What’s the right balance between work and non-work time? The traditional 9-5 has slowly disappeared with the emails and zoom and texting going far beyond traditional business hours. We asked members of our community to share with us how they think about work-life balance.

Allie Stewart | Therapeutic Support Specialist, Occupational Therapist, Yoga Instructor, Poet, Singer/Songwriter, Student of Life

I had a humbling reckoning with the concept of work life balance about a year ago, at a peak of burnout in my life. I have had much time to reconcile with the qualities within me that have the capacity to burn out, and be honest with them. I have decided that burnout, or the immense lack of balance, in my life comes to fruition when I am living a life in which I have to have a “Work Self” and a “Real Self”, a professional self and an authentic self. I don’t believe these identities need to be separate; in fact, Think we can be at our most successful when we infuse our most genuine parts with what we choose to share with the world around us. I consider this balance of how we understand, process, and share ourselves with the world around us to be where magic can reside. I bring my highest self into what I do, and that is felt by those I share my energy with professionally. I am more effective when I’m in tune with myself, set the boundaries I need, and embody the energy of knowing my worth, in professional settings and beyond. Having transparency with myself allows me to be honest with those who I am in service to, which sparks more creative fire, collaboration, and balance. Read more>>

Sunita Chiu | Actor ,Model, Singer, Dancer , Host , Event Manager

As I age, I’ve noticed a shift in my work-life balance. In the past, I could sustain a hectic schedule of a full-time day job, evening performances, weekend commitments, and even extracurricular classes. However, with each passing year, I’ve come to acknowledge the diminishing span of my burnout tolerance. As the natural aging process unfolds, my body signals the need for prioritizing both my mental and physical well-being. Unlike before, I now recognize the importance of taking sick days when necessary, understanding the signs that demand self-care. This shift in perspective allows me to achieve success by striking a healthier balance tailored to my body’s needs. Read more>>

Vipe Desai | Executive Director

When I was younger, I was surrounded by this notion of “hustle culture”. Where you have to out work everyone else because that’s what you had to do to be successful. You’d see others working, or appearing to work long hard hours and flaunt their material belongings like houses, cars, private jet travels, etc. But as I got a little older and listening to my mentors who taught me that I needed to work smarter, not harder. Read more>>

Fengyi Ye | Visual. Artist & Illustrator

During my university years at School of Visual. Arts, I was mainly focused on work and academic achievements, often at the expense of truly living life. This intense focus persisted into my junior year. However, with time, after graduation, I’ve come to appreciate the necessity of a harmonious work-life balance. Rather than confining myself to the studio for endless hours of drawing, I now strategically manage my time to include moments of leisure and self-care. I savor culinary delights, revel in the discovery of new locales and shops, and maintain a regular fitness routine that reinvigorates my spirit and keeps me grounded in a healthy routine. It’s this blend of activities that sustains my vibrancy as an individual. Today, I am committed to this balanced routine, which I believe is essential for preserving my energy and creativity. Read more>>

Finnegan Bell | I’m the founder/ lead singer of Love Ghost

I usually have a pretty imbalanced lifestyle, just like the chemicals in my brain. But I generally focus more on work than a social life. Starting a career and having a fruitful social life just don’t go hand in hand. I also just get easily drained from being social and being around people. Most people bother me usually, so I’d rather just be at home working on music or creating something else. I’m a bit of a workaholic because I get more satisfaction in winning than anything else. Read more>>