By far the most common conversation we have with the folks we interview is about work-life balance. Starting a business or pursuing a creative career makes finding work life balance really tough because there is no clear start and end to one’s work day. We’ve shared some of our conversations on the topic below.

Josué Vera | Film & Video Game Composer

I think one of the hardest lessons I’ve learned regarding work life balance is that you really do have to make time for the “life” part of it. I get so engrossed in work, for whatever reason that may be, that I stop prioritizing aspects such as my health and spending time with family and friends. There will be times of high volumes of work, but I’ve had to learn to balance them out. Something as simple as making time for hobbies can go a long way, especially for those of us in the creative workforce. We need those life experiences to nurture our craft and art. Read more>>

Joseph ‘Le Prince’ Lopodi Gaza | Producer/Artist/Entrepreneur

It’s all about ensuring you have the proper schedule ready for the week. To me, work and life are two sides of the same coin. You don’t want to take on too much at once, and you don’t want to go too far into the unknown because you might not come back. Read more>>

CLIFTON Wilson | FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR

I focused everything around my top priority and that’s being a father first. I have nothing if I don’t have the love from my children. I had my daughter as a teenager so times were different because I was just entering the work world and it was very demanding on my time. So every weekend my daughter and I would go on daddy daughter dates. Now that she’s 23 we still go on dates but they’re more cooler now. Read more>>

Justin Usami | Gaffer / Chief Lighting Technician

2 years ago I spoke to a friend who shared her view of balance. She explained, “Balance is like a juggling act. At times, all the items are going to be juggled easily. But sometimes, life throws a bowling ball into the mix, and now you have to pay more attention to that new item until you’re able to regain your balance. It’s not that the other items are unimportant in that moment; your priorities will shift for however long it takes to adjust. Read more>>

Brendan Merrill | Editor & Producer

I’ve always had a pretty healthy work/life balance, but it’s shifted continually over the years. There are some spaces in life where I took opportunities to travel, to work abroad, to start a new endeavor. There are others in which I felt I was keeping my focus strictly on work but experiencing life in micro-bursts and long weekends. There is no single “right” answer to keeping a work-life balance. Everyone has different needs and ratios to which they can accomplish their goals and still keep their “cup filled.” Read more>>

Christina Alba | Producer & Dancer/Choreographer

Work life balance is something I will ALWAYS be working on. Balance is so important to being able to operate at 100%. Truly, balance is KEY, but it can defiantly be tough to maintain as a working creative in the entertainment industry. I can say from experience it’s easy for your work to essentially define you. I know that isn’t ideal but when you love what you do the lines get blurred easily. Finding that balance between life, friends, family, work, your social life, your personal wants + needs are crucial! Read more>>

LaTonya LT” Swann | Mom

My work life balance has been a long, progressive, journey of self mastery and defining my own success. I went from being a super-student, 4.0+, AP classes and excessive extracurricular resume building, to burning out in 11th from overworking myself, to double majoring in college, to leaving to pursue dance while balancing a family. Read more>>