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.

Others we have spoke with have shared the exact opposite and how by working less and prioritizing their personal life, health, and hobbies outside of work they were able to improve their productivity.  And then there are those who say productivity is overrated.  What do you think?  We’ve shared some interesting perspectives below.

Morgan Kelley | Luxury Event Coordinator & “Party in a Box” Curator

Work life balance? What’s that? Ok I’m joking. Frankly, work life balance has been a struggle and is something that I am making an effort to continuously work on. Over time, my priorities have shifted as my business has grown. I have had to put more effort into making sure I set apart time for the people and activities that are really important. I think balance is SO necessary to really thrive. In our industry burnout is a very real (and frightening) reality. Read more>>

Kristi Collins | Certified Wedding and Events Planner

I am a recovered workaholic. Since my husband travels for work and I worked from home, I would find myself working through lunch, pausing for dinner, and then digging back in until bedtime. A few months ago, we moved into an office with a fellow business-owner and it has been the best thing for my work/life balance. I go to the office and then I come home. My files are there so I can’t work on anything from home. This has been a game-change. Read more>>

Tiffany Nunnally | Author, Life Coach, & Soul Care Strategist

The older that I become, the more responsibilities I seem to have, so its important for me to manage work life balance to decrease stress. I read an article that stated that 49% of women report that their stress has increased over the last 5 years. Stress comes from not only juggling multiple responsibilities, but also from experiencing the life cycles of life and relationships. For me personally, I have experienced both death and divorce over the last 10 years, so decreasing my stress, improving my balance and overall well-being are at the top of my list. Read more>>

Ben Rawson | Lighting Designer, Ben Rawson Design

I think my work life balance is starting to even out more as I move through my career and it is getting closer to where I would like it to be. In the beginning, I was taking all the design work I could get and trying to put myself and my work out there as much as possible. As I’ve become more established I’m able to choose my work a bit more and decide if I’m more interested in a proposed project or scheduling in a week off to be at home. I try to leave myself some time to be home in relation to how much I will be working during those time periods. Read more>>

Bridgette Raitz | Metaphysical Entrepreneur

Balance is key to really being able to “sit in the pocket” where you are grounded and aligned in life and in business. It’s also pivotal in making good decisions that lead to lasting results. When I am out of balance, which typically for me is too invested in the busyness of my day to day work, I miss out on the joy, creativity and fun that should flow from doing what I love to do. It doesn’t allow my inner guidance to flow, nor does it keep me integrally connected and supported by the Universe. Read more>>

Jasmine Newson | Speaker, Writer, & Humanitarian

My work life balance has changed significantly over time as I started to work on my personal projects after my 9-5. While I don’t bring my direct work home anymore, I do spend my time building the things I am passionate about. As I learn to strike a balance juggling working for others then working for myself, I realize that the time to rest and recover is just as important as my work. Balance to me looks like understanding the capacity you have for what you are carrying in each season and making decisions rooted in the best interest of your mental wellness. Read more>>