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.

Matthew Schneider | Lawyer & Comedian

When I was a lawyer at a big corporate law firm in New York, work dominated my entire existence. I quickly discovered that the saying is true: “money doesn’t buy happiness!” Especially true if you’re working every minute of the day and don’t have time to spend any money anyways. So eventually I made the move to the West Coast in an attempt to adjust that balance. Read more>>

Gabriel Shaddow | Music Producer, Creative Director

Work-life balance is a concept that has definitely shifted for me over time. In the early days, it was all about the hustle—late nights, back-to-back projects, and a relentless drive to create. I was obsessed with the grind, and I thrived on it, but as time went on, I realized that burning out doesn’t get you closer to your goals. Read more>>

Michael Keelen | Owner of Influencer Management Agency

When I was working in my earlier years, my work felt less consequential, so I could leave it all behind when I punched out. As I began to teach, the workloads at home and at school became massive. Planning, grading, school event, etc. Unfortunately it wasn’t just the work that came home–it was the emotional baggage and the exhaustion too. Now that I run a small agency, I no longer have to report to a work site, and that fees really good. Read more>>

Tarius Wrld | R&B Singer/ Songwriter

As an independent artist having a work life balance is very important. Most of us artist have real life living expenses while also having to manage staying creative during our free time. As for myself, I work a regular day job and balance my studio time mainly during the night or my days off. Having the energy isn’t easy by any means, though as a creative, when you know your art is an essential part of you; it’s seen as more than a work obligation. Read more>>

Nat Eastman | zine maker, writer, and teaching artist

Over the past few years I’ve gone from working 1 full-time and 3 part-time jobs simultaneously to only working a few shifts a week; as of now, I’m back working a full-time gig. I’ve found that trying to think of “work” and “life” as two separate things can be truly maddening. The joys and stresses of my days come with me to my job and my work problems and successes stay in my mind when I go home. Read more>>

Kelly Wine | Artist, Photographer, Writer, Background Painter

My work/life balance has never really changed. For my sanity, having time to enjoy myself and spend time with my husband and my family and our friends is essential. While I love my job as a Background Painter and Designer, I must have time to create my own work. I paint and draw my own illustrations and character sketches. I have written two novels (during the pandemic), that will hopefully be published or turned into films/series. I take a lot of photographs. Read more>>

Steven Gary Ames | Artist and VP of Video Licensing

Before I got anywhere close to the entertainment industry, I learned early on to set necessary boundaries between work and my personal life. For instance, in my first job, I made it clear that I was unavailable on weekends, ensuring I had the time I needed to spend with family when I was younger. Read more>>

Peter Macaluso | Writer/Director

My work/life balance has changed dramatically over the last fifteen years. I think when I was younger I definitely felt entitled about “deserving” to tell stories for a living. But, the biggest thing that’s changed is realizing that no one is entitled to it, you know? There’s nothing ordained about having the privilege to make a living in the arts. Read more>>

Gaia Mariani | Yoga Therapist, Sound Healer & Retreats Leader

I used to be extremely stressed and reactive, struggling with a poor work-life balance. Work constantly intruded into my personal life, and I allowed workplace issues to affect my well-being at home. Read more>>

Todd A. Jackson | Actor | Writer | Filmmaker

My work-life balance is ever-changing. Between my 9-5 corporate job, my freelance video production company, and my personal creative projects, the lines between work and life tend to melt together into a big bowl of mush. Read more>>

Saşa Klein | Screenwriter

Figuring out my work-life balance was incredibly difficult and it often takes moments of tipping the scale to both extremes to finally achieve equilibrium, especially as someone with rampant ADHD. Thankfully, being involved in both athletics and film in both high school and university has given me a “trial run” of what balancing two extremes might feel like. Though daunting at times, both my rowing career and my pursuit in film have offered me a unique set of benefits that have deeply influenced who I am and how I approach life. Read more>>