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.

Stephanie Bell | Filmmaker & Photographer

I’ve prioritized my work life balance more than ever post 2020. I value my personal time and realize that if I don’t have the time to nourish myself then it will show through my work. I’ve created more balance by setting boundaries, not taking on more work than I can handle and being selective about the type of jobs that I accept as a freelance artist. Read more>>

Isabel Bagsik | Multidisciplinary Art Director

I’m still experimenting with what that balance looks and feels like, but it’s been a major shift from “hustle and grind culture” to creating more space and ease. From one of my creative mentors, Midori, I’ve been integrating the lesson that “rest is not extra, but rather the start of the creative process”. My other teacher, Aly, guided me to learn how to integrate pleasure into my daily life, from the food I eat to how to ground myself through breathwork and deepen the quality of rest when a busy day may not allow a longer break. Read more>>

Paula Morizono | Fitness Consultant/Trainer

When my son was 4 he was diagnosed with aphasia- a speech and language disorder. For many years helping him was my first priority, work was second. I could have given him to the system and expected them to improve his speech, as I had seen many parents do. Read more>>

Amanda Lougee | Model & Jewelry Designer

I’m really happy you asked me this question. Last year in 2022 I really experienced all the phases of burnout. For a long time, honestly since I started modeling, I said yes to everything. Every creative outlet that I could do, I said yes to. Overtime, I started to become less inspired by projects and feel numb to any opportunity that was coming my way. In 2023 I decided that this was my year for refining exactly what I want out of my career and life. Now I look at work life balance very strategically. Where as before – I definitely was not strategic, I was just a yes man. Read more>>

Austyn de Lugo-Liston | Artist, Teacher, and Podcaster

When I was in my 20s, I was able to commit fully to art making. Now, in my thirties, I work full time as an art teacher and I have six children, so my schedule has obviously dramatically changed. For me, continuing my artistic career has meant shifting my focus to creative pursuits that I can fit in to my already packed schedule. Read more>>

Brandon Cordes | Music Producer Multi instrumentalist and Illustrator/Cartoonist/Animator

I’m always working at it thats a never ending process truly. There will definitely be moments throughout the weeks when I feel I have some sort of steady balance and then there’s other weeks when I feel i’m ridiculously all over the place and don’t have that steady grip at all . throughout all of that though I’m coming to terms with more and more/learning thats heavily ok we will never know what tomorrow brings planned or unplanned there’s beauty and excitement in knowing that. Read more>>