A host of factors, developments, and dynamics have made most industries more competitive than ever. As a result so many of us wonder whether there is still such a thing as work-life balance. We reached out to the community to hear perspectives on finding the right balance.

Margaret Meloni | Authoer – Teacher – Public Speaker

I have spent quite a bit of time considering the magic formula to work/life balance. And I learned that there is actually a formula that applies to ALL of us. The formula is … The formula is what YOU make it. I cannot tell you exactly how many hours to work and how many hours to play or spend with family. It is a personal decision. It depends on your values and it changes. YOU know when you are not achieving the right balance. You feel off. You are tired, and annoyed, and concerned that you are missing out on things. I revisit my own work/life balance formula. a few times each year. There might be times during the year when I do not mind putting in some extra evenings and weekends in order to meet a specific goal. There are also times during the year when I would rather not work extra. When the sunsets become later in the day, I want to enjoy some of that sunlight. When I was brand new in the workforce I was eager to work and to learn and to get ahead. I worked for many hours. Read more>>

Michael Cooley | Dentist

A couple of things happened this past year that influenced my work schedule: my baby girl was born at the end of February and I had to close my office for a couple of months at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the closure of my office, I was fortunate enough to get some unexpected bonding time with my newborn. When we decided it was the right time to reopen the office, I altered the schedule so that I was primarily seeing patients 3 times per week, instead of 4-5 days/week, and my partner was seeing patients the other days, in order to minimize the number of people in the office at any given time. As a result of my new schedule, I realized that I was given more time to spend with my wife and daughter. The more time I spend with my daughter the more I realize that I will never get these moments back, and time goes by too fast. I am blessed to own my business and be in a career that allows me to have more control over my schedule. Read more>>

Andrew Evans | Event Supply Curator & Designer

Discovering what “work life balance” means was something I didn’t learn for a long time in my work journey. I had a work permit in 7th grade and worked all through junior high and high school. My senior year I was working almost full time, going to school fulltime and playing sports. In college I had three jobs working 70 hours a week while going to school. All that to be said I was very accustomed to filling every extra minute I had with work. My first “career” job after college I used all of that work energy and really channeled it into this new position. I was there for 8 years and in that 8 years (especially towards the end) I was having some sort of medical issue every year. From stomach ulcers, to eye infections, to weight gain and hair loss…everything was brought on by chronic stress and I just didn’t realize it. A close friend and mentor lightly encouraged me to consider something else for my own sanity and health. Read more>>

Nancy Lynée Woo | Poet & Writer

I’m a writer by profession and a poet at my core, so I’m always seeking balance between my personal creative work and my professional jobs. While I’ve tried on many different hats for size—journalism, ghostwriting, copywriting, just to name a few—I have always been a poet at heart. Writing poetry is not something I can afford to neglect in my pursuit of a balanced work life. I teach community poetry workshops called Surprise the Line and I’m in Antioch’s MFA program for poetry, so currently I’m carving out lots of intentional time for my art. It’s essential to make the time! Non-negotiable. After ten years of testing my limits, I think I’m finally mastering the art of balancing a writer’s life. It hasn’t always been a cakewalk. As a freelance creative, I’ve juggled all sorts of different jobs and projects. In the past, it’s been very easy for me to get swept away by a dazzling new idea, and then find myself overwhelmed by everything I’ve said yes to. I realize now how much precious time is needed to write my own books. Read more>>

Patrick Dean Hubbell | Visual Artist

Work and Life are interdependent of each other and the natural balance occurs with growth and change. The art process is reflective of life experience and serves as inspiration and motivation to the work created. The “work” or business aspect comes with the responsibility of family and the logistics of the art home studio and time management. When the majority of “work” is done from the home studio, the “life” part of it takes its course and is an integral part of the work created. The life aspect is the foundation for the work to flourish and provides the inspiration and motivation to continue. Over time it has changed with my children being apart of the entire process and giving their special touch of life to my work. Read more>>

