Our community is filled with hard-working, high achieving entrepreneurs and creatives and so work-life balance is a complicated, but highly relevant topic. We’ve shared some responses from the community about work life balance and how their views have evolved over time below.

Rickie Tang | Fashion Student & Designer

My work-life balance has become more balanced than before. For the past years, I’ve been prioritizing work over everything. It was all I would think about. Over time the stress can build up and be overwhelming. I have realized that it is also beneficial to have time off and let your mind breathe when it is appropriate. I find it afterward I am more motivated and can create better work. It is easy to get lost in the fast lifestyle that is portrayed on social media. Taking time to meditate, watch a movie, and doing things I enjoy other than working is important. Everyone is running on their own track, so finish it at your own pace, but make sure there is constant progress. Read more>>

Stacey J. Gholar | Media personality & Lifestyle Influencer

When it comes to work life balance I am proud to say that we have become friends. When I first started and well into my business, I had no idea of what that looked like. When you’re a one woman show you find yourself doing everything and because your goal is to build a great business, it’s your personal life that will suffer. I was burning the candle at both end of the stick and was burning out fast. It wasn’t until I started to do some inner work like meditation and reading books like Eckhart Tolle “Power of Now”, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less and Emotional Intelligence to name a few. After reading these books I found a new perspective to look at my life. I started to understand the importance of balancing both work and my personal life to even be partly successful at running a business. You see running a business is something that takes a lot of focus, sweat and tears but so does your personal life. Read more>>

Praise Pitchford | Psalmist, Mentor, & Business Consultant

Over time my balance has become real. In the past i made many mistakes juggling friendships, relationships, motherhood, me-hood, work-life stability, ministry life stability, and etc. Although many mistakes were extremely costly, while others were temporarily annoying, i began to quickly learn myself and what it takes for me to function at my best. I also became aware that no matter how many self-help books, talks, coaches, or shows i engaged in, there would be a crucial time in my life where i would need hard core application. Ideally things would flow and then they would not. I learned in business and in personal life that balance was all about adjustments. The adjustments that i can only make, Balance can not be maintained without consistency, Overall over time i had to make real mistakes, take time to really apply the methods of how to stay recovered and sound from those mistakes. Read more>>

Jordan Occasionally | Recording Artist, Songwriter, Activist

Currently, I am going to graduate with a Bachelors in Music Business in May. Throughout this whole time that I am studying the music industry, I am going through real-life situations that put me to the test. I recently released an album in February, and I’ve had to balance school, staying active with what’s going on in my community, and committing myself to my art. It’s really hard but it’s showed me that I can actually handle a lot of what life throws at me. I value time that I spend with people that breathe life back into me way more now. I feel stronger and supported, and I think that’s key right? Not feeling like you have to face things alone. Read more>>

Olivia Frederick | Brand and Web Designer

When I first began my freelance career full-time, I felt like I needed to work 24/7; I worked weekends, holidays from sun up to sundown. I knew that if I was not working, I wasn’t making any money. Well, that’s what I thought at the time. I was an advocate for the phrase,” never not working” and adopted a really unhealthy grind. I was a slave to my clients and their requests even if it was after hours. I was living in fear, lack, and not fully in control of my business. In about year 3, I changed my mindset around a lot of things. I read the book Grace over Grind by Shae Bynes and followed the guidelines there. I took control back within my business by adjusting my pricing, implementing business hours, communication guidelines, and put myself on a schedule that allowed me to breathe. My clients were happily in acceptance of my new policies and new clients that came in never knew of my unhealthy work/life balance before. Read more>>

Juliebeth Delgado | Artist

Between this year and last, there have been several big changes. I became a full-time art teacher last fall for grades K-8, and I got married in January of this year. Even though it has been an amazing experience, the new job has occupied a lot of my time. I’ve had to learn how to balance my art business and working on my lesson plans for school. Having to teach virtually created additional struggles, and planning the wedding added yet another piece to a growing puzzle. Eventually, I got myself organized and was able to handle everything with the help of my Wonder Woman planner! (It was actually the first time I enjoyed using a planner). Read more>>

