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.

Amelia Meyers | Actor, Singer/Songwriter, Arts Therapist, Beauty Queen, Crohn’s Advocate

The work life balance is one the most elusive thing that looms over creatives. Everyone, no matter what you do, faces this. However with creatives, it hits differently. For me, as my life moves into different chapters, it is important to reevaluate priorities. When first starting out, work came first. Had I just worked 3 day jobs and then needed to report to set for a 12 hour overnight shoot and prepare for an audition the next morning? Yes. You do what you need to do and have the mindset of, I’ll sleep later, I’ll catch up on that when I can, I can’t miss out on this opportunity. For me, I have had several huge live events that made me pause, slow down, and reflect. Read more>>

Carolina Ravassa | Actor/Voice Actor/Producer

I think in my 20s I always put my career first, which can sound smart, but it also meant I’d miss out on family events, weddings, fun nights out with friends, etc. I was always waiting tables when people were having fun, or I was preparing auditions and callbacks. I think I’ve learned now that we have to live life fully in order to also get jobs. It seems counter intuitive, but the more we enjoy other activities, continue learning, traveling and growing, the more this will help us in auditions and character development. And when we aren’t so focused on the outcome of an audition as an actor, we can relax and enjoy the process, and that’s more likely going to flow with the project we are going in for. Read more>>

Zemo Zheng | Virtual Tech Artist & Art Director

Me being me, it’s hard to maintain a work life balance, because I would always prioritize work over my personal life. It can get really exhausting at some point, where I am not eating well or sleeping well; basically compromising my health to reach my career goals. My habit and my mentality towards work life balance has changed a lot over the time, even now, I wouldn’t say I am 100% maintaining a perfect balance between the two, but I do think I am starting to become more and more aware of obtaining a healthier schedule is essential to my success. I think one of the reasons I didn’t have a good balance is that I saw work and life as two separate things. I saw them as counter parts in which if one is more dominant, the other one has to be sacrificed. Read more>>

Nupur Singh | Founder | Monday Chill | En Creative Media

Before I became a mom, my idea of work-life balance was all about juggling tasks flawlessly, striving for perfection in every area of life. But becoming a parent has turned that notion on its head! Balancing work and family shifted from an idea of perfection to more of a dynamic dance. Some days, I’m a superhero at work, other days I feel like I’m crushing it on the home front. And then, of course, there are days when I just want to hide under the covers! For me now, work-life balance isn’t about splitting everything perfectly down the middle. It’s about recognizing that each day brings its own priorities and challenges. Some days I may have to give 110% to one area and a little less to another. And that’s okay. Read more>>

Ziao Zhou | Designer & Urbanist

Now I will think of balance as an integrated part of both a reasonable level of your focus between work and life and the flexibility to shift your focus from one to another. I like fashion and there is a term in fashion trend that can perfectly represent my definition of balance called Gorpcore. Gorpcore is a fashion style that people wear functional outdoor wear in an urban environment. Just like the day before the holiday, wearing hiking clothes in the office offers people an attractive escape from reality. So rather than spend most of my time on bettering my craftsmanship, I’d love to spend more time getting myself inspired by nature and adjusting my mindset. For example, I went to Zion National Park with my friend earlier this year. Read more>>

Suzi Winson | Circus and Dance Director

I love this question. I have never found an actual balance. Sometimes I have been work-obsessed and other moments I have spent becoming a better human. When I started out as a professional performer, everything was about art, dance and theatre.. I did shows for a living, edited a literary journal for additional passion. I cared little for anything else except my family. This shifted during the early days of the AIDS epidemic when many in the arts became caretakers. I jumped into activism and caring for my community full force. I think that life shifts happened over which I had no control and then I adjusted from creation of work, business, and if lucky, ART, to helping the world along with crises situations. When I made a circus school in New York (my biggest work/art project to date), I worked around the clock until I had to care for an aging parent, then there was a bigger truth than my own creations. Read more>>

Cat Ce | Standup Comedian & Actress

With time passing by, I learned to keep myself in the more balanced life and career mode. Understanding the perspectives of life, it can help you more focus on your career. The success of career and happiness of life rely on each other, along with keeping the healthy relationship in your work place and life. As we’re living in a society with so much impact from the relationship you developed and grew over the years. You can learn the true meaning of success from dealing with other relationship in life and keep the balance of your true happiness. The search of success and happiness is also the exploration of looking for the balance in life. Read more>>

Alexa Beltran | Handcrafted Jeweler & Student

I am currently a full time college student and I work part time while also doing my jewelry on the side. Balance has definitely been something I have struggled the most with this year but I am thankful that I have been able to fulfill my first two wholesale orders this year. My jewelry is in two stores, Prelude & Dawn in Highland Park and Rooftop fruit in Indianapolis. These have so far been my biggest accomplishments in my small business journey and I feel so blessed with having the opportunity. I feel like as hard as it’s been to ground myself with all of my endeavors, making jewelry has particularly been something that never feels like it is “too much” for me to handle. Read more>>