24 hours in a day, 168 hours in a week. Junior investment bankers regularly work 80-90 hours a week. Many other high profile professions require the same level of commitment. Often those on the outside claim that working 80-90 hours a week is bad/wrong/terrible/silly/etc but we’ve spoken with so many folks who say working that much has been the best decision of their life – it allowed them to develop a deep and strong skill set far faster than would have been possible otherwise. In other words, by working 2x the hours, they were able to generate 5x or more the rewards. And depending on where you are in your career, investing heavily in your skills and competence can pay dividends for a long time.

Carmalita AF | Writer, Swim Instructor/Cycling Instructor

I have incorporated intentional periods of rest so there feels to be more balance in all aspects of my life. There are certain seasons where I have more flexibility and I use the time to lean into re-charging myself as way to prepare for busier or more social seasons. Read more>>

Danielle Page | Floral Designer

When I first started my business I sacrificed any sense of balance to pay my bills so I could feel more secure financially and professionally. I had zero routine, no social life, and multiple unhealthy habits. It has taken years to find more balance and I think it will always require work and boundaries to maintain it. Read more>>

Tatiana Tsvetkov | Interior Designer

Before having my first baby – work was the center of my life. Also I was under illusion that more you work, more you get – which is a straight way to workaholism, in short distance it can work out but in long term – every successful entrepreneur is a marathon runner, you have to have some other good supports – friends, family, health. Read more>>

Damian Kostka | Musician, Bass Player & Composer

As I progressed in my career, my “to do” list became larger and larger. When you want to be really good at something, there is no balance. And I say this from the perspective of a full-time musician, father and partner. Read more>>

Odera Igbokwe | Painter & Illustrator

In my earliest foundation years, everything was so new and exciting. I was voracious to improve my skills and to make new images. I dedicated most of my waking hours to foundation training and the necessities of being human. Read more>>

Dr. Lindsey Sterling | Clinical Psychologist

Work life balance is a moving target, especially for parents. When I was in graduate school, I had the luxury of focusing exclusively on my education and training, and I took full advantage of that. I took on every opportunity to build my experience and my CV, because I could.  Read more>>

Fazon Gray | Model, Influencer & Actor

Being overcome with work a lot as of recent. I’m really understanding of that and knowing when to create the balance in my life. All work and no play will drive most people insane. You need to know when to step on the gas and when to create more comfortability “fun” in life. Read more>>

Ximena Vagu | Creative and Entrepreneur

Maintaining a work-life balance has been and continues to be a complicated endeavor. Transitioning from a traditional 9-5 job to working from my home office while managing a food pop-up business with my sister, creating art, and maintaining a social life presents unique challenges. Read more>>

Kristen DiMercurio | Actor

I don’t know if anyone truly achieves a work life balance, to be honest. As an actor in LA, my schedule is far from consistent. Some days I’ll have nothing going on, and others I’m running around just barely getting everything done. Between auditions, self-tapes, callbacks, recording sessions, fittings, shoot dates, it can sometimes be overwhelming to manage it all. Read more>>

Jasmine G | Mother, Artist & Painter

When I first started painting my life was so free and flexible. I could wake up in the middle of the night and paint. I could paint for hours without interruption. 2023 I became a new mom. I welcomed my baby boy whom we named Artiste. I had this whole vision of being the mom who works and takes care of my baby simultaneously. Read more>>

Emma Younan | writer and photographer

When I first got into film, I was fully committing my time to my work. Having been in the industry a few years now, I’ve started to notice that being on set full time really takes a toll on you. Read more>>

Nikky T

I am a workaholic because if you love what you do it inspires you to work even harder for it. Music is a huge passion of mine that will forever inspire me to do my greatest work. It doesn’t even feel like work if you love what you do. Read more>>

Jialiang Sun | Film sound designer/mixer

Film is a lifelong career for me, and as a sound designer, I need to watch a lot of movies and discuss them with my peers. Life on set and post-production often take up a lot of time. If I keep working continuously, I gradually become exhausted. So, I will give myself a breaks regularly. Read more>>

YI DING | Womenswear&Knitwear designer

Balance plays an important role in my life，I’m used to looking for inspiration in daily life, so rest time and work inevitably blend together. Balance is like a seesaw in the park, and artistic creation will also gain nutrients from the flash of inspiration in ordinary life. Read more>>

Harriette St Ledger | Actor and Filmmaker

In this career work life balance is a very funny thing. There will be moments in time where you are so busy filming, auditioning, having meetings. You feel like you will never have a moment to stop and take care of yourself. Read more>>

Emile Kees | Photographer, writer, educator

I think that I am still finding balance between my life and my work, and believe that the key is to combine the two things – which is obviously easier said than done. I think that an artist is constantly walking between these two things and only the lucky few can really combine them, but for me it is about trying to have your work support your life and your life support your work, not as competitors. Read more>>

Grace Austin | Fibre Artist & Freelance Writer

I hear that the cool kids aren’t calling it ‘balance’ anymore, but ‘harmony’ and I dig that. The structure of my working-life and wider lifestyle has changed drastically over the years, and being self-employed has allowed for some fluidity when it comes those changes. Read more>>