Toi | Furniture Designer

My balance is so unbalanced. But, I feel like that’s the true meaning of balance. Unevenness. I find myself constantly trying to stay even on the tight rope. Sometimes I’m a lot or a little ways away from my center. And when I find my center I’m back to being a little ways away from my center point. I’m working on learning ways to work through my ying, or negative cycle. I believe negative cycles are just as important as the light ones. So , yea ! I indulge in overspending my budget sometimes for shopping and I binge watch tv and pig out, when I feel necessary. But, I also take time to study , and workout. I go to work I create in my studio and I try to further progress in my careers. I think managing balance is not staying on one side for too long. Read more>>

Michael Ivy | Genre-bending Artist, Musician & Producer

When I was initially getting my footing in my craft, it felt like an 80/20 percent split where 80% of my energy was being put into taking the first steps of legitimizing my career and the other 20% was used to maintain my everyday life. This wasn’t optimal for longevity but I felt it was necessary to build a solid foundation in music. Due to the nature of my work, I have to be flexible with how I balance my life around my artistry. It has fluctuated greatly but these days, it’s a healthier balance. I’d say 60/40 with an eventual projection to be at an even 50/50 very soon. Read more>>

Albrica Tierra | Photographer + Director

My work-life balance shifted near the beginning of 2020, when the whole world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I had just bought a house (lol) and my eyes were twinkling anime-style over the excitement I had for expectations in my late 20s. When I was working from home for the majority of my time, I found myself reverting back to the way I first discovered my passion for photography: just snapping random things and moments around my new home. I still make sure that I follow a routine of completely stopping anything work-related (because boundaries are important around anything, especially work) at a certain time, but I notice myself feeling more inspired by the everyday and the mundane. Life’s simple moments. That excites me!. Read more>>

Sally D. Hoang | Model, Anesthetist & Realtor

Work life balance has been a difficult concept for me to understand. My family and friends chronically fade into the background as I become engulfed in my work like an obsession. I’ve understood that in order to reach certain goals, there are things that need to be done and sacrifices to be made. It’s only a matter of how much you’re willing to give up and back then, I would have given it all. This mindset has gotten me to where I am but looking forward, I’m not sure it’s how I want to be anymore. My friend unexpectedly passed away recently and it shifted the momentum I had initially. So now, I sway between cherishing the relationships I have and striving, once again, for another goal I set for myself. From working in the operating room, to modeling in photo shoots, to showing homes as a realtor and creating memories with people I know, I find myself struggling to decide what is more important and what takes priority. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to systematically find a balance, but I’m more conscious about it now. Read more>>

Breea Mitchell | Business Owner

My Work Life balance is improving daily and is much better than it was when I started my business. In the beginning I thought I just had to stay up all night and run rapid daily to make my business successful. It was always like a race against the clock. Over time I realized that those practices only left me burnt out. I bein slowing down, getting rest and prioritizing family time and “Me” time. Actively changing my habits has dramatically improved my productivity and my business a whole. You mind is not working at its full potential if you are always drained. Read more>>

Quiy Speaks | Negotiations Specialist & Development Coach

I used to believe that work-life balance actually existed, it doesn’t. So what’s changed over the years was my perception on what I thought to be a “healthy balance” of my personal and professional lives. What I’ve come to find out, how you are with one thing, is how you are with everything. Hard to believe right? It’s true! If you are irresponsible with your personal finances, it is highly unlikely that you can consistently be more responsible with your business finances. The closest you can get to an actual “work-life balance” is elite communication skills! How you communicate with loved ones, peers, mentors and managers with the inner workings of your life as it pertains to that moment can either take you very far, or stop you dead in your tracks. Read more>>

Richard Sanborn | Cinematographer and Director

At first my entire life was consumed by my company. I felt like if I wasn’t grinding at it every second of every day I was wasting precious time that I would never get back. After a year or so of that mindset I felt it weighing on my every day life and my relationship with my now wife. I also came to the realization that I do much higher quality work when I’m rested and not stressing about the business every second of every day. I also have found the importance of short breaks throughout the day; without them I would feel burnt out at the end of the day… whenever I decided that was. I now believe it’s very important to set work/life boundaries for myself for my own health, mental and physical. I’ve found myself to be a happier, less-stressed, and more well-rounded person now. Read more>>