David Puck | Visual Artist – Paintings, Murals, Digital, Drag

Balance is the most important concept for me in life at the moment. I’ve lived with extremes and intensities and it is hard. It leads to living a life that is more satisfying watching from the outside than how it feels to you living it. People mistake balance for boring or safe. But balance in my opinion isn’t about being neutral, passive or stationary. Balance is about recognizing that in life, everything is in duality, everything is inter-connected. So when you force too much intensity into one factor and ignore its counterpart, it will inevitably show negative consequences on the other side. Once you live and investigate it this is the case for absolutely everything. The environment, mental health, physical therapy, politics, everything. When I was studied History it became apparent that societies, events, ideas all moved in waves, up and down, acting and reacting. If we focus too small, we can remain blind to it. Read more>>

Ariel Hoffman | Health Coach & Fitness Expert

As a new mother and entrepreneur, I am still working on finding a new work life balance. For me, this process is a continual work in progress since our priorities change as we get older and enter into different stages of life. I have always had a good work ethic which is an attribute that has led me to where I am today. However, there is such a thing as overworking, and there was a time in my life where work was my main focus, I was working to live, and it was all I did. Though my ambition and drive gave me many opportunities, I drove myself to a breaking point, severe life altering injuries, and complete burnout. That moment forced me to re evaluate how I was working, why I was working so hard, and for what purpose. It forced me to find a new balance. Working smarter not harder is one lesson I have learned and another lesson is that working your ass off with no end in sight, doesn’t necessarily lead you to success. In fact, working in this way can leave you completely paralyzed and in a pattern you find very difficult to get out of. Read more>>

Zoe Regan | CEO, The Jane Club & Mom

I have come to accept that there is no work life balance, only a work life blend. In reality, work today is already brought into our homes whether we want it to be or not. We are so connected to everything all the time, no matter where we go or what we do. The same goes for family and home. You can’t disconnect from your family or your children and pretend like they don’t exist. And there really is no reason to do that anyways. I blend my family and my work together and allow them to see each other, not hide from one another. Sometimes its loud and sometimes it’s chaotic, but this is my life and this is my reality. At the Jane Club, no one apologizes for their children or their family time. Rather, our families are an extension of the Jane community. Your work and your family are both respected. Setting clear boundaries and expectations on both sides are key to making this work. Read more>>

Evonne Britton | Athlete, Coach

As far as my work life balance it is important for me to have a schedule and follow it or else things can quickly get overwhelming. From my athletic college days from training to classes and Traveling and competing. Not much has changed besides competing at a higher level and juggling my training business along with going back to school for my masters in public administration. Without balance I don’t see how I would be able to stay motivated and get as much done as I have. Read more>>

Belinda Wells | Artist, Writer, & Non-Profit Professional

Early on in life, I wasn’t aware of my need for balance, and I often left myself out of the equation. I found joy and purpose in dedicating myself to serving the non-profit I co-founded, Manos Internacional; and I found joy in helping my friends and family reach their fullest potential. Over the many chapters of life, I’ve learned the value and necessity of having balance, even though at times it seemed difficult to find. To me, balance isn’t so much about time management between work, family, and yourself; but it is about balancing the quality, attention, and value you give every facet of your life, including yourself. The latter, I learned is likely the most important part of the equation: YOU. You cannot be helpful to others, if you are not first helpful to yourself. In essence, although I had been focused and successful on building up others, it took me a while to learn the importance of self-love, setting healthy boundaries, and building up myself. Read more>>

Christina Whitten Thomas | Composer, Singer, & Teacher

Becoming a mother was what first challenged me to explore the meaning of balance. Having previously been used to an independent, flexible schedule of composing, teaching, and singing, my time was now mostly devoted to my infant daughter. I came to appreciate time in a completely different way. I cherished the moments with my daughter and looked forward to the few hours a week I had to compose. In the fall of 2018, I had a preschooler and a kindergartener, and my mornings to myself. I found a beautiful balance of composing time in the morning, family time after school, with rehearsals or personal time in the evenings. I had a few afternoons of teaching, for which I engaged a different kind of balancing act, one that included carefully timed scheduling with my husband as well as trusted babysitters. The church where I worked welcomed my family and went out of their way to care for them as I sang for the service. One lesson I learned was that balance was not something I could manage by myself; I needed to embrace the help of others. Read more>>

