By far the most common conversation we have with the folks we interview is about work-life balance. Starting a business or pursuing a creative career makes finding work life balance really tough because there is no clear start and end to one’s work day. We’ve shared some of our conversations on the topic below.

Lia Damiani-Tinney | Therapist & Owner

My work life balance has definitely changed over time, especially during this pandemic. I come from a family of hard-working men and women. My grandparents were Italian immigrants; while my grandfather was attending medical school in Boston, he would finish class for the day and then drive a fruit delivery truck at night to pay for school. My parents are small business owners and have managed their own business for the past thirty-five years. I’ve learned so much from my family about what it takes to achieve goals, but what I have struggled with the most is balancing work with self-care and my social life. After graduating from the University of Miami with my master’s degree, I worked three jobs as an outpatient substance abuse therapist, a dance teacher and a server at a popular restaurant in Kendall. Read more>>

Lindsey Swing | Co-Founder

This has always been a struggle because we have always worked from home. Depending on who you ask, a lot of people would prefer to work in an office because there aren’t any distractions, but that’s a tough transition when you start working from home, which compromises a healthy work/life balance. I would recommend always waking up at the same time every weekday and creating a firm schedule as well. Read more>>

Rene Gibson | Artist

Balance is a tricky concept. To me, balance is fluid and achieved over longer periods of time. I see it this way now because I will be turning 56 this year and I have the privilege of being able to look back over many years. In my late 20’s and 30’s my life was all about raising two boys and managing the household. I was fortunate that I did not need to provide income for the family, so balance at that time was more about time management than anything else. Still, the social thought at the time was that women can, and ‘should’ have both a career and a family and do it with a smile. While I did not have career at that time, the nagging thought that I ‘should’ have a career threw me out of balance during those years. Once my boys got older and weren’t as reliant on me, I began to feel a longing for something more. Another pregnancy at 42 didn’t allow for much change, but I began some self exploration. Read more>>

Alejandra Kelly | Business Owner

I recently had a baby boy, he is +8 months now and I never understood or appreciated the Working Mom as I do now! Let me tell you, it is real! There are no set of hours or certain schedules to follow or time at all for that matter to do much! This has completely changed my life 100%. My balance now is learning to find the time and making the most out of that time – whether it is 30 min or 5 min (literally). Read more>>

Ixamar Palumbo | Photographer, Digital Creator & Social Media Consultant

I realized early on in my career that I most definitely did not possess a Type A personality; I took on multiple projects at the same time, loved leaving things for the last minute, and found a curious fascination for testing how far I could push myself professionally while still enjoying my life stress-free. I was a chill workaholic. My clients would received all their deliverables on time even though I could have expedited my processes by not procrastinating. On the bright side, this taught me to enjoy the overall flow of things. I had to teach myself organizational skills in order to continue my “professionally laid back” approach. It was all part of a balance that has helped me manage four businesses and one 9-5 effortlessly for the past 10 years. The point of entrepreneurship is to have fun no matter how chaotic things may seem. In the end, it’s your baby…and that’s the most rewarding part of all. Read more>>

Fernanda Bressan | Life and Business Coach & Facilitator

I have learned that work-life balance is a myth. I prefer to call it work-life alignment. Things will never fully balace. There are times we need to be more focused and intentional on our business, other times on our lives or relationships and family. To think there will be balance can set up up for frustration or failure. I prefer to set myself up for success in identifying what areas of my life and business need my attention and when. In doing this, I am able to minimize guilt or other negative emotions around what I am not doing and instead focus on what I am accomplishing and why it matters. Additonally, I have learned and practice regularly the need for self-care and reflection. By making (yes, we get to choose and decide!) when I will dedicate time to myself, I am able to show up more energized and fully for all those I interact with, from my daughter, to my husband to my clients. I had not always understood the importance of this alignment. Read more>>