Shelby Moore | Professional Travel Makeup Artist

My work life balance isn’t the most perfect combo. I sometimes either get too caught up into work, or I feel guilty when I’m having too much fun. I learned that this is a normal feeling, and at times I can be too hard on myself over time management. Aside from running my own Makeup Empire, I also work TWO full time jobs to support my dream and my overhead expenses. My number one promise to myself was that I wouldn’t struggle if I didn’t have to, and so far having one foot in corporate America and one foot out has shown me a different type of balance I didn’t even know existed. You can do all things like having fun with friends, working full time jobs, running a business, but remaining focused on your overall goal is important. In this season of my life I am balancing more than I’ve ever imagined I would at 29, but watching my career unfold has been the most rewarding part of it all. Stay focused!. Read more>>

Johnnie Cotton | Artist

Over time it has gotten a little better. consistency, drive, and discipline is key For this work life balance. Make sure to schedule things out more snd just be as organized as you can. Read more>>

Apryl Beverly | Founder of Word Stylistz

My family comes first, and I set non-negotiable boundaries in my business to ensure I don’t sacrifice my husband or son for the sake of securing the bag. Now, to keep it real, I haven’t always run my business in that manner. Unfortunately, in those early years, some of my choices nearly left me lonely and single. You know, it’s easy to get caught up in the hype of running a business, but as a mom, wife and boss, I have to remember that running the business is what I do, it’s NOT who I am. Read more>>

Ciera Pope | Wedding & Travel Planner and Youtuber

I truly value having a great work life balance. Previously I worked a full time job that required A LOT of my time, and I worked here while planning 10 to 12 weddings. I was constantly in a car on the road for this job and I realized I didn’t even enjoy what I was doing. Yes, the money was great, but I couldn’t enjoy it like I wanted to because I was always working. I left after 2 years and haven’t looked back. I believe in enjoying the fruits of my labor so a balance is absolutely needed. Of course with entrepreneurship, there will be times where I am working later than expected but that’s at my discretion. Now I can plan to really dive into my work and schedule time away to reset. Read more>>

Sade Ferrier | Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

I specifically chose my career path because work/life balance it was very important to me to actually be able to enjoy the life that I’m living. In fact, part of my core values as a licensed marriage and family therapist and dating coach is “intimacy.” Intimacy is the fullness of being connected emotionally, physically, and spiritually. You just can’t do that without allowing yourself a healthy balance of time and priorities. I know I’m in a state of balance when I am able to be 100% present to care for my clients, and also “water” some of my other personal needs (like investing in professional growth, exercising and taking fitness classes, being social with friends, having time for spiritual focus). Read more>>

Cynthia Mbangue | Childcare Business Owner & Author

Building a successful business is hard work. There were so many times in the past that as the business owner, I’ve had to handle operations on my own which absolutely took away from my home balance. On the other hand, too much attention off of the business would effect the timing in which things would get done adequately. Over time I’ve learned that in order to remain successful, I had to implement a team that I could delegate operations to and also automate many systems of operations to make day-to-day life simple on all of us. By making these changes, I found that I could not only keep my personal life in order, but I could also focus less on the business without the stress of, “will it be okay?” I’m much happier knowing my staff is well trained and versed in their roles and that the company operates on its own!. Read more>>

Lundon McClamb | Recording Artist | Photographer

It’s a challenge that I realized will be around throughout life. Currently, my work-life balance is confusing. Lately, availing myself of things outside of music has been the focus of my tug-of-war of work and artistry. I found a comfortable balance between work and leisure in Photography starting at the beginning of the year. It’s great to acquire new skill sets, but I recommend to anyone to limit their openness to opportunities once they figure out what skills they want to develop. Prioritizing is key to maintaining a great work-life balance, which in my experience means learning how to say no to people which I have a hard time doing. I feel it’s because I’m naturally a selfless person and I embrace becoming a resource for people, but doing it too often sets me off course to achieve my goals. Recently, I realized effort is limited and must be prioritized if the goal is to use it correctly. Read more>>

