Our community is filled with hard-working, high achieving entrepreneurs and creatives and so work-life balance is a complicated, but highly relevant topic. We’ve shared some responses from the community about work life balance and how their views have evolved over time below.

Crystal J. Huang | Producer/Director/Actess

Working is a life style to me. If life is about finding enjoyment, then I find enjoyment from working. If life is about fulfillment of dreams, then I find fulfillment through working. I never see working as opposite to living. Read more>>

Gianna Aquilina | Cinematographer

When I graduated from Columbia College Chicago, I left school knowing one thing was certain- any project that I was not personally shooting was a missed opportunity to excel in my talents and grow my career. My colleagues and I were hit over the head with the idea that if you were not on set working, you were losing. So I got to it. Read more>>

Tzu-Hao Kuo | Architectural Lighting Designer

I’m a lighting designer with a background in architectural design and professional interior design experience. Throughout my career, I’ve consistently found myself in competition with peers within the same field. In the early stages of my career, I embraced a simple philosophy: I could progressively improve and surpass others over time by putting in a bit more effort each day than my counterparts. Read more>>

Wahid Reza | VFx/Animation Production, Writer, Director

I am a workaholic. I used to work 10-12 hrs days. When you are working in animation/vfx you usually have long hours. On top of that I love wiritng at night. So often or not I’d work 10-12 hrs days at work. And still stay up pretty late to finish a script or two. Over the years I realized it is not sustainable. Not if you want ot maintaina good physcial and mental health. Read more>>

Adriana Gutierrez | Nail Artist and Technician

Prior to the pandemic, my work-life balance was nonexistent. As an independent nail technician renting my own suite, I put a lot of pressure on myself to succeed. I was working 6 days a week every week. I’d cram all the clients I could in a day, and would not schedule myself a lunch break. I guess you could say I was girl-bossing my way into burnout. Read more>>

Brianna Shrader | Business Owner & Photographer

As a Mom and small business owner, learning work-life balance is an on going journey. In the beginning, it was impossible for me to let go and put anyone else in charge of anything! Then it was time for me to get married and go on a honeymoon and I truly wanted and needed to disconnect. So I set a goal of being unplugged for 3 solid weeks. Read more>>

Rui Rou Teo | 3D Character Artistist

haven’t really prioritized my work-life balance until recently. When I was fresh out of college and working my first job, I wanted to live up to expectations, maybe even exceed expectations. As a junior artist, I wanted to prove myself to my team and my leads to leave a good impression. I would work overtime to finish my task earlier, even though I was on schedule. Read more>>

Vernon & Jasmine Chatman | Owners of Pop’N Flavors Gourmet Popcorn Shop

Work life balance has been one of the most challenging aspects of life. My husband and I have 2 children and sometimes we see it take a toll on them. We often leave the house, and they ask if they can come too or when we come home from a long day they’re waiting by the door to give us these big hugs and kisses to tell us that they’ve missed us. Read more>>

Nicole Castronovo | Attorney & Advocate for First Responders

Over the last five years I’ve had three babies which has completely changed my life for the better. I remember the days before I had kids and I thought a work day was exhausting. Now my rise and grind starts at dawn getting my boys breakfast and ready for school, then I spend the day in the office, pick up my kids from school and go back to mom mode. Read more>>

Neska Rose & Libi Rose | Singer-Songwriter & Actress

Neska: A few years ago, if I had to perform at night, I would put so much pressure on myself throughout the day. I thought it was healthy preparation. But now, I’m learning to have that separation. I can relax throughout the day, do my things… Having a show at night is just part of my daily routine. My mindset has also shifted recently. Read more>>

amy smith | artist

Work life balance has been and on and off practice for me. It changes for each stage of life. I used to work a full-time job, come home and find 3 hours a night a few nights a week to paint and then weekends. After becoming a full -time artist I realized the previous structure defined my patterns and I knew my routine. As a full-time artist I had to create my own new routine. Read more>>

Garrett Kaida | Educator and Illustrator

As a freelance artist, your work-life balance is constantly shifting. There are moments when you have nothing to do. Only to be followed by months in which you work on three to four separate projects at the same time. I used to take any job that came my way earlier in my career. There are advantages to this, as it broadened my customer base, provided a constant stream of income, and provided me with valuable experience working on a range of projects. Read more>>

Zanaida Stewart Robles | Composer and Music Director

Priorities have shifted over time, changing the way I balance my time and energy. I think about balance by constantly weighing the advantages and disadvantages of every decision I make, prioritizing the choices that lead to balancing that which is out of balance in my life. Read more>>