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.

Dinah Simpson | Meditation Guide

My work life balance has definitely changed over time. It’s a reflection too of where I was and where I am in my life right now. Read more>>

Adam De Lucia | Personal Trainer & Fitness Coach

My work life balance has dramatically changed over time especially being in the fitness business. A personal trainers daily day can consist of early AM clients, while working late with the night crowd as well. Needless to say it becomes extremely easy to “burn out” and feel unfulfilled in the industry. I discovered that if you don’t set proper boundaries with client’s you will always feel rushed and agitated. I myself recently moved to Colorado and I make sure I get out and explore the beautiful state at least once a week (usually a long hike or trail run). That may mean scarifying some income in order to keep myself happier, but in the long run it’s worth it to me. Read more>>

Jessica Van Antwerp | Wellness Coach & Retreat Leader

I used to work 90 hours/week growing my business. Waking up at 6am to start work and staying up until 1am. It. Was. Exhausting. I had no social life much less a romantic life. Even my self-care was suffering. I was subsisting on coffee for energy (however false that energy might have been), beer for relaxation, and I had even started smoking cigarettes as an excuse to get away from the never-ending to-do list for five minutes – even if I was inhaling toxic air during that break. This led me to a nervous breakdown in 2012. Read more>>

Larissa Johnson | Family + Wedding Photographer

Work life balance is incredibly important to me, not only do I balance my photography lifestyle with my personal life, I also work part time as an aesthetics nurse. I haven’t always had the easiest schedule to maintain. One year ago I was working night shift as a bedside nurse at a Denver hospital, photographing as many families, couples and weddings as I could, finishing my service with the Army Nurse Corps and fueling my social life only when it was convenient. I was starting to feel burnt out in every aspect of my life. Big changes had to be made. Read more>>

Sunniye Buesing | Massage Therapist/Esthetician & Photographer

When I started out my career 21 years ago as a massage therapist, my life was completely centered around career building. I had no work/life balance. It was really only about 6 years ago, after moving to Colorado Springs to be closer to my mother who was fighting breast cancer, that I really started to shift my perspective. Now, I am still very focused on my work when I am working, but now I am able to prioritize my time off. I started hiking about 5 years ago, and then transitioned into hiking and photography about 4 years ago. Now, instead of thinking about work when I’m not working, I am constantly planning out hikes as well as different areas around Colorado for shooting pictures. I am so much happier and healthier now that I have balance in my life. Read more>>