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.

Statia Jones | Brand Strategist and Photographer

Sometimes I wonder if there is such a thing called work-life balance. Everyday is different and the most important trait I had to adopt is being adaptable. What makes each day successful for me is having a list of things that I need to accomplish and scheduling it out. Setting breaks and family time is imperative. A combination of discipline, moments to unwind, and social time makes a perfect work-life balance. Also, setting hard stops is essential for me to stay on track. Read more>>

Marta Lee | Painter

I think a healthy work life balance is essential for anyone, especially people working in creative fields and cultivating careers that are not necessarily making them a living. I feel like I have only recently become better about this. After graduating from grad school at the University of Texas-Austin in 2018, I adjuncted in Austin for a semester, and then went on to complete a 10-week residency at Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Colorado. At that point, I finally moved to Brooklyn, a place I had been visiting and longing to live in since I was a teenager. In lieu of COVID I think I have had more control over this balance, because both of my jobs (I work in museums) furloughed me last March. This led to a complicated period of time where I found myself and other artist friends feeling pressured to “make the most” of our “extra free time,” while still battling the anxieties inherent in losing work, navigating unemployment benefits, on top of the average amount of pandemic-related stresses. Read more>>

Crista Strachan | Content Creator & Therapist

My balance has shifted tremendously especially during this pandemic and more so with making sure I give myself self-care. I think the balance could use some work because with working from home and creating content it can be a lot all at once. So making sure I put strict boundaries in place for myself is essential for my work life balance. Read more>>

Lizz Dominguez | Talent Curator/ Social Media Content Creator + Co-Owner at Bar Nancy!

I have definitely been working on quite a bit this past year. So many things have changed for me and for all of us during this crazy year. There were definitely a lot of growing pains and adjustments that had to be made. Last year at this time, I was working what felt like nonstop, 7 days a week. I do a majority of my work from home or on the road, so my mind went straight to the bar and to the business from the second I opened my eyes, till the moment I went to sleep at night. I really took no breaks. Even at the gym or in the middle of the night, my phone was always on, answering questions…solving problems and taking on more tasks and projects than I knew I could handle in a day. Rarely saying no or delegating a task to someone else. Mentally it was exhausting. No breaks. No time to truly “chill”. Read more>>