The Coronavirus has given many us an opportunity to pause and think about life, our purpose, and even the right work life balance. What’s your perspective and has it changed over time?

Tracy Battaglia | Photographer, Website Designer & Small Business Consultant

In my experience work life balance is dynamic and ever changing. Much like a teeter totter, it goes through seasons of up’s and downs. Sometimes work is heavy and others life is full. Boundaries around your profession are incredibly important to avoid burnout and unhealthy patterns causing you to miss out on the joys of life. This is especially important for small business owners, as we tend to be more passionate and committed to our work. It’s hard to not overwork and put in constant never ending 80+ hour weeks that surly lead to life passing us by. Your boundaries need to work for you and your particular season of life, and your life is frequently shifting and growing hence the balance is dynamic and ever changing. A decade into my career, I have been through almost every season as an entrepreneur. Read more>>

Aaron Lopez | Singer-Songwriter & Manager

Work life balance has changed dramatically throughout the years for all of us. All four of us have families and a full time job that we attend to throughout the week. I actually am an online student at Arizona State University where I am majoring in Film and somehow find time to make music in-between school, work, and being a father of two little girls (6 & 8 yrs old). Work life balance for me is just a matter of planning what I have to get done week to week since each week is different. With our newest release “Your Bones” I was able to write a skeleton of a song with a melody and send it via email to Jacob (guitar) and Anthony (Drums) to add their flavor to it. This song was completely recorded at each-other’s homes separately. This was also the first song that I played no instruments on and only focused on my vocals that I ended up recording with the reliable local recording engineer Cory Spotts. Read more>>

Natalie Beausoleil | Artist & Graphic Designer

When I first started working for myself, I was a workaholic. I worked day and night, during meals, and on the weekend. I truthfully burned myself out and undid a lot of my progress due to unhealthy habits. Now, almost four years later, I take boundaries very seriously. I have a morning routine that includes not looking at my phone for at last 30 minutes, meditation, and time with my family. I also set a time in the afternoon that I will be finished working and do everything I can to stick to that time. When I am finished I close my computer (or iPad) and repeat the mantra, “I’ve done everything I am going to do today, I’ve done an amazing job. Everything else can wait until tomorrow.” Implementing these new habits are the deepest form of self-care, allowing myself to have time to live a life away from work as well as giving myself time to check-in and see how I am doing on a physical and mental level. Read more>>

Tyenesha Fields | Peach Cobbler Guru & Healthcare Worker

My balance between work and life changed drastically when I started my own business because I work in the medical field but I also run my business full-time so sometimes trying to balance the two it is challenging. When I first started my business I thought about picking one and sticking to it but I wouldn’t feel complete unless I’m contributing to both of my passions which is healthcare and baking. Read more>>

Bill Miller | Composer & Music Teacher

I used to have the worst work-life balance in the world. I had this nasty habit of working myself to exhaustion. While at college, I was horribly ill for 6 weeks (even infecting half the music department) because I did not allow myself to take a break to rest and recover for fear of falling behind. I would not rest until lengthy assignments were completed to almost perfection (which is both untenable and unachievable). In the classroom, I would work 70-hour weeks trying to build a school’s music program from the ground up, getting sick and leading a concert with no voice and a 103-degree fever (something a lot of music teachers probably can relate to). I would feel guilty if I took a break or slept in certain days. Some of it stems from a desire to not be like certain now-estranged members of my family, who took not working and turned it into an art form. Some of it was due to the unrealistically high standards I’d set for myself. Read more>>

Heidi Rosner | Artist

Interesting question. I, like many artists, work from a studio in my home. There is good and bad news here. Good news is that I don’t have to commute, get dressed up in nice clothing, work on someone else’s schedule or answer to anyone. My work is always available to me down the hall when I am ready to create. The bad news is: I never go home from work. It’s always there and available to me so I find myself drawn to working at all hours of the day and night. More good news: if yo u love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life! I think that balance in my life means being happy, taking time when I need to, working hard when I am inspired to and filling my life with loving supportive people that give me encouragement and unconditional love. It has taken me years to fine tune this definition. Read more>>

Mabel Cortez Mari Elena Fagre | Fabric Sourcing Agents

Balance is so important to implement as an entrepreneur; many think that being your own boss is a glamour’s idea but it’s not. There is a lot of blood, sweat and tears that goes into being your own boss. If you can start a business with a partner that you can share the responsibilities with then having a work life balance will be more manageable than being a sole proprietor. Mabel Cortez and Mari Elena Fagre owners of The Fabric Studio both have children and life can get real hectic at times, however they make it happen by being each other’s support system. As an entrepreneur it is a must to take a step back from the everyday grind and do something you enjoy other than building your business, by doing so you will come back refreshed and implement new ideas that might have not been there before. Read more>>