Martha Stewart has dismissed the idea of achieving a perfect work-life balance, arguing that career and personal responsibilities do not always fit neatly together. Speaking during a live appearance on the Richer Lives by SoFi podcast with financial expert Vivian Tu, the lifestyle entrepreneur delivered a blunt message to people who believe work and personal life can be kept in equal balance.
“There is no such thing as balance. Just get that through your thick skulls,” Stewart said, adding that life does not work according to a perfectly balanced schedule. She acknowledged that some people may occasionally achieve that balance, but said she sometimes finds their lives “boring.” Her remarks came during a discussion about managing personal commitments alongside a demanding career.
Inside Martha Stewart’s Daily Routine
Stewart’s schedule itself is a good indication of her love of being kept busy. She has talked of rising at 4 a.m. to read the newspaper and do puzzles before going to a workout, often on the Pilates machine or with a trainer. Her day usually starts early, and she has duties related to her lifestyle brand, media projects and other business ventures.
The 85-year-old Stewart shows few signs of retirement. Work, for her, appears to be integral to her life, not something that can constantly be separated from it. But her method is a personal perspective, not a general formula for balancing work and family commitments.
Stewart Has Also Criticized Remote Work
Stewart has previously questioned whether employees can complete as much work when they spend part of the week working remotely. In comments to WWD, she argued that people could not possibly get everything done by working three days in the office and two days from home. She has also criticized long holiday breaks, including France’s traditional August vacation period.
Her views reflect a preference for an office-centered work culture and longer working hours. Remote-work policies and work-life balance remain debated topics, with employees and employers weighing productivity, flexibility, personal well-being and business needs differently.
From Wall Street to a Lifestyle Brand
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Stewart’s career began with modeling before she worked as an institutional stockbroker on Wall Street. She later left finance to establish a catering business from her Connecticut home. That venture helped lead to her 1982 book Entertaining and the development of a lifestyle brand that expanded into publishing, television and home products.
Her career has included major setbacks as well as commercial success. In 2004, Stewart was found guilty of offenses stemming from the investigation into her ImClone Systems stock sale and spent five months in federal prison. She later returned to public life and continued building her business and media profile.
Stewart’s latest comments underline the demanding pace she chooses to maintain. While her perspective challenges the popular ideal of work-life balance, her remarks offer a glimpse into how she approaches her own career and daily life.