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.

Krystle Sangillo | Yoga Instructor & Copywriter

Everything changed at the start of the pandemic. We were all thrust into a scenario we couldn’t control, and at first it was scary. Yoga studios were closed temporarily. Classes were being taught online. My daughter could no longer attend school in person. For a while, I – like many other people – was in survival mode. Finding work/life balance in the new normal took some trial and error. Ultimately I learned to say “no” more in order to prioritize my well being and physical health. These days I’m running around less and teaching fewer public classes, but focusing more on creating more meaningful experiences for and deeper connections with my students. My daughter always comes first, and my primary focus over the last year has been on ensuring she feels safe, cared for, and loved, no matter what is happening in the outside world. If I consider being her mom my most important job. Read more>>

Hannah Hughes | Author & Coach

I’ve always enjoyed working. I’m very driven, ambitious, and goal-oriented. (Part of the reason I was able to write and publish two books before the age of 22.) When there’s a task at hand, I won’t stop until I see it through. It wasn’t until recent years that I realized my life was revolving around work. I didn’t notice that I was setting myself up for burnout, and honestly, depending too much on my achievements for my sense of worth. After I had my son in 2019, and then the events of 2020, I was forced to slow down. At first, I was frustrated by the inconvenience. I wanted to keep plowing ahead and I kept adding things to my plate to make myself feel like I was being “productive.” In the end, I was just exhausted. For me, it took getting to a place of burnout to realize my life was moving in a direction I never meant for it to. I took inventory of my life and noticed I was neglecting things like family, rest, even my own health. And especially now that I’m a mom, I knew something had to change. I realized that if I’m building a life based on “hustle,” then it would take hustling to maintain it. Read more>>

Rani Alfers | Insurance Agency Owner, Podcast Host

My work life balance has changed over time and even more so since 2020 introduced a remote environment with tremendous disruption. Everything changed so quickly that it was all one, yet missing many of my favorite parts (like travel) I have finally accepted that I work in spurts, sprints and walks. Understanding how you work most efficiently and designing life around your personal style is where the magic happens. To me balance is more of a recognition of what I want to prioritize and less about doing it all. Personally I prefer magic over balance. Read more>>

Lizi Gregory | Mary Kay Independent Sales Director

I’ve always felt that balance is an illusive thing. So often we are trying to “balance” all aspects of our life, but I have always felt more exhausted when I am trying to balance everything! I find “balance” by defining my priorities and living my life according to those principles! Instead of seeking balance, I live according to my priorities and my principles. Mary Kay Ash always believed in putting faith first, family second and career third. I’ve found that when I put these things in that order, I feel more fulfilled. I don’t feel guilty when I’m spending time with my family, and I don’t feel guilty when I’m working my business, because I’ve aligned my life and my schedule with these priorities. Having a life outside of my career is just as important to me as actually having a career. I love that my life and my business are centered around my priorities. That is what makes my life feel “balanced”. Read more>>

Kalish Nesbitt | Certified Director of Operations

I believe that creating a positive work-life balance is one of the most important and beneficial aspects for any entrepreneur. When I started thinking about how I could best support myself, my clients, my business, and my personal life, I realized that I needed to clarify what my priorities were for each. I have found that starting each day with something that fills my own cup has enabled me to better pour into the cups of my clients. For example, upon waking up, I take time for both mental and physical wellness- reading a chapter of a book, listening to a podcast episode, flowing through a yoga session, or spending time at the gym helps me get my mind and body ready for the day ahead. I also think it’s important to create space for yourself and your work. For me, this looks like getting myself ready for the day, grabbing my coffee, and heading into my office space so that I stay feeling physically present in my work. Boundaries are important, so I try to stick to them by implementing a solid schedule that defines when I work internally on my administration and externally with client experiences. Read more>>

Monica Minshew Cowsert | Artist

Who remembers the (holy crap – it is called vintage)Weeble Wobble toys? They came out in the early 70’s and would famously Weeble and Wobble, but not fall down. We need to embrace the lack of balance often in life. Every day if you really think about it. Humans are bilaterally symmetrical. We have an innate pull to seek balance and equilibrium and artists do the same. A balanced work gives a composition that is evenly distributed and gives a certain stability that is pleasing to the eye. As in life, when we create an unbalanced piece it creates a certain tension. Life happens and it is not if, but when will difficult things come. These things may just be the smalls of every day, or may be life changers. And in these times we have a choice.As an artist I have to choose to paint and choose to push creativity at times when maybe I just don’t feel it. I think sometimes to embrace the unbalance of life might just be the right choice. Read more>>