Kimberly Joy Morgan | Health & Life Coach, Professional Actress/Model, and Author

When I was in my 20’s and early 30’s I would work 80 hour weeks. I rarely found time to sit back and relax. I was working hard to build a career and name for myself. As I’ve gotten older, I realize the importance of harmony in my life. I know that there will NEVER be balance. Balance suggests we will be able to give equal weight to each area of our lives. Most cannot give 8 hours to work, 8 hours to family, 8 hours to sleep. As we are much more than just family, work, and sleep. In my 40’s I’ve come to understand that harmony comes when I listen to my body, soul, and spirit and take time to unplug when I know my heart and mind are calling for it. I take time each morning to connect spiritually with my Maker and practice self-care before anyone or anything else gets my energy. I tell my clients a great day starts with a great night, so prep for your morning each night. Read more>>

Colby Jones | Board Certified Executive Leadership Coach and Consultant

My work life balance has experienced a great shift over the past 4 years. Before COVID, I was working on building my brand, completing my Doctorate courses, and still working a full time job while being a mother to my very active 14 year old daughter. Admittedly, at that time, I was working myself into the ground all day because I had to work on my brand outside of my full time job and I wasn’t leaving leaving much personal time to myself. Fast forward to today, add in a 5 month old baby, I had to become more disciplined with my work life balance. With the addition of my youngest daughter, I started to prioritize my time. My business coach helped me with the suggestion of utilizing time blocking. With my time blocking, I now have specific tasks that I work on everyday at a certain time and once that time is over, the rest of the day is devoted to spending time with my family. Read more>>

Black° Adam | Musical Artist

I’ve found as I get older that my work life balance has started to shift a lot more in favor of work. That’s not just the working aspect of it either; that includes everything surrounding it like preparing for work or recovering after a hard day’s work. Just in general I think a lot of people take for granted that period right when they first consider themselves adults because they still haven’t been hit with the full responsibility of it yet. So now that those extra things are starting to settle on my shoulders I find that I’m having less time for the “life” part of life. It’s not the worst thing in the world, but I think it has definitely forced me to become more intentional with my time. As a kid, if me and my friends wanted to hang out or make music, that’s the only thing you needed and everyone could link up and figure out the details on the fly. Now you need all the “who, what, when, where, why” worked out before you even consider it because you have that opportunity cost hanging above your head where you could be doing something else that needs doing. Read more>>

Catherine Baxter | Therapist & Owner

My work life balance has completely shifted over time. Especially with the impact of COVID-19, I have had to be particularly diligent about setting boundaries for myself and taking the effort to acknowledge the transition at the end of the workday to begin my evening. This need for acknowledgement arose when I realized standing up from my desk to make dinner just wasn’t cutting it. I was still holding tension in my body and ruminating over my to-do list from the day. Now, I will go change my clothes and put my hair up, go outside to check the mail, put some music on, or take 5 minutes to go veg out on the couch to snuggle with my kids while I watch their tablets over their shoulder. This transition time to wind down allows me to be more present and mindfully engaged with the beautiful little humans in my life. Another impact of COVID-19 was the increase in demand for counseling services. Read more>>

Tj Elias | Audio Engineer/Mixer/Producer

My relationship with balance has always been tough for me. I have a habit of REALLY filling my schedule and tend to feel guilty about taking time off. Making records is something I’ve always loved, so being able to spend a majority of my time in the studio is a dream come true. With that being said, this drive for learning and growing in my craft and career hasn’t always yielded the most favorable results in my life outside of making records. In my earlier years of assisting I used to get to the studio by 9 A.M. for 10 A.M. sessions 6 days a week (normally taking Sundays off). I would set up and we would work for anywhere from 10-12 hours, then I’d have another 2-3 hours of clean up/editing. I loved every minute of it and still do! To me putting the time in to your craft is extremely important if you want to see results and growth. Read more>>