Claire Blackwelder | Actor & Musician

When pursuing an artistic career, it can be difficult to draw a distinct line between “work” and “life.” Perhaps I’m being a bit precious, but as an actor I believe that it is crucial to have a wealth of real world participation to draw from in order to invest in an honest performance. Of course, the study and practice of one’s “craft” (as much as I’ve come to cringe at that word) is essential, but there is no book or course that can be a substitute for experiences and connections not presented strictly through the lens of acting. So much of what we bring to the stage or screen comes from late night debates around a bottle of whiskey, or strained confessions while trudging up a mountain. This question of a “work life balance” is even further complicated when we consider the fact that many artists – or any working adult these days, for that matter – must supplement their preferred profession with a side hustle or day job. Read more>>

Demetria Johnson | Public Relations Director & Actress

I used to work 12-16 hours a day, 5-6 days a week. I was in a position of power and responsibility of a company. I took great pride in my work. I treated the business as if it was my own, yet it was not. That was the juxtaposition of my situation. I would stay from open to close to build someone else’s dream but began to neglect my own. It began to affect my health and relationships. It wasn’t until I fell ill and had to take time off that I realized two things, 1) I was replaceable in their eyes, and 2) I was aging myself faster than intended. Basically, God had to sit me down and open my eyes. I chose happiness. Read more>>

Mandlenkosi Daley | Singer/Songwriter For Ugly Sweaters

I started my band Ugly Sweaters when I was a junior in college. Since then I’ve gone through lineup changes, I’ve gotten married, become a parent, gone through part time jobs and full time jobs. When I graduated from college I got part time work, and just did music with the rest of my time. These were great years with low productivity. When I started working 40 hours per week I had to become much more focused with the smaller portion of time allotted for music. In two short years I was playing the best shows of my life, writing some of the best songs, and generally the band had never been better. Having so much time taken away from me encouraged me to focus so much more actively on music. Now that I am a parent things have shifted even more so. Free time that I could have spent on music is now spent interacting with my daughter. Getting her interested in music has helped a lot with this balance. I see her joy and enthusiasm and that now influence my composing. Read more>>

Kristen Bedno | Vice President of Distribution and Marketing, Vision Films

Beginning in 2020, a lot of people in the entertainment industry were suddenly working from home. There were lots of new challenges (and also benefits, let’s be honest!) to this since it takes a good amount of discipline to effectively manage our time from home. Some folks have maybe a little too much freedom, can’t focus, get easily distracted. And then some folks, like myself, have a hard time setting down the computer, remembering to get up and stretch, and knowing when to close the laptop for the night. I’ve always believed in working harder than everyone else. It pays off and it stands out to your colleagues and of course to the boss. But that was actually my biggest challenge when I started working from home. Suddenly, instead of the commuting, I had more time to do emails! I could start working at 7am and go for 12 hours! Yay! But I noticed I was putting a LOT of pressure on myself. I started feeling this weight and anxiety that I’d never experienced before. Read more>>

Meg Ryan | Comedy Writer & Single Mom

“Work life balance” wasn’t really in my lexicon when I was starting out. I used to admire people who worked themselves ragged. Losing sleep and forgetting to eat because you were so ambitious and singularly driven towards your goals seemed so rock and roll in my early 20s. Likewise, that meant those moments where you’d finally got to let loose should be equally as ambitious and be just as extreme. Nothing about that approach seems balanced in hindsight. After having kids I quickly realized that was no way to live. I couldn’t be the rollercoaster of hyperfocus and then belligerently irresponsible when two people needed me. It’s not sustainable without children, but it’s definitely not a behavior I’d ever want my children to mimic as they grew into their own passions. Besides, if it’s not good enough for my children, then why shouldn’t it be not good enough for me? Now I consider my work life balanced when I don’t feel guilty about what I need to prioritize in the moment. Read more>>

