What’s the right balance between work and non-work time? The traditional 9-5 has slowly disappeared with the emails and zoom and texting going far beyond traditional business hours. We asked members of our community to share with us how they think about work-life balance.

Andy Woodward | Surf Filmmaker

My work life balance for the longest time was quite the seesaw. Before college, there was certainly more life than work. However, college initiated a work-heavy lifestyle that pushed me to the opposite end of the work life spectrum. After experiencing both sides, I slowly began teeter-tottering towards an equilibrium. The lack of balance led to frustration which fueled trail and error to find balance. Read more>>

Jaiel | Performing Artist & Entrepreneur

Balance means a lot to me – it’s funny I even have it tattooed on my right arm. It’s a concept that is constantly evolving for me, but I’ve also come to believe that evolution is the nature of balance. Much like when you’re balancing a physical scale – the more you add items on and take items away, the more the balance changes. I’ve found my life works the same way, that in any given season I’m constantly adding things on and taking things away to try to find the balance. For that reason, I think balance can be a wonderful tool. Read more>>

Jared Thompson | Painter, Trail Runner, Full time Dad, Dog Walker

I used to have a very busy career in motorsports and the performance driving industry. I left that career of over 15 years after my son Asher was born. I am now approaching four years of being a “stay at home” father and four years of being an artistic painter. My work life balance has shifted entirely towards giving as much time to my family as I can while maintaining a few hobbies and interests such as trail running and painting. Read more>>

Jay Flotte | Jay Movement Coaching: Strength Coach & Political Consultant

Work life balance: how has your balance changed over time? How do you think about the balance? In starting my business, it was an idea that came to me during the “great retirement.” Basically a year long solo retreat where I practiced balancing life over work after I had burned myself out. I quit a nonprofit job of 3 years where I was a political and community organizer. I put everything into that job, I lived and breathed it. Read more>>

Shaunna Perkins | Visual Artist

For me work life balance is like work/work. With the impact of the pandemic and inflation it has become more difficult to rely on the income that comes souly from my art work yet with all the multiple projects from POD, web design and all the hats I currently wear to make things happen. In 2019 I managed to participate in three successive exhibits with the 40W district in Lakewood but once the pandemic hit full swing, I spent more time at my “traditional” employment due to the lack of shows open, only doing one exhibit in, I believe, March. Read more>>

Leigh Romano | Esthetician

Balance is so important. You don’t always see that you are off balance. A lot of time it’s your family that notices. Then you have to make an effort and you notice when your in balance you have less stress because your making time for yourself and your family. Read more>>