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.

Alison Cronin

Work life balance has been a journey for me. I have always had a really strong work ethic. My mom raised me to be independent and to always be able to support myself, so I started working at 14 and never really stopped. For a long time, I thought my need to stay busy was just drive and passion. But over time, I realized that staying constantly busy was not always a good thing. It was also a way to avoid slowing down and facing some deeper personal stuff I had not fully dealt with. Read More>>

Ivy Heather Thaide

When I began my career as a costume designer in the early 2000s, I took on any project that came my way—whether it was low-budget horror films, music videos, or student short films. I worked long hours, missing events and sacrificing personal time, all to gain experience and build my foundation in the industry. Later in my career, I got married and I had my two daughters, which, looking back, was a turning point for me. It allowed me to continue honing my skills and cultivating valuable industry contacts.  Read More>>

 Austin Irving

This is such a thoughtful question – and one I’ve been reflecting on a lot lately. A year and a half ago, my husband and I were blessed with the most beautiful baby girl. Like most new parents, we’ve experienced time in an entirely new way since her arrival.

Before she was born, I carried a lot of fear and anxiety about how becoming a parent would affect my artistic practice. I had heard so many warnings about how difficult it would be to continue creating after having a child that I built it up in my mind as this massive, possibly insurmountable roadblock. Read More>>

HANA CATLETT

I used to believe in balance. But I’ve come to realize that there is no such thing. There is only Rhythm & Reduction. Everyone has to find their daily rhythm and constantly find ways to reduce their workload. The truth is, we are all overworked, especially if we’re married with children. I now think of work/life balance as simply making sure you’re taking care of every area of you, whether that’s mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, career, finances, relationships, etc. Always making sure that no part of my life is too stressful, or too much to handle. Read More>>

Kiari Kirk

A: My idea of balance has definitely evolved. A few years ago, I was a solo entrepreneur, living on my own, and completely fine with working around the clock. I would edit all night, teach all day, and never question it. I didn’t have to check in with anyone or explain why I was eating cereal at midnight while exporting videos. That was the life, and it worked for that chapter. Read More>>

Tanya Parada

Work-life balance has always been a challenge for me—especially as a creative with ADHD and a steady undercurrent of imposter syndrome. I’ve often questioned whether I’m doing enough—not just in work, but in life. It used to feel like I was constantly playing catch-up with some invisible benchmark I’d set for myself. Read More>>

Nael Jean-Jacques

Honestly, I think balance is one of the biggest things I’ve always struggled with which I don’t think is necessarily a bad thing. I’m more so of a mono-focused person who rather get one thing done at a time even if that means having to put a certain task or project on pause for a little. I feel like I’m most effective and productive when I pour my full attention into one thing at a time. Some people aren’t built for balance — they’re built for depth. They might not multitask well, but when they lock in, they go deep. I guess you can say I’m part of those “some people”. Read More>>