, I have choices,” Stewart said. “I can do whatever right now; I can do anything I want to do every day, but I like being able to look forward to what’s going to happen in the day, and the surprises are also good.”

Her affinity for freedom may come as no surprise considering Stewart knows what it’s like to have it restricted: She served five months in federal prison for crimes related to an investigation into a stock sale. But since being released in 2005, she has notably staged a major comeback in rebuilding her public profile and expanding her brands.

Leaders Echo Stewart: Why Work-Life Balance Is a Dangerous Myth

While work-life balance remains a top priority for many aspiring young professionals, Stewart isn’t alone in arguing that the ideal is often impossible to achieve.

TIAA president and CEO Thasunda Brown Duckett made a similar case on Fortune’s Titans and Disruptors of Industry podcast earlier this year.

“Work-life balance is a lie. It never reconciles … So get rid of that,” Duckett told Fortune editor-in-chief Alyson Shontell.

For Duckett, that realization came during her time working at JPMorgan Chase, where she had climbed the corporate ladder to CEO of Chase Consumer Banking. Long workdays and commutes left her struggling to make time for her family, leaving her feeling as though she was falling short in every part of her life.

“I was feeling like I was failing my husband, I was failing my children, I was failed my mom, my dad, my brothers, everyone,” she said. “I was just not winning, and I needed a win.”

The answer, Duckett said, was to stop trying to make sure every part of her life fit neatly into balance. Instead, she learned to accept that some periods would inevitably demand more of her attention at work, while others would allow her to focus more on family.

Former President Barack Obama has offered a similar perspective, arguing that excellence often requires periods of intense focus at the expense of other priorities.

“If you want to be excellent at anything—sports, music, business, politics—there’s going to be times of your life when you’re out of balance, where you’re just working and you’re single-minded,” Obama admitted last year on The Pivot Podcast.

What ‘Balance’ Replaces: The Rise of Work-Life Integration

The pushback against traditional work-life balance aligns with a growing trend toward work-life integration—a mindset that embraces flexibility rather than rigid separation. Modern leaders increasingly advocate for accepting that professional and personal goals shift dynamically across life stages, seasons, and circumstances.

Stewart’s daily routine exemplifies this philosophy. Her 4 a.m. wake-up calls, early workouts, and marathon workdays aren’t anomalies but deliberate choices to maintain momentum. “I like being able to look forward to what’s going to happen in the day,” she noted. “The surprises are also good.”

Recent LinkedIn polls show 68% of respondents now favor integration over strict balance, while 73% of Gen Z professionals say they’d sacrifice short-term “balance” for long-term career growth. These findings mirror the perspectives of Stewart, Duckett, and Obama—three icons who’ve navigated high-stakes careers without relying on traditional frameworks.

For many, the shift reflects a broader cultural reckoning. As hybrid work models and AI-driven disruptions redefine productivity norms, the question isn’t whether we can “balance” everything but whether we can adapt without burning out.

Practical Takeaways: How to Navigate a ‘No-Balance’ World

If balance is a myth, what’s the alternative? Here are actionable strategies from the leaders profiled:

• Embrace fluidity: Accept that priorities ebb and flow. Stewart’s “metamorphosis” mindset encourages pivoting roles without guilt.
• Set micro-goals: Duckett’s “single-minded” focus on short-term wins prevents overwhelm during demanding phases.
• Find joy in motion: Obama’s emphasis on excellence through intensity suggests that passion—not balance—fuels resilience.

Experts also recommend rethinking self-worth. A 2023 Harvard Business Review study found that professionals who frame their careers as “purpose-driven journeys” rather than “balancing acts” report higher satisfaction and longevity.

Final Thoughts: Why the Myth of Balance Still Resonates

Despite the arguments from Stewart, Duckett, and Obama, the allure of work-life balance persists. Surveys consistently rank it as a top priority for job seekers, and social media amplifies stories of “perfect” routines. The myth likely endures because it offers comfort—a promise that happiness and success can coexist neatly.

Yet Stewart’s lived experience challenges this narrative. At 85, she’s thriving not despite her unapologetic focus but because of it. Her message is clear: Stop chasing an illusion and start designing a life that adapts. “When I get up in the morning, I have choices,” she said. “I can do whatever right now; I can do anything I want to do every day.”

That mindset—rooted in agency, not equilibrium—may be the most radical advice of all.

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