Sarkis Smith | Musician & Music Producer

I have always thought myself to have a good work ethic and believed that hard work will pay off in the end. I think I have now come to realize in a lot of ways hard work does pay off, but the payoff has to be enjoyed and appreciated for all the hard work to make sense. It is important to look around and see how far you’ve come at times and let that be inspiration to keep going and working toward the next goal or past an obstacle. If you’re not enjoying the fruits of your labor then it is not a good balance. I try to remind myself to take in how far I’ve come when getting stressed out about how far I still have to go. Read more>>

Tam Nguyen | Actress & Content Creator

To me, balance is everything. I think if you have balance and everything that you do in life you will be OK. That includes your love life, your career, and the love that you give yourself. I think a lot of people do not find a balance and everything they do, and that is the reason why they do not become successful. You need to find what makes it work for you. Read more>>

Arali West | Graphic Designer & Content Creator

Work life balance can be hard for many! Especially when transitioning to work from home during the pandemic. I have a 3 year old daughter and another one on the way so my balance has shifted extremely over the last couple years. I find mental and physical health of my family the most important so I always prioritize that first. I don’t think balance needs to be set in stone, some seasons may change and what I prioritize after family can change (i.e. spending more time in nature, doing some extra exercising etc.). There isn’t a perfect formula for everyone so I think it’s important to identify what brings you peace, how much of a work load you can handle and what causes any stress/anxiety. Read more>>

Krista JAsper | Actress & Model

Balance, hmmm…what does that mean again? LOL. I’m a perfectionist, so naturally, I am highly self-critical and create a ton of unnecessary stress when pursuing my career goals. I pride myself in my work ethic and determination, but often, after I accomplish a goal, I never take the time to decompress, reflect and appreciate all the hard work that went into it. Instead, I check it off my list and move on to the next goal. I’ve been this way almost my whole life. Nothing was ever good enough, or I wouldn’t allow myself to be happy if I wasn’t accomplishing something. Then covid hit, the industry shut down, and I was forced to face my unhealthy mentality. I found myself incredibly agitated, bored and unhappy because I couldn’t audition, be on set, and collaborate with other creatives. I couldn’t do anything I loved…so I thought. I forced myself to meditate, and the concept of balance kept coming up. How can I create more balance in my life, outside of my career? I have an amazing husband, wonderful friends and family, so many untapped skills and hobbies to explore that often take a back seat to my career. Read more>>

Mike Hein | Independent Game Developer

At 19 years old, I dropped out of college – University of Virginia where I was studying Computer Science – and drove across the country to California to work at Blizzard Entertainment. I left my family, friends and former life behind for the opportunity to follow my dreams and work for a company that shared my passion for great games. As a consequence, throughout my 20s, work really was my whole life. For much of my early time at Blizzard I basically lived at the office, often working into the night and on weekends. I have no regrets about this. The environment at Blizzard felt more like home than a job and I was extremely driven to meet the extremely high standard I saw set all around me. As I got older, in my late 20s and early 30s, I began to recognize the importance of developing a life outside my workplace. I began delegating more and trusting more in those I was supervising. Read more>>

Joanna Miriam | Photographic Artist & Digital Disruptor

I guess at the beginning. When you finally find what you are meant to do in life, something beyond you takes over. All of a sudden, you see things in a different light, you analyze situations differently. At least that’s how it was for me. A twenty-something college grad with the world at her fingertips. Life was photography. Photography was life. Everything revolved around apertures and shutter speeds. This was where I built my foundation. I traveled the World, met famous people, learned from the greats and had a cushy bachelorette lifestyle. Fast forward to the end of my twenties and things started to change… I found the ONE. He was a flooring contractor so we both had the same strong work ethic and motto of work hard, play harder. We dated for 3 years, moved in together, got married, bought a house, got a dog, went to Paris… the next steps were inevitable. KIDS!!! Before I knew it, my family life was taking over and I was forgetting who I used to be!. Read more>>