Amanda Denkler | Makeup Artist

In the film industry, I work anywhere from 12 to 18+ hours a day. It can be brutal and exhausting and sometimes it feels like I have no way to balance anything in my life because of it. Ironically, the time of Covid has really helped me to understand balance a lot better. I came to the realization last year that while I may not be able to find balance in the day to day, I can at least find balance in the seasons. 2020 started off seeming like it was going to be a huge year for my career. I was working more consistently than ever before, almost to the point of exhaustion. And then Covid struck and quarantine began and suddenly I understood the “feast or famine” saying of the industry even more. I was terrified that the huge boom I had experienced would be fruitless. Then, only a few months later, I was back to working without relief. I had to change my mindset from the balance within my days to the balance of the big picture. Read more>>

Yanni Chin | Videographer

My work life balance has actually merged over time. It’s fun at times, but it’s also like I can’t have the most fun at the same time. Don’t get me wrong, I love it! And wouldn’t trade what I do. Work is my life but I get to enjoy it while I work (if that makes sense). I travel, go out places, but I am working when you see me. Read more>>

Sarah Glenn Boman | Interior Decorator

Sarah Glenn Interiors had not been up and running for very long before we found out I was pregnant with our daughter. Growing my own business and planning for our first child were not two things I had planned on doing simultaneously. I learned to be an entrepreneur and a parent at the same time. It took a while for me to figure out the balance. To be honest, I am not sure that I have the balance figured out now – but do any of us really have anything “all figured out”?. I truly love working with my clients on their homes AND I love being present for my family. I have immense gratitude for the ability to do both. My priority is our family and being present for our daughter especially while she is still small, and this means that I do most of my work during her nap time, at night, and on the weekends. This is a choice I am making right now, and I am beyond lucky to have a family that is supportive and clients who are understanding of my irregular schedule. Especially after the pandemic began, people are more understanding than ever that we all have lives outside of work. Read more>>

Essence Hodo | Candle Maker

Work life balance is super important! At the beginning of the pandemic it was a little easier because nothing was really open and I spent most of my time at home working on my business. But as things started to open up my work life balance started to shift. I got a part-time, slowly spent more time with friends and family, while still managing my business. One thing that I found super helpful when trying to achieve work life balance is plan plan PLAN! Write down your schedule and execute it! Don’t push work plans aside to hang with friends and don’t feel bad for going out and having fun when it’s needed!. Read more>>

Brandon Kunka | Musician and Educator

Creating a job title that doesn’t necessarily exist is always going to have its ups and downs. Being a freelancer really means that you are wearing five to six hats at any given moment. At first, the biggest challenge was to pay rent and put food on the table, so you will take any and every opportunity that comes your way. However, once I got established being a full time percussion director, full time performer, having a private lessons studio, amongst other things, I began to realize that there are only 24 hours in a day, and there’s nothing you can do to change that. I got caught in the issue of wanting to still be involved in everything that was important to me, but struggling with being able to do them all at the level that I expected from myself. Prioritizing and learning to turn down certain opportunities without fear of never getting called again was a hard lesson to learn, but one that has allowed me to truly dedicate myself to the things I care about most and give it my all. Read more>>

April Borchelt | Fantasy Artist & Illustrator

When I was fresh out of college I worked pretty much all the time. I didn’t take weekends for myself and an average day for me was; Wake up at 9:30 each breakfast, work till 3pm, have lunch, work till 6/7pm have dinner, work till 10pm and go to bed. Don’t get me wrong, I did a lot of work during that time and learned a lot. The older I got though, I realized it wasn’t sustainable or the type of lifestyle I wanted. Especially after I got married to my husband, I made a change to make time to recharge. I now don’t work weekends and make sure I’m not working 24/7. This has helped me stay fresh as well as be able to focus on other areas of my life to bring a new perspective to my work. Read more>>

Craig Dongoski | Artist/Professor

I am fortunate to have thrived in a field that has allowed me to develop ideas and philosophies that completely negate the boundaries between classroom and studio practice. Over time and through the pandemic my methods have developed a finer point of articulation. It is critical that art is understood first as a transformative healing mechanism. My teaching is deeply involved in doing away with pragmatic attitudes in art-making while placing exceptional value on one’s own lived experience as currency for expression. My teaching is my practice and my practice is my teaching. Read more>>

