A New Perspective on the Myth of Work-Life Balance

A staggering 66% of Americans report not having work-life balance—and I’d bet the other 44% are either retired or in deep denial.

This idea of perfect balance, where work and life exist in some magical harmony, (and I like to say, we flatulate glitter and sweat rose petals) is a lie we’ve been sold. I remember one of our long-time Dames members, Jen Coken, saying “balance is BS” (in much more colorful language) years ago, and I’ve been icked out by the term ever since.

At every stage of business, the so-called “act of balancing” gets harder. It gets lonelier at the top of the mountain—less than 6% of women-owned businesses generate $250,000 or more in annual revenue, and only 2% reach 7-figures. Meanwhile, we’re expected to run businesses, raise kids, volunteer, take care of aging parents, manage households, and somehow carve out time for ourselves. Some of us have help from a partner, many of us don’t.

And yet, all the images we see depict women who have it all together—business thriving, personal life in perfect order, and somehow, they also have voluptuous cleavage and an impeccable body.?

We compare ourselves to this impossible standard and feel like we’re failing.

But what if the problem isn’t that we’re doing something wrong?

What if the perception of balance is flawed?

The Oracle Card That Gave Me a Wake-Up Call

This morning, I pulled an Oracle card (which I often do to help focus my day). The card was Perception. The message?

• Slow down.
• Examine how you’re seeing the world.
• Are you viewing life through judgment and past projections?
• What happens if you shift your perception?

And damn, was it right.

What if instead of chasing this fake idea of balance, we designed our lives around our natural rhythms?

• If you have a 22, 28, or 30-day cycle, what if you built your schedule around it? (And yes, this applies to all women—even if you don’t have a cycle, you can use the lunar calendar for guidance!) Kate Northrup wrote the book on this - Do Less - I highly recommend it!
• If you feel drastically different during different seasons, what if your schedule shifted with them? (Winter - finish projects you started, Spring - begin new projects, Summer - go “on tour,” build new relationships, and sing your heart out, Fall - evaluate and optimize, strengthen existing relationships!)
• What if you actually paused before making decisions—giving yourself a moment (or 10,000 moments) to recalibrate? I know, that gives many women total panic at first (I know it did me!) but now, I thrive in the pause - and get so much more done in bursts!

The key isn’t balance. It’s integration.

The Power of Work-Life Integration

Instead of balance, let’s talk about intentional, aligned integration. Here’s how I (and many of the most successful women I know) approach it:

Identify Your Non-Negotiables

What actually matters to you? Not what should matter—what really, deeply matters?

For me, my non-negotiables include: ?? Daily meditation and journaling ?? Daily workouts and walk breaks ?? Ending my workday by 5 or 6 PM

These weren’t non-negotiable in the early days—when I thought working 10-hour days, six days a week, was the only path to success. I was wrong.

Design Your Ideal Schedule (Not Someone Else’s)

The hustle, grind, grow, grow, GROW culture lie tells us that success = just keep working. But I’ve seen firsthand that 7-8figure women don’t work more—they work smarter.

My week looks like this: ?? Mondays → Team-focused (meetings, co-working, planning, knocking out tasks) ?? Tuesdays → Dames calls + power partner meetings ?? Wednesdays → No meetings, deep work ?? Thursdays → More Dames calls, essential meetings ?? Fridays → Ideation, creativity, nature time (Non-negotiable!)

You don’t need to follow this schedule, but you do need to build one that works for you.

Energy Management Over Time Management

Time management is a myth. Energy management is where the magic happens.

Some of our Dames members: ?? Block off mornings for deep work. ?? Focus 2 days a week on client work and client sessions (working IN the business) ?? Lean into their peak energy times for solo work sprints (instead of forcing productivity when drained).

Embrace the ‘Seasons’ of Business and Life

Some seasons are for growth. Some are for rest. Neither is wrong.

• Launching FunFerence? is an intense, high-output season.
• Post-FunFerence? I allow for rest and recalibration.

Knowing the difference is key.

Leverage Community & Power Partnerships

Work-life integration is easier when you aren’t doing it alone.

This is exactly why we created Dames Think Tank Circles at the $100K, $250K, $500K, and 7-8-figure+ revenue levels—so that when you hit a challenge, you have a group of powerhouse women who can solve problems and create solutions in light-speed.

Your Invitation: Redefine Success on Your Terms

I encourage you to rethink your own beliefs about balance (and comparison, while you’re at it, because the two often go hand-in-hand.)

What if instead of chasing an illusion, you designed a life that actually worked for you by answering these questions:

• What are your non-negotiables?
• How do you design your work around your energy instead of the clock?
• ?What’s one way you can embrace flexibility starting this week?

Hit comment and let me know—I’d love to hear how you’re making work-life integration work for you.

If you’re ready for a community of women who get it, The Dames is here. Let’s redefine success together. Check out https://www.thedames.co/video to learn more and apply if qualified.

Final Thought

The most powerful women I know aren’t balancing—it’s an illusion.

They’re integrating, prioritizing, and thriving in a way that works for them.

So let’s stop chasing the impossible and start creating what deeply fulfills us.

?? Meghann, CEO & Founder, The Dames