Life balance is a myth. It's just like saying sharks don't get cancer and ostriches don't fall off the cliff. Those myths are actually just common beliefs. In fact, the idea of a "work-life balance" is a myth. It's a myth for many reasons, and it's one of the biggest myths that can hinder your success.
Work-life balance is a myth
The idea of a work-life balance is nothing new, but the notion of it has been a source of widespread human misery ever since it became popular in the 1980s. Its popularity led to the proliferation of simplistic definitions of work-life balance. Though these definitions acknowledge that work-life balance is a good idea, they still leave the idea flawed. One major flaw lies in the dishonesty that surrounds the idea.
Conventional thinking about work-life balance has been based on the idea that it is a zero-sum game. That is, increasing time spent with family members means less time to manage your career. Conversely, if you do not take care of your career, you cannot provide for your family. As such, the ideal work-life balance is one that provides workers with meaningful control over their time.
One way to overcome the myth of work-life balance is to change your approach. Instead of compartmentalizing your life into days and weeks, you should try to redefine what your ideal relationship with work is. Then, you can set up boxes and boundaries accordingly.
Sharks don't get cancer
The 1992 book Sharks Don't Get Cancer by I. William Lane is a popular read for both scientists and the public. While the book does not claim that sharks never get cancer, it does claim that the animals are very rare and have been found rarely with malignancy. Lane's main claim in his book is that sharks have a low incidence of cancer.
Although sharks do not develop cancer, they do have a very advanced immune system and a cancer shield. In the Smithsonian Institution, scientists have examined thousands of fish tumors and have only found that fifteen of them were malignant. This is a significant number and it proves that sharks have a higher resistance to cancer than we do.
One of the most interesting theories about the anti-cancer properties of shark cartilage is that it inhibits the growth of blood vessels, which are necessary for cancerous tumours to grow. However, this has not been proven to be a successful cancer treatment in humans.
Ostriches don't flop on the ground
Ostriches are not your ordinary birds. They are large, sturdy creatures that stand around nine feet tall and weigh 350 pounds. Their flightless wings enable them to change direction and escape from danger. They are also known to be good parents.
They live in flocks of up to 10 birds. The dominant male and female are territorial, and there is a strict pecking order. The dominant male establishes a territory, and his warning call can be mistaken for a lion's roar. They also hiss to show their disapproval.
Ostriches are extremely fast. They can reach speeds of up to 43 miles per hour and maintain a speed of about 50 km per hour. Ostriches also have long legs, with two toes on each foot. Their legs can span 3-5 m (10-16 ft) in length. They can also kick with a 10-cm (4-inch) talon. This gives them the advantage of being able to escape danger.