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.

Mia McLeod | Broker Owner, Mom, Wife and Friend

From starting at the age of 22, single and without kids, work life balance has definitely changed over time. In the beginning of my career, it was pretty heavily weighted on work, and growing by purely hitting the numbers of closings. When I got married, it was balancing time with my spouse, traveling and working to grow the business. Now with two children, it’s the juggle of spending as much quality time with them, putting boundaries around work and protecting family time, while still working to grow the business with the help of my team at the office. Read more>>

Dimple Ailsinghani | Chartered accountant and travel content creator

“Everyone is given 24 hours in a day, and it’s up to you how you want to spend it.” For me, this always meant Balance. It’s an easy math to do but very difficult to follow through. Within the set time, 1/3 of it goes in chasing our dreams and the other 1/3 goes in the well-deserved rest your body needs. Of the rest 8 hours, it is important to prioritise what you want to do that makes you happy. Read more>>

Yannell Selman | CEO & Co-Founder, Cultiveit

I founded Cultiveit after experiencing extreme burnout multiple times throughout my career. I went to grad school at UC Berkeley to learn more about the issue, and what I found surprised me. There’s a big gap between what the research says about work-life balance and the workplace practices I experienced in the workforce. I learned that burnout is the instance when your job tasks outpace the resources (especially cognitive & emotional resources) to complete those tasks. Read more>>

Brook Barney | Integrative Nutrition Health Coach

For years, I thought I was balancing life while holding a high-level corporate position, raising kids, and managing the household while maintaining a moderate level of health. This wasn’t actually a balanced life, but surviving rather than thriving. I felt like I was playing that whack-o-mole game and just barely keeping my head above water in all areas. This way of life led to burnout, distant relationships, jeopardized health, and emptiness as I was giving to all areas of life except truly filling my cup first. Read more>>

Nina Rossiello | Travel Writer at Nomadic Neen & Co-Owner of Tawk of New Yawk

Work life balance is absolutely vital. Right out of college, I started working in public accounting, which is A LOT of hours and A LOT of stress. I was working constantly, even at home. I didn’t have a work life balance because work was my life. Then I decided to take a two week vacation to Europe. I came back from that trip and quit my job within a month. When finding a new job my first question was always “how do you find the work life balance here?”. Read more>>

Yadira Torralba | Hair Stylist & Small Business Owner

Hi There, Thank you for the feature and for the shoutout to local businesses! I’m all about having tons of fun at work, as well as having outside work! I currently work 3 to 4 days at the studio, that includes answering requests, scheduling clients, ordering supplies, taking classes, keeping track of expenses and working behind the chair. As well as trying to keep up with social media, lol as this is also a full time job that has given me soo many new clients! Read more>>