Susan Feldman | Mixed Media Artist

It’s hard for me to find the right balance sometimes because when I’m in it, I’m ALL IN. It’s a thing I’m continuously working with. I’ve gone from shooting straight up to the sky (with my LADDERS project), hung out up there for awhile; then practiced being in both spaces (here and up there) thru my BRIDGING Project; and now my most recent work is about playing with the idea of staying GROUNDED. Read more>>

Kimberly Haynes | Musician/Artist & Personal/Professional Coach + vocal Coach

Being in a balanced relationship with work and play is essential to a well-rounded life and to good mental health. This can become particularly tricky when your work is also your play, as in music. One can find oneself unclear whether they are working or playing! This can lead to too much of a good thing. Especially, as it pertains to the independent artist who also has to do all their own administrative, marketing, and promotion. There was a time in the early days when it was difficult to sort out what needs attention. There is the musically creative part, which can mean long hours in the studio fleshing out the artistry of a song; all of the many tasks that have to be done in order to get the song launched and heard; booking live performances and so much more. Add to that, my professional coaching practice, family and children – and in my case, a terminally ill partner, plus time to just be with me. Read more>>

Cole Strem | Tattooer and Painter

The balance within work is just as difficult for me as work and life balance. It’s challenging for me to balance out drawing for a client and drawing for myself or my own projects. It’s a good problem to have, but sometimes I’d like to set aside some time to draw or paint without any deadlines, themes or clients to work towards. Although having a deadline means I’ll actually get things accomplished on time and be forced to get it done. Over time I’ve realized I’m not super man, I can only do so much in a day and I cannot continue to kill myself for people. Balancing my home life is just as complicated. When I’m home I’d love to be hanging out with my wife but my mind is always churning. There’s too many things to create. Luckily, she understands how I am and has always been very supportive of my artwork and the time I need to dedicate to it. Sometimes she lays the law down and says to me “memories are not made by sitting in a dark studio for hours” So we get out, have a date night, go for a hike, whatever. Read more>>

Noah Webb | Photographer

My approach to the balance between work and life is organic because the nature of my work is very unpredictable. I may have a few months in a row where I am working on projects here in the US and abroad with various clients and content needs and then following months may be slow with only sporadic work. So when I take on a new project I try to give it everything in terms of focus and energy and being appreciative of the work in the moment. When I have some down time try to utilize it by working on personal projects which in turn have helped generate paid work down the line. I also like to keep a balance with my physical training like running, swimming and biking. It helps me endure some of my more arduous shoots but also keeps me mentally balanced in the down times. In the end my perspective on my work is that I love what I do and feel lucky to be able to make money at something that gives me satisfaction and fulfillment in life. So work is not so much work to me, it’s what I love to do. Read more>>

Mak Grgic | Musician, Composer, Entrepreneur

When thinking of balance it is important to understand that this pertains to one’s inner and separately outer balance. The inner balance has to do with the level of satisfaction and happiness with the work being done and goals achieved while the outer speaks of time management. I’d love to say that, while sometimes challenging, being an artist makes it easy to love the work – there’s nothing better than a hobby becoming a profession – and to have whole days dedicated to it. I work all the time, 14 hour days on average, and absolutely loving what I do. While using multiple methods of time management, I don’t think of my life being out of balance, more so getting more and more in balance with the work flow increasing. Having said that, it is always good to spend some time with the significant other watching a good movie!. Read more>>

Natalie Michaud & Paige Crossland | Podcasters and Small Business Owners

We’re still in the process of perfecting our work-life balance, but sticking to a schedule has been incredibly helpful. Some days The Murder Diaries consumes all our waking hours, because it’s just the two of us doing everything. From managing our social media to designing our upcoming merch line to researching cases to recording our weekly episodes (and every little thing in between), we have a lot on our plates. However, some days we accomplish all our podcast and business to-dos and still have time to relax and watch an episode or two of Forensic Files. It’s a balancing act, but we’re beyond grateful to get to work with each other doing something we love!. Read more>>

