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.

Sergio Palacios | Fine Artist and Tattooer

Work Life Balance is an interesting topic for me. I like to think of it more as: rest, push forward, rest, push forward. My life is fully immersed in my pursuits; there is no separation of work and life. Everything is fully integrated. I am always counting the costs of actions taken outside of those two categories, “rest and push forward.” If I am not pushing forward in my creative endeavors, I better be resting! My energy is finite and worth almost more than my time because if something costs me too much energy, it in turn ends up costing me more time to recover. I do not see myself building a family, I am not interested in checking off your standard life check marks. On the contrary, as I mature and progress in my purpose, I want to be better immersed and deeper integrated with my purpose. Read more>>

Peter Cepeda | Fine Artists, Muralists, Creative Director, Production manager

Wow, balance is a very important thing to me that I keep finding myself struggling with as much as I tend to think about it and think I fully understand it. Early on, especially in high school it was quite easy to have a real balance. I was going to school and when I came home I was doing one of two things either painting till 3:00 a.m. or skating till Nightfall and then painting till 3:00 a.m. again. It was challenging balancing Hobbies but then when I saw that I can combine them and I didn’t need to juggle them it became way easier. The art I made was on clothing that I wore while I skated in the video that I posted on my social media so it kind of all came full circle especially in high school. Read more>>

Haein Kang | Corean Folk Shaman-Priest Apprentice

This is a really interesting question to consider as a mudang, because we don’t ever stop being mudang. When I’m working, I’m a mudang. When I’m “life-ing” I’m a mudang. It’s something that naturally comes with the territory.

You see, mudang are initiated by elder mudangs who will serve as our teachers and mentors as we learn the traditions. The gods we receive in these initiations, as well as, in successive renewal ceremonies throughout our lives are who determine what kinds of rituals and ceremonies we will be able to perform. Once we are initiated, it is a lifelong thing. My gods are always around, and they may be telling me things throughout the day. I may be encountering different kinds of spirits throughout my day as well. So, in that sense, there are no on or off duty hours. Still, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Read more>>

Andrew Hogue | Co-CEO NEUROFIT

I’ve scaled multiple tech companies and lived through both burnout and Complex PTSD while doing so, and I’ve learned that traditional “work-life balance” is actually a misleading framework in a lot of cases.

At NEUROFIT we’ve discovered that what matters most in the long run is taking care of your nervous system – eg, helping your body learn how to process and recover from stress throughout the day, rather than trying to achieve the “perfect split” between work and life. Read more>>

Christina Liu | UIUX Designer

From school to work life, I’ve always aimed to keep a good balance. In school, I spent more time on studies because of tighter schedules. I tried to find time for exercise, hanging out with friends, or reading. I believe having a positive mindset boosts work efficiency and creativity. Even with less personal time in school, it’s important to make some time for personal activities. Read more>>

Taylor Hollingshead | Mom & Entrepreneur

Oh man, I don’t think any business owner can say they have perfect work-life balance. And if you find that person, I’d love to chat. The amazing and totally brutal part of being a small business owner is that it can consume your whole person, partially because you love it and you’re always dreaming of the next step or product and partially because you are IT, it starts and ends with you (and hopefully your awesome staff in-between!) Read more>>

Luz Maria Castillo-barba | Photographer

At first, maintaining a work-life balance was challenging since photography isn’t my full-time job. About two years ago, I decided to make it a greater priority. I had recently left a job I’d been at for seven years and embarked on a new career. My current job allows for better flexibility, giving me more time to focus on my clients. Read more>>

Sam Parham | Business Owner, Entrepreneur

As an entrepreneur or business owner, you’re essentially entering into a marriage—with your business. It’s a relationship that demands time, energy, and commitment on a level that’s hard to grasp until you’re in it. That’s why it’s so important to do something you genuinely enjoy. If you’re not passionate about your work, it becomes infinitely harder to sustain the long hours and emotional investment required to succeed. Read more>>