Meet Amanda Cisneros | Artist, Therapist & Small Business Owner

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

Hi Amanda, how has your work-life balance changed over time?

My journey towards optimal work-life balance is still very much in progress. From 9 to 5, I work as a Marriage and Family Therapist, which is emotionally draining at times, especially because of the pandemic, so I often need time to unwind and relax after I get home. Throughout my life, art was always my favorite way to unwind, however, when I started my small business last year, I needed to set clearer boundaries in my relationship with art in order to avoid creative burn out.

Back in August, I made the difficult decision to reduce my hours at my therapist job, and I allowed myself an entire day of the week that I could dedicate to my small business. This helped me avoid the vicious “weekend warrior” cycle I was in, where I would spend every Saturday and Sunday scrambling to get stuff done for my shop, and then go in to work on Monday, burnt out and exhausted. Every week looks different as a small business owner, and sometimes I do have to work on the weekends, but I try and give myself at least 1 day of the weekend where I do nothing work-related. If I’m not able to make it a whole day, then I split it up between Saturday and Sunday. I’ll go get my nails done with a friend, or go on a walk outside with my partner. During the pandemic, I had to completely re-learn what “self-care” meant for me, and come terms with the fact that it doesn’t always include art. That was difficult for me to grapple with at first, because art has always been such a big part of my identity, but now that I’ve adjusted to that mental shift, I have so much more clarity. I understand now that spending less time working actually made me more efficient when I was working, and spending less time making art, actually made me more creative!

Another way I avoid over-working, especially as a small online business, is by setting time limits for my phone— especially social media apps! This motivates me to use my time wisely and focus on what I’m really doing when I’m using an app. It’s helped reduce the mindless doom-scrolling and I’ve reclaim so much of my time back! Everyone finds balance differently, and I’ve come to terms with the fact that what feels balanced today, may be different tomorrow. If I’ve learned anything these past two years, it’s that it pays to be adaptable and to have flexibility and grace with yourself in the face of unanticipated changes.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started my small business in January of 2021, creating digital illustrations, stickers, and accessories, but I’ve been a life-long artist. I’ve been making and selling my own art since I was seven and I come from a family of creatives and entrepreneurs, so it was never difficult for me to imagine following in their footsteps. However, when I graduated high school, I began having self-doubts about pursuing an education and career in art, so instead, I studied psychology, and I went on to get my Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy. I find my work as a therapist incredibly fulfilling, however, it did make my relationship with art feel all the more uncertain. For a while, I had an identity crisis about whether or not I was a “therapist” or an “artist”– plot twist… I’m both! I’m a multidimensional complex human being, and I am allowed to be more than just one “thing”. Now, I’ve learned to see how my artistic side helps me to be a better therapist, and how being a therapist informs my art and my creative business. Many of my stickers and designs have a mental health message to them. It’s my way of helping to break down the mental health stigma, one sticker at a time!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Personally, I love Liberty Station! I’d start at the Public Market because it has something for everyone– from coffee to craft beer. It’s also a great place to walk around, people watch and even check out some cool local murals. While we’re there, we gotta stop at Pigment and support some fellow small businesses and artisans. Ocean Beach is the next stop– I go to Pizza Port with my partner at least once a week for their lunch special, and a little stroll down Dog Beach can cure any bad day, followed by a drive down Sunset Cliffs. For dinner, we’ll go to Cross Street Chicken & Beer for some fun cocktails and delicious Korean fried-chicken with a side of corn cheese! Lastly, for dessert, we’ll go to Craft Creamery, for a wine-tasting-like experience… only with ice cream! Ending the night with a little scoop of heaven and a lovely view of the harbor!

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?
My partner, Keith has been a life-saver for me this past year, from helping me with post-office runs, and pop-up events, he is my rock and my right hand! My sister, Jade, is also one of my biggest fans, even though we live in different states, she is always the first to comment on my posts and shout out my accomplishments and it means the absolute world to me. Lastly, my dad– as a fellow small business owner, he is my greatest inspiration and a life-long supporter of my art. He reminds me that running my own business is possible and he always has my back!

Website: http://creativeandcaffeinatedshop.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creative.and.caffeinated.shop/