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.

Brianna Tucker | Photographer & Twisted X Marketing Coordinator

When I started my photography business I was still in college, so I was balancing shoots, involvement on campus, classes, as well as, 2 other jobs and a social life. Balance is definitely something that has come with time management. Now, I work full-time as the Marketing Coordinator and photographer for Twisted X, as well as, still running my photography business. It is important to not only work hard and be ambitious, but to not over work yourself or miss out on life. When I have nothing to do, I am working. Read more>>

Dolores Williams | Cake Artist and Baker

I started my cake business when my four children were very young. What started as a form of creative expression and love of baking for my children, quickly turned into a business. I joined up with other Texas bakers a few years later and became part of the movement to legalize home bakeries in our State. The Texas Cottage Food law was passed in 2011, and I went full force after that. I was able to stay home with my family, while also doing what I loved. Finding the balance was extremely difficult the first several years. Read more>>

Madison Hardy | Lash Extension Artist

So since stopping working for someone else and starting my own business, work life balance has been a major topic of conversation with the people most important to me. I’ve honestly majorly struggled with it and would say I really don’t even have a work life balance, it’s just work! However, as I near my one year in business mark (ahhh so cool & exciting! One year happened FAST) I have been able to draw some good boundaries, allowing me more of a work life balance. I made the choice very recently to stop responding to DMs and texts regarding work, once I am outside of my business hours. Read more>>

Monet Richardson | Multi-talented Jewelry Boutique Owner & Photographer

Balance is vital. Balance to me, is the key to being sane. If i’m on my phone too much in one day, not focusing on God, my businesses, school, or family I feel horrible and drained. Overtime i’ve learned that i’m not missing anything online. It’s not important to keep up with everything & everyone 24/7, although it can be addicting, i’ve cut back. I’ve began spending time on what truly matters. Everyday is its own & balance isn’t always easy, but it is necessary for your future, your success & your sanity. So put your phone down & get to work! Read more>>

Catherine Harvey | Interior & Graphic Designer

Let me start by saying, there is no such thing as work life balance. For me, it’s more of a work/life rhythm. I made a commitment years ago to be content in the seasons of business and the seasons of rest. If the work aspect of my life was always busy, that would mean consistent income and many hours working. It would also mean less family time, less homemade dinners and outings with friends. The opposite is true too. A busy family season means less time for work and therefore less income. The temptation for me was to make it all work out, be even across the board and balance everything so money flowed evenly and my time was spread out among my commitments- but that never quite seemed to work out. So for me, I pray for my business and I ask God to bring me the clients I need and the jobs I need during that season. Read more>>

Chinggay Labrador | Freelance writer and tarot reader / deck creator

I’ve noticed that I thrive when my work is related to something I’m interested in. My first job was in publishing (I worked editorial in magazines). It didn’t pay a lot, but I loved the field, made so many close friends in the industry, and found a way to make my budget work. Over time, I took on other types of work… and after many years, I realized that every time I took on projects that were more for the money and less for the enjoyment it brought me (regardless of work difficulty or challenges), I either got physically sick, felt mentally and emotionally distraught, or had my relationships impacted in a negative way. Because of these experiences, I’ve learned not to draw a distinct line between work and life—I believe they should complement each other. My life informs my work and my work informs my life. With this set-up, striking a “balance” between the two becomes less contrived and comes so much more naturally to me. Read more>>