Sherell McArthur | Wellness & Life Coach

I think my idea of balance has changed over time. Balance is defined as both a noun, or a thing, and a verb, or an action. So, I can trip and lose my balance, noun. Or, I can balance my baby on my knee while I take off her onesie, verb. Balance requires adjustment. Moment-to-moment adjustment. If I’m tripping then I have to do what’s necessary, whether that’s grabbing onto something nearby or shifting my body to gain balance. If I’m balancing my baby on my knee and she starts to slip, I may drop everything in my hands to hold her tighter, or squeeze my knees tighter to try to ensure she doesn’t roll down my legs. I believe that balance will look differently for all of us and from one situation to the next. And, just like the physical act of balancing something requires moment-to-moment adjustments, so does achieving wellness, wholeness, balance in our minds, our bodies, our emotions and our spirits. Read more>>

Akirah Renée | Musical Artist

At the beginning of my career, I thought putting aside at least 1 day where I’m doing something “fun” that doesn’t relate to my artistry would be enough of a mental break. Now, 4 years in, I realize I thrive the most when, weekly, I have my 1 fun activity, at least 1 day where I’m doing NOTHING (including house chores), AND a cut off time, daily, for a mental break and miscellaneous life duties. Now, actually, consistently implementing it has been the challenge. Read more>>

Marquitta Minniefield, M.A. | Serial Entrepreneur & Educator

Whew, this is a loaded question. Everyone has different levels of capacity. In order to know your “balance”, you must also know or learn your capacity!. Read more>>

Tiffany Clay, MD | Board Certified Dermatologist

I’ve always considered work life balance to be extremely important in my career. It’s one of the reasons I chose to practice Dermatology because I know that I can have weekends off and get home at a reasonable time after working. My balance has changed over the last 5+ years as the scales tipped more in favor of life versus work. I work 4, ten hour days as I always have however now I’m doing more self-care and I’m less likely to skip vacations when I feel I need one. For example, it took me 2 years to finally say no when my job asked if I wanted to work the day after Thanksgiving. It was okay for me to enjoy one more day over the Thanksgiving holiday with my family and ultimately the few patients I would’ve seen would be just fine if I wasn’t there that one day. I am taking more time out to enjoy life and time with my husband and family. Our family is growing this summer so being more in the moment and all about my family instead of just work is important. Read more>>

Shamek’o Barren | Business Empowerment Consultant & Mentor

My work life balance has changed tremendously over the past two years. I have a full plate and balance is key to my mental and emotional health. I have two businesses and work full-time. I own a youth organization, women’s empowerment firm, and manage a store full time. Balance for me looks like setting boundaries, It`s saying no, it’s self-care, it’s scheduling off time. Work life balance for me is knowing that my personal well-being and my sanity is more important than anything I’m working on. Read more>>

Lamarra Rice | Founder of GPPR USA & The Global Partnerships App

Work life Balance: My balance has completely changed from when I first opened my business, and is frequently shifting. When I first started my business, I was a single mother with 1 child — now, 10 years later. I have two children. So just with that alone, it’s pretty hectic. My kids are 10 years apart, so I’m balancing two completely different routines/ schedules. I have to really plan accordingly for any personal alone time that I need, alongside of working on client accounts, the back end of the business — ensuring the proper growth strategies are in place, overseeing the operational budget/ team, and continuous research to make sure we are growing with the industry and not getting left behind. Read more>>

 

Brielle Rathbun | Choreographer and Musician

When I think about balance, I have to be honest with myself about what the consequences of the opposite imbalances really are. In my line of work, it feels like a trophy to hang nothing but art on the walls of your mind. It feels like dedication to abandon ourselves and our relationships for the cause of foraging imaginations’ lonesome forest. But, it’s not an even swap. I don’t have to do much explaining to relay that in art (and in life), most of us will find ourselves momentum-less eventually, as we stare into blank canvases in whatever form they might take. And just like when we squint at a familiar word so long it becomes unrecognizable, our creative inspiration can feel the same. So, when that dreaded plateau rears its ugly head towards our withering souls, I wonder if we can step onto it with a bit of grace for ourselves. And maybe, just maybe, even some expectation that this unwanted place has the potential to be a fertile ground for flowers we couldn’t house before. Read more>>