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.

Laura Collins | Launch Consultant + Creative Director

First, I’m going to let you in on a little secret… If you’re struggling to figure out how to manage a work-life balance, I’ve been there, too. I know what it’s like to stretch yourself thin, working crazy hours just to make your dream come true, or even simply make ends meet. For years, I sacrificed my personal life, and worked four jobs at once, all to get closer to my big vision. Read more>>

Lauren Lanoue | Writer, Teacher, Stay-at-Home Mom

When I think of work-life balance, I think of the ratio of work to play or rest. I used to think that in order to rest, I had to do a certain amount of work. Rest was like a reward for having done the work or having checked off a to-do list item. But to be honest, I didn’t rest after checking off the one item. I felt that I could only celebrate with rest by completing the whole to-do list which is never actually done. Read more>>

Danaya Wilson | CEO & Co-Founder Disrupting the Environmental Hazard Industry

When I started CHC Training, my work life balance took a rear seat as I was working another job full time and then bootstrapping for my startup evenings, weekends, and holidays. Once I was able to get further along and the company began to grow, I was able to hire team members that aided in covering the added work that was keeping me from spending time away from work. It took a few years, but the grind was certainly worth it. Read more>>

Cassie Rajewich | Sales Strategist & Financial Planner

As a working mom operating my business from home with three little ones in tow, I’ve come to the conclusion there is no such thing as work-life balance. And I often wonder if it’s got to be one of the most overrated ideas sold to working women raising a family. When I began to operate from a place of rhythms I was better able to adjust how and when I showed up for those I love. Growing a family and a business has its own natural patterns and when I stopped interjecting my deadlines (within reason of course) the internal grind to keep everything up and running constantly, shifted. Read more>>

Lindsay Ludlow and Tom Ludlow N/A | Tend Studio Co-Founders

Being married as well as business partners, the work/ life balance is definitely a challenge. Before we were in business together, we both enjoyed hearing about each other’s jobs, helping one another troubleshoot challenges, and laughing together about funny things that had happened throughout our work days. Now that we work so closely together, though, Tom as Creative Director, and Lindsay as Director of Operations for Tend Studio, we have to be careful to create boundaries between our work and home lives. Read more>>

Julie Soukup | VP of Sales of Medical Memory, Podcast Host, Writer

When I started working, I was young, single, and definitely was known to have more energy than your average person. I flew weekly to different offices for consulting and training. Doing so, I learned how other doctors and consultants faced the same challenge in their practice, as well as their perspectives on work. I had all the time in the world, and I took this time to learn, ask questions, network, and grow. I did anything asked with intention, energy, and passion. 70 hours was normal but inspired work. I loved it. Read more>>

Atiba! The Rocky Mountain Dragon | Pro Wrestler

The balance that you have to bring to pro wrestling and your life is a hard one. At the current stage I’m at for my wrestling career, it is hard to balance all the things I have to do for wrestling! You have to go train, study film, eat well, go to the gym, and character study! And the shows as well! Unlike some school program, the individual has to keep themself accountable for all of that; on top of their own personal stuff. Read more>>

Wanda Valles | Pyrography (wood burning) artist & Painter

Work life balance is tricky. At times I think I would love it if my art business was my full time focus, and other times I think it would take the love for it that I have out of it. I am a full time bartender aside from this and I find it is hard to find a balance between work and art related projects. Over time, as I have put more energy into my art and it has grown in priority, I have had to learn ways to manage my time better. Read more>>

Carolyn Powers | Artist, Designer, and Photographer

I’ve always been a worker bee. Being busy and working hard is part of my dna, but it can also have a hugely negative effect on my life. Owning my own business means that I do everything. Literally everything. From concept to design, production to photography, social media, inventory, billing, accounting, customer relations….it’s a heavy load. I think it’s what kicks a lot of incredible creatives out of the game…it’s almost taken me down than once. Read more>>

April & Ken Pishna | Living a Stout Life Creators – Craft Beer Travelers and Adventurers

Like most couples with a family in Colorado, we worked full time jobs, raised our kids, took them to soccer practice, band practice, etc., took vacations, went camping and snowboarding on the weekends. We lived a good life, but the balance was always off. Weekdays were exhausting. I was a teacher, so my 9 to 5 job was definitely not that. Ken was an editor for a news website, so once again that 9 to 5 job was much more than that. When we were done for the day, there was just enough time to fix dinner and watch TV before going to bed before doing it all over again the next day. Read more>>

Dat Gurl Secrete | Musical Artist & Entrepreneur

As a business owner, it is imperative that you develop a healthy work/life balance if you truly want to be successful and happy. Finding an optimal balance between self-care, family time, and work life can be a challenge. I’ve found that as long as I focus on making time for myself to rejuvenate and recharge, there is no limit to my ability to create and be innovative in the business realm. I’ve also found that finding a way to help give back to others that are less fortunate than yourself can also provide a positive balance in life by shifting your focus and energy into a different form of “work” or productivity through community outreach. Read more>>

Kayla Beckmann Barnhart | Owner, CEO Small Fox Media

Work life balance is something I’ve valued since the beginning of my career. From the beginning I knew I wanted to leverage the skills I had and connections I had made to create a career that I felt in control of. Even early in my career I couldn’t wrap my head around being forced to sit at a desk from 9am-5pm and just be busy for the sake of being busy. It seemed arbitrary, wasteful, and not conducive to creativity. Additionally, being a woman, I knew I wanted a family one day and wanted Read more>>