HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WORK-LIFE BALANCE?
I followed a career in a field I might have chosen as a hobby so there can be confusion between what constitutes work and leisure. But I have learned to enjoy humdrum things, and I think that’s the trick: you have to choose whether your professional or your personal life is going to be the high-octane one, and make sure the other is more low-key and restorative.
Penny Martin, editor-in-chief of The Gentlewoman
I maintain a healthy work life balance by not being afraid to let my job overlap with my life. I come from an artistic, entrepreneurial family. They are my biggest inspiration. Growing up in a