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.

Anthony Moses-Cossio | Chef

My balance has completely changed within the past 5 years. I used to be all about work, working 6 to 7 days a week. All I ever thought about was being in the kitchen and nothing else. I wanted to be the best at my job, and nothing was going to stand in my way— until I started to burn out. I realized that spending too much time at work wasn’t good for me. I lost sight of the other things in life that made made happy and that I enjoyed doing. Read more>>

Monica McKendrick | 360 Video/Photo Booth Owner

Being a working professional, entrepreneur, and involved in various non-profit organizations (Board Member for One Albany, LLC and active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.) and volunteering in the community, it can very easily become a work/work balance if you let it. There are times when I am solely focused on work, day in and day out., moving from one job to the next. I don’t think that’s bad sometimes, as you must put in the work to be successful. However, it’s important to have a work/life balance as well. Everyone needs time to disconnect from work, decompress and have time to focus on themselves and/or family and friends. Read more>>

Dennis F. London | Photographer

The balance has definitely changed over time. I’m a firm believer in always making time for what counts but I promise it just ain’t enough hours in a day. A large amount of my day is going towards editing photos/ videos or shooting clients. Not to mention it’s just me working on most of my shoots so a lot of the responsibilities most don’t think about fall on me. Having to constantly be on the go makes it difficult to have the quality time I’d want with friends and family but for the most part everyone with bills know what it is so I’m grateful for that. Read more>>

Mariya Boykova | Interior Designer, Set Decorator and Store Owner

I think my work life balance changed significantly once I started my own business. I feel as though I work more than I ever have, but now I can pick when I want to work which means I can take a break in the middle of the day and go swimming if I want to, or work late nights/early mornings instead of being on a set schedule. Its rewarding, but at the same time makes me put a lot of pressure on myself to get things done and ive learned time management is super important. Read more>>

Denaee Amaya | Public Servant, City Commissioner, Board Member

Five years ago, I began my public service career. As a first-generation college graduate, I was eager to accept any and every position that came my way. For years, my motto was “pursue every opportunity, you never know what may come out of it”. In theory, it was a great idea until it resulted in severe burnout. The lack of balance between my career, mental/physical wellness and home life responsibilities quickly caught up to me – which lead to moments of anxiety and depression. Now, I am more intentional about the opportunities I choose to engage in and align them with my goal at the time. Read more>>

Rashida Jackson | Life enthusiast that provides home marketing solutions to help you gain + grow in ownership. 🏡

This is something I have been reflecting on a lot recently. It goes without being said that a work/life balance is important to overall quality of life, regardless of the profession. As with everything else in life, change and progression are great indicators of managing this. It all boils down to perspective, though. Perspective determines what you view as valuable (time vs money vs accomplishment vs experience, etc.). My balance used to be 99/1, work leading, lol. Read more>>

Yark Beyan | Self-Care Advocate & Community Organizer

My approach to work-life balance has changed over the years. When we launched African Grow n’ Glow I was a freshman entering college. I juggled several activities in addition to my schooling and business. I packed my schedule with extracurriculars because I felt it was the best way to stand out and be successful. This hectic schedule caused me a lot of stress from being overwhelmed with limited free time. Over the years, my viewpoint has changed. Read more>>