Our community is filled with hard-working, high achieving entrepreneurs and creatives and so work-life balance is a complicated, but highly relevant topic. We’ve shared some responses from the community about work life balance and how their views have evolved over time below.

Samantha Lawrence | Holistic Life/Business Coach and Yoga Instructor

My definition of balance has changed over time, because I have changed over time. I used to think that balance was this magical thing you could create when you gave equal energy to work and life. However, I’ve realized that balance is a lifestyle and a state of being, and it can be created on your own terms. When I became a Mom, I felt like I was neglecting my kids if I was working too much, and neglecting my dreams and career if I was prioritizing my kids. To me, it is much more about the integration of worlds instead of perfect balance. Rather than trying to even out the scales of responsibilities, I prioritized creating routines and rituals based off of my values so that I could show up in all categories of my life. Read more>>

Lydia Stern | Photographer

Work-life balance has not always been easy for me. As perhaps many other entrepreneurs have started out their careers, I had two full-time jobs at once at the beginning of mine. I was working for the local newspaper and building my portfolio along the way. Freelance work just kept coming to me, until eventually, I was burning out on all fronts. I had to take a step back and ask for fewer hours as a photojournalist since I was really enjoying the freelance work. I let it happen organically, though, and I never forced the timing. When I started to feel overworked and tired all the time, I knew it was time to reassess my priorities. Having free time, FUN time, adventurous time, is at the top of my list. And doing more freelance work was allowing me to fulfill my goals of having a schedule on MY time. Read more>>

Jen Kates | Online Health and Performance Coach

I believe less in there being a “balance” between work and life, and more that it’s an integration of work and life. I think there is less of a possibility in finding a perfect balance in your life and work because balance doesn’t really exist. If you want to achieve something, there is going to be a level of sacrifice, and when there is a level of sacrifice, then true balance doesn’t exist since you need to skew your attention towards the thing you want to achieve. However, if there is a level of integration between work and life, then you’re better able to make the time for what fills you up in your life in addition to the work that you do. Integration, to me, looks like greater focus while you’re working by paying more attention to the task at hand. Then, when you are spending time with family or on yourself, you are focusing on exactly what you’re doing in that given moment (and not checking work email or work tasks). Is this easy? No. Is it simple? Yes! Read more>>

Meg Hennessy | Owner at Love and Light Reiki and Yoga, Yoga instructor, Reiki Master, Sound Healing

Having a work/life balance is imperative for me to function as an entrepreneur. It is so easy to get swept up in the “doing”. Doing = more business and business = more money, right? This is not always the case. It was a huge lesson for me to learn. Starting off my business, I was obsessed with getting more clients. I put a lot of pressure on myself to “do” that I tended to lose sight of what really mattered: my happiness. I found it to be a chore at times to get into the office. Once I was there, everything seemed to flow magically; however, not having a plan on how I was going to manage my work, my fitness, teaching my yoga classes, spending time with friends, hiking with my puppy, and most importantly- spending time with myself took a huge toll on my mental health. I soon became overworked and ungrounded. I became very anxious and as a result, made poor decisions across many areas of my life. Read more>>

Bryce A. Denton | Owner, Moun10 Partners

Overall, I have more of a life work balance, than a work life balance – but it comes with some tradeoffs. During busier times of year or when a client has an emergency, my life is not my own. I often get commentary from friends and family that they wonder when I work, but they are basing that off of social media posts of amazing morning summits, etc – as no one posts about waking up at 5 am for calls with colleagues in Asia. But the reality of my life is that I schedule my work around the activities I love and adventures I plan. Having a healthy balance between the activities I love and the work I do has created a healthier lifestyle for me, and that reflects in my work product as well. Creating a life I love and a schedule that works best for me not only creates a more enjoyable life work balance, but absolutely contributes to a stronger work product, company and environment. Read more>>

Zac Fabian | Videographer & Business Owner

The work-life balance, simply put, is important. However, It’s not something that is easy to develop. I can speak from my own experience with a home office and working from home often. For one, I find myself spending too much time on the computer. Most days to continue operating and meet deadlines, I must focus on my never-ending to-do list. If it was as easy as finishing one list then being done, perhaps it wouldn’t be so difficult. The constant demand of my time and focus to address each item as it comes up in a timely and professional manner is draining. Everyone I am sure knows how long emails can take to respond. Not to mention, for me, sifting through all the video footage, making the edits, and delivering outstanding products each time. I remember at one point my office was in my room and I would wake up, and there was the computer. Having my office be in a separate space was an important transition. Read more>>