Angela Petrilli | Guitarist/Social Media Personality

A work life balance is an essential part of running a successful business and being a well rounded human. When I first started managing the daily tasks of running a band, as well as building my online presence as a session guitarist, I worked night and day. I was on my phone constantly. I would diligently check emails, write songs, rehearse with the band, post content on my socials, and by the end of each day, I was drained and tired. I love what I do tremendously, and I was beginning to feel alarmed as I was finding myself depleted on a regular basis. As this was happening, I knew I needed to change my work habits. I began to place restraints on my phone time, and was more conscientious of how my work time was being spent. I started to make lists, and began to prioritize my tasks. As I began to prioritize my work tasks, I found that this had allowed me to also prioritize the things I enjoy doing for myself outside the scope of my work. Read more>>

Susan Arena | Artist and Educator

There is no such thing as work/life balance. Anyone who tells you there is is either independently wealthy or out to lunch! I constantly feel pulled between my work as an artist and my other full-time jobs of educator, mother, wife, daughter, friend, homeowner, folder of laundry. I try to remember how incredibly lucky I am to have such a full life and also hold the knowledge of my many forms of privilege. But this doesn’t mean that I don’t long for stretches of uninterrupted time, and think, wouldn’t it be lovely for a solitary retreat! But when I’m away from them for too long, I start missing my family and the cycle starts again. I constantly feel pulled away from my studio practice by the demands of making a living and caring for people in my life. However, I suppose I wouldn’t want it any other way. Messy and deep emotional entanglements are what gives me the content for my best artwork. Read more>>

Gwen Samuels | Visual Artist

At the beginning of the lockdown in March I did not realize how important balance in my life would become. I had experienced great change before- I had raised a family, got divorced, moved from the east coast to the west coast to start a new life. This was different- my daily life was instantly restructured without any choices. Intuitively, I began making face masks (got a pattern on the internet) for my family and close friends to connect and keep them safe. It was only after I realized my grandkids could not see me smiling at them that my masks became an art form. I made embroidered smiles to sew on the masks and ultimately made a signature dress from all the smiles called: Lip Service. At the same time I was making “smiling face masks” I felt an urgency to begin what later became my “Safety of Circle” series. I felt a sense of security cutting circles from my existing reformatted imagery sheets and arranging them in repeat patterns. Each piece in the series was slightly different but all shared the comforting shape of the circle. Read more>>

Silvia Kal | Actress & Owner of The PR Agency SGG Public Relations

I think that in order to be happy you have to keep a good balance between your work and your personal life. The best option is to find a job that is also your hobby. That’s what I did. I work a lot but I love what I do so most times it doesn’t feel like work. I could never do one of those 9 to 6 office jobs because it didn’t make me happy, so I did what I love: acting. I also created a PR agency. I have a degree in advertising and Public Relations and it is something I’ve always enjoyed. With my business I can create my own schedule so I don’t have as many restrictions and I have time to do my hobbies. Some people are too focus in making a lot of money and they are miserable having no personal life. I always knew I wanted to enjoy life to the fullest while still having a successful career. I’ve always worked very hard to get where I wanted to be and I’ve been able to achieve that balance. Read more>>

Jake Malott | Property Tech Entrepreneur

I have really moved from this idea of trying to work 8am to 12am and shifting towards health and wellness in my life, managing stress, and finding balance. There are still times where everything has to be done and the only way is to put in the extra time and effort, however, I would rather fight to find efficiencies than fight to stay awake at my desk. Read more>>

Daryl Goldes | Irish Dancing Instructor and Registered Dietitian

In addition to running my business, I work at two hospitals as a registered dietitian. Especially during this pandemic, I have had to take care of myself and set boundaries on myself with how much I work. This means that I turn off my phone and don’t answer emails after a certain hour. When I first started my business, I wanted to be all things to all people all the time, and I’ve since realized that I can’t be there for other people if I don’t care of myself. Read more>>

