How do you think about work-life balance?

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.

Kate Warren | French Horn Player & Music Educator

Work life balance is something that I think about often, especially while juggling a performance career and my online presence. I have very firm boundaries around when, how often, and in what capacity I want to be working (practicing horn, or making content) but it wasn’t always that way, and was a lesson that actually took me a very long time to learn. Read more>>

Leah Walukones | Special Events Coordinator & Podcast Cohost/Producer

I am a firm believer in work life balance. As a millennial with a sizable guilt complex, I would often find myself working too hard. I would bring work home with me (whether that be literally, or mentally) and I would feel guilty if I ever took a step back, took a break, or wasn’t going at 100%. Read more>>

Glenn Alianza | Brow Master Artist

Six months into starting my business it definitely was a challenge of separating work and life but as weeks went on it got easier and easier. I just learn to silence my phone when I’m not at work and focus on my personal life and do things for me, and make sure I create time for myself mentally and physically also to spend time with family and friends and my life partner. Read more>>

Charles Preston | Artist

The real challenge is that all of our music is created with the leftover scraps of energy we have left after our day jobs have completely drained us. We constantly wonder what our potential could be if we could devote ourselves to music (and other creative pursuits) full-time, and we yearn to win this tug-of-war between the way society functions and what our hearts plead with us to do with our short time on this Earth. Read more>>

Shuh Lee | Artist & Maker

I try to balance work and life by separating my spaces. I share a wonderful studio that I can go to and focus on my work. In my studio I’m able to be creative and forget the outside world. I’m also lucky that there are other fantastic creators and artists who share the same studio space. I’m thankful that I can chat to them when I need support and we can bounce ideas off of each other as well. Read more>>

Suné Burger | Filmmaker

It’s hard in a creative career because you really are following your passions, and because of the nature of working in the film and television industry we work odd hours, holidays, weekends till 2am/9am in the morning. The job is odd, and sometimes you get invited onto projects that start the very next day. Read more>>

Anelia Lazaroff Torres | Artist

In the past I would often work in the evening or during the weekend in addition to working during the day/week. In 2017 I became a mom and out of necessity was pushed to find a better balance between work and life at home. Read more>>

eve liu | freelance illustrator/motion designer

as a freelance artist, my “work” time is actually split into two parts, a part to doing the actual commission client paid for that for my living, and another part I will use up for exploring and promoting things I really enjoyed doing, sth that not exactly fit “capitalism art” standard, but I think they are great to show. Read more>>