What’s the right balance between work and non-work time? The traditional 9-5 has slowly disappeared with the emails and zoom and texting going far beyond traditional business hours. We asked members of our community to share with us how they think about work-life balance.

Christopher Petro | Californist Commercial & Fine Art Photography

Anthony Bourdain stated in his later years that he felt like he was living on borrowed time. This strikes me in a way that only a portion of our society grasps. Many of us are quiet survivors: something in our story permanently altered our state of mind, sometimes instantly, and sometimes over a long painful stretch. I feel like I’m on borrowed time because of cancer, more specifically coming through to the other side a changed man. Read more>>

Jesse Molina | Designer, Illustrator, and Yoga Instructor

There is no balance. One of the most profound concepts is to counterbalance. For anyone to excel one must fully understand that intense dedication is needed. counterbalance is the ability to offset the stress load of intensity that creative work takes. Sometimes deadlines will be hot and you will have to pull an all-nighter. As you get older this becomes harder, but you also get better at your craft. The most important thing is to make sure you get rest in between the intensity. Just like an Olympic athlete. Intensity then rest. As you do this you become more well equipped to deal with the stress and reinterpret it as excitement. Read more>>

Gary Diekow | Content Creator

So they key word here is “Balance.” – And trying to find that has definitely been one of my biggest challenges. There’s a voice in your head that keeps you going, saying “The time is now” and “It’s all or nothing.” I need that voice in my life but I’m learning to not be controlled by it. I’ve definitely lost people I care about, but such is life. I would say though that, regardless of where you are in your career, don’t worry so much about trying to “make it.” Just enjoy and appreciate where you are now, it’ goes by so fast. Read more>>

Burgandi Williams | Small Business Owner & Veterinary Student

Being a veterinary student, work-life balance is something that is almost nonexistent. One thing that I have learned about work-life balance over the years, is that it is not a 50-50 split. Where we make time for one thing we are sacrificing another thing. Therefore, we are not actually looking for work-life balance but rather we are looking for work-life harmony, in which our work life and our personal life can coexist and not lead to burnout and stress but rather productivity, peace, and happiness. Read more>>

Kate Brigden | Potter and other things.

To be honest my work life balance is not great at the moment but I’m working on it. I am currently doing too much. I don’t take a proper weekend and find it hard to switch off. I don’t see it as sustainable. I hope it will only be short term and I’ll be able to ease off on work a bit next year. I would like to take more walks and days out with my family and work on my fitness. Read more>>