24 hours in a day, 168 hours in a week. Junior investment bankers regularly work 80-90 hours a week. Many other high profile professions require the same level of commitment.

Often those on the outside claim that working 80-90 hours a week is bad/wrong/terrible/silly/etc but we’ve spoken with so many folks who say working that much has been the best decision of their life – it allowed them to develop a deep and strong skill set far faster than would have been possible otherwise. In other words, by working 2x the hours, they were able to generate 5x or more the rewards. And depending on where you are in your career, investing heavily in your skills and competence can pay dividends for a long time.

Dr. Patti Gonzalez | Retired Chiropractor, Transformational Business Coach & Somatic Breathwork Practitioner

I have changed a lot over the last 17 years in business. When I first started in practice it was just my husband and I so it was very easy to work longer hours and pour more of myself into my business. I was working 6 days per week, 12 hour days and my husband was also working and in school at the time so we made as much time for each other as we could with the way our schedules kept us busy. As I poured into my business, more and more success came and I attended the 2012 London Olympics and work with the USA Judo players. Read more>>

Cayla Stone | Horse Trainer/Riding Instructor and Executive Director of Wild Rose Mustang Advocacy Group Inc.

Working with horses is time consuming, and physically challenging, and often my hours are specifically when it is light out! Horses still need to be fed and cared for, regardless of the weather, but some balance can be made. When I first started out, I worked sun up to sun down, rain or shine, but over the years, I’ve tried to carve out a better balance, especially once my daughter was born. I try to take some time off when weather is less than ideal, and we try to plan vacations as a family throughout the year. Read more>>

Brad Young | C I R I E I A I T I E

I think I got lucky in a way. I know that’s weird, but I fell into a great position shortly after I moved out to Colorado from Georgia. I was working in the real estate photography field as a contractor as well as two other jobs just to make it. After getting job alerts on every photography position that popped up and sending out out my resume constantly, I finally got one. Falling into that position allowed me to work in real estate photography on salary, while being able to pursue whatever else I wanted in my free time. Read more>>

Tyler Thimsen | Youtuber: Team CO.F.F

As far as work life balance goes, that has changed quite a bit since starting my youtube channel. I used to fish constantly but didn’t really care about where I went, typically fishing the same areas over and over again; week in and week out. I would get ready to fish, grab my fishing gear and tackle, head out the door to fish, and when I was done, I would just leave and that would be the end of it. Typical fishing experience for most. With the Youtube Channel, it turned into more of a planned process…Charging camera batteries, making sure I had the right filming equipment, and having an objective for the day. Read more>>

Laurie Steele | Event Videographer

I had just finished college so I was used to working in a “home office” so to speak and juggling an ever changing schedule. However, when my financial security, romantic relationship, and anxiety finally bulldozed their way into my brain that home office became everywhere I stood. Over time, through talks with friends, and advice from the internet I have finally learned tools to start to separate my work from my life and free time. Read more>>

Carla Colin Ricárdez | Program Manager of the Latino Chamber (an identity chamber) Entrepreneur and Founder and Curator of Mi Casa Azul LLC

It’s easy to lose work-life balance when you’re a person with multiple responsibilities, especially if apart from being an entrepreneur you also have a full-time job and a family. And although I did not realize this at first, I had to learn to say no to other commitments, to put my priorities on a list and most important of all to practice selfcare, I understood that if I am well I can give a better result in all those things in which I am committing myself. I don’t like not being able to give my best in any project because it makes me feel bad about myself, so I prefer to say no instead of delivering a mediocre result. Read more>>

Shemane Nugent | best-selling author, TV Host, filmmaker, wellness expert

In my twenties, thirties and forties, I was a people-pleaser. I’d do just about anything for anyone in need. As a result of rolling out the red carpet for others, however, I got walked on. My work/life balance has changed immensely over the years. When my son was growing up, I put his needs first and I’m so glad I did. But now that my son is grown, I look at self-care differently. After I got sick and nearly died from toxic mold exposure, I realized that my health had to become a priority. I make time every day to exercise – even moderately. When I’m traveling and don’t sleep well or eat healthy, it takes a toll on my body. And when you don’t feel good, you can’t help others. So, balance is everything. Read more>>

Madi Stroud | University Student and Micro-Influencer

The balance of working on my social media and containing education has truly been a journey. It’s extremely easy to stretch yourself too thin and end up not putting your best work forward. My balance has made a significant shift towards my health, getting enough sleep every night, making sure I’m eating properly, allowing myself time to recharge and enjoy hobbies. I feel as though I’ve seen my work improve when I’m making time for myself to recharge. Read more>>