Love & Life

Can You Really Have It All? We Tested the Myth of the Perfect Life

There's no such thing as a perfect life...or is there?

• written by Eavesdroppr's
• 5 min read
• 03 Dec, 2024

We’ve all heard it: “You can have it all!” The perfect career, flawless skin, a squad of besties, the ideal relationship, and that flawless work-life balance we all pretend we’ve mastered. But... is it actually possible? Or is it just a glittering myth we see on Instagram?

Spoiler alert: We decided to test it out. Here's the real deal on whether "having it all" is just a pressure cooker for burnout or if it's something we can actually pull off.

1. The Career Glow-Up: Can You Be the Boss AND Have Time to Binge Netflix?

Let’s kick things off with the holy grail of “having it all”—that perfect career. The one where you’re climbing the ladder, making bank, and still managing to keep your inbox at zero. We all know the reality: power suits and paycheck envy only tell half the story. What about the long hours, imposter syndrome, and the never-ending meetings?

So, can you really be a powerhouse at work and still have time for a glass of wine and a binge-worthy Netflix series? Maybe—but only if you learn the art of saying no (sorry, not attending every happy hour) and finding those magical pockets of time where you can truly unplug. Having it all in the career department might mean juggling work with self-care and being OK with not being “on” 24/7.

2. The Relationship Perfect Storm: Love, Lust, and Life in the Same Breath

Here’s the thing about relationships: they look perfect when you're scrolling through social media, but behind every "couple goals" post, there’s a lot more going on than we let on. So can you really have a thriving relationship AND time for your own personal growth? Does it mean romantic picnics, spontaneous trips, and heart-eye emojis?

The truth: it’s about quality over quantity. You can be madly in love and have an independent life outside of your relationship. But it requires constant effort, communication, and—let’s be real—an occasional “just leave me alone” moment to recharge. So, yes, you can have it all... but it requires some trade-offs and prioritizing. (Also, maybe keep the FaceTime calls to a minimum when you're feeling like a couch potato.)

3. Beauty Standards: Can You Have the Perfect Skin AND the Perfect Confidence?

Now, let’s talk about the whole “perfect skin” myth. The Instagram glow-up looks nice, but it doesn’t always come without a hefty dose of skincare routines, filters, and the occasional breakout (hello, hormonal acne). Is it possible to have the smooth, glowing skin that’s all over your feed while also practicing body positivity and loving yourself on your bad days?

Here’s the real answer: it’s a work in progress. Skin might not be perfect 100% of the time, but confidence can be. It’s about setting realistic expectations and not getting stuck in comparison traps. You’ll feel way more empowered when you embrace your skin’s imperfections and focus on feeling your best—not looking your best. (And yes, there’s nothing wrong with a little highlighter for that glow.)

4. The Social Media Myth: Does Your Insta Feed Actually Reflect Your Life?

It’s easy to get caught up in the “perfect life” on Instagram. Everyone’s out there traveling, eating gourmet meals, wearing the latest fashion, and looking flawless. But here’s a little secret: it’s not always real. Behind every perfectly staged pic, there’s a real life filled with mess, stress, and moments of “Is this even worth it?”

So can you really have it all in the Instagram era? You can, but it requires a healthy dose of reality. You don’t need to be on the latest influencer bandwagon to be happy. Life is about enjoying the moment, not curating it for an audience. Focus on living your truth instead of editing it for likes. That’s how you really have it all.

5. The Secret Sauce: Is Self-Care Really the Key to Having It All?

Okay, so here's the kicker: self-care is the real MVP of having it all. It's easy to run on empty when you're juggling your career, relationships, and everything in between. But the secret to balance? Taking care of you. Whether it's setting boundaries at work, carving out time for a morning yoga session, or just shutting down your phone for a few hours, self-care is the key to making all the chaos manageable.

So yes, you can have it all—but only if you’re willing to say "no" when needed, recharge your batteries, and take moments for yourself. Having it all doesn’t mean running on fumes—it means filling your cup so you can be your best self for everything (and everyone) else.

In the end, the answer ito the burning question "can you really have it all is: Kind of. You can have a lot of the things that matter most to you, but it requires balancing, prioritizing, and understanding that perfection is a myth. Life isn’t about having it all, it’s about having what works for you—and learning to let go of what doesn’t. So go ahead and chase your dreams, fall in love, build a career, but remember: the myth of the “perfect life” is just that—a myth. Focus on living your best version of it instead.