Meet Karina Castrillo: Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karina Castrillo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karina, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I think maintaining a work/life balance is the key to a healthy lifestyle. We center our lives around work, and particularly in the U.S. we have less holidays and vacation days than other workers around the world. I think it’s important to realize rest is just as important a priority as working, and it shouldn’t be scorned as laziness. The rate of stress and burnout we experience when we don’t get rest has a negative impact on our mental health and well-being, and recharging actually helps us to work more efficiently and be more in tune with what matters to us. I care deeply about balancing work and life, it’s one of the reasons why I wrote the chapbook, “Work/Life Balance: Why We Need Paid Leave in the USA”. I think there is renewed interest in rest and self-care which is why we see the rise in yoga studios and the topic of mental health trending. Our society as a whole is feeling the setbacks of the ruthless pace of work, and is seeking a balance. We’re beginning to prioritize taking care of ourselves as a collective. 

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a writer, a digital strategist for brands, and creator of Sincerely, The Facts. I’m very interested in social justice topics and have been involved in community activism for some time now. I created the Instagram page @sincerelythefacts to fact-check the news and inform the public during our chaotic political climate. I wrote my first zine on paid leave which was published last year, and this year just ahead of the primary elections, I published 10 Ways To Make Miami A Real Paradise — which covered topics such as the climate change, affordable housing, and voting for the now elected Mayor of Miami-Dade, Daniella Levine Cava.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love spending my Saturdays at Books & Books and the Coral Gables Art Cinema. My favorite bar to hang out is The Corner (which is currently closed due to COVID). Other places worth mentioning: Shibui, OTL, Broken Shaker, the Arepa Bar on 36th St for their tequeños, Taberna Giralda, and Ichimi.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shout out to Paid Leave + US in moving the needle on the paid leave policy movement.

Website: https://www.instagram.com/sincerelythefacts/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karinainthecity/

Image Credits
Photo by Karolyn Corzo