Gab The Sandbox | Artist

I’ve been hanging in there man. Growing is the word I use to best describe my journey. I’m constantly reinventing myself and over the course of Quarantine found plenty of excuses to look deeper within myself and to become the most refined version of myself that I could possibly be. While in quarantine I also made a lot of music, one of those Songs being my latest Single “Solo”. Read more>>

Ariel Kohn | Analog Collage Artist & New Mom

Nine months ago I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl in the midst of this crazy pandemic. Maya’s arrival changed my life in almost every way I could think of, and in many ways I never could have anticipated. The time I spend working on my collage art (and more recently embroidery) has always felt really precious to me, but becoming a mom has made every moment I can find for creativity that much more meaningful. In the practical sense, it has meant running back and forth to my cutting mat to change my X-acto blade between diaper changes, abandoning half-cut images on my desk to pick her up from a nap and swapping out some of my art books and magazines for ABC books and color flashcards. In a more profound way, her existence has shifted the way I create and think about my art entirely. With the responsibility of caring for her came a natural editing process of sorts- since I don’t have as much time to sit around and mull over an idea for a piece. Read more>>

Drew Louis | Pop Singer, Songwriter & Producer

Work life balance is truly a balancing act, especially in the music industry. Growing up, we’re allocated time for our creative outlet. Once that creative outlet becomes your career, it gets immediately more difficult. As a pop singer, songwriter, and producer, I’m firing on all cylinders, like, all the time haha. As I get more invested into my artist career, it’s an everyday evaluation of checking in with myself, and allowing myself to do what I want. (Obviously easier said than done when bills have to be paid). Another main habit I’ve gotten into is setting work hours. Since the music industry literally never operates on a 9-5, I frequently have to get creative. Overall, checking in with your mental health is key. It’s easy to work too much when you love what you do!. Read more>>

Desiree Stimson-Greek | Advertising Agency Partner

When my business partner and I first started our graphic design company, we were coming from an agency that had closed down, so were fortunate enough to inherit a few of our previous clients. Then, as time went on, we acquired a few more clients that were agencies with clients that needed artwork. At the time, outsourcing graphic design was common in many agencies with too much work for their in-house art department. We were so grateful for the work and were excited to help as many people as we could. However… Have you ever heard the old saying, “Give ’em an inch and they’ll take a mile?” Well, we experienced that first hand, on numerous occasions. I think the first time we looked at each other and knew that something had to change, was when we both missed Thanksgiving dinner with our respective families due to a project with a “crazy tight deadline” that a client had given us. Meanwhile, she was at home enjoying the holiday festivities with her family. Read more>>

Angela Samuels | Chef/Cake Designer & Yoga Instructor

Work life balance is something MOST of us struggle with these days. Since email, texts and phone calls are literally at the tip of our fingers all day, it is really hard to escape, retreat or have any time for self care. I felt that pressure heavily when I worked for others, but owning my own business really amped up all the strains on my work life balance. In the first few years of my business, work life balance was non-existent. If I didn’t have to decline an invitation because I was working, I had to decline because I just couldn’t afford the smallest of luxuries. Coffee shop lattes, date nights with my husband and time out with friends became NON-EXISTENT. A business is an intense commitment like puppy or a child. In a business’s infancy, there is a lot of sleepless nights and shit hitting the fan. I always knew that jump from an employee to the boss would be a challenge, but nothing can truly prepare you for the reality. Read more>>

Leah Harper Cohen | Entrepreneur

When I was in my 20s, I had the mentality that burning out and doing it all meant that I was working hard. As I stepped into my 30s, I learned the importance of sleep and self-care. Finding the balance between the two has been a struggle, but once I put my mental health first I began to work smarter. Read more>>

Lydia Pelosi | Founder & Mompreneur

Work life balance is something we always strive for. With 2 kids, life has never felt busier, but it’s also never been more inspiring. We love to make our family/kids a part of our brand. Our 5 year old, Carter, doodles ideas for designs and tells us what he likes. They also love coming with us to see how clothes are made. More and more, Benjamin Franklin’s quote rings true –“If you want something done, ask a busy person.” The busier we are, the better we can manage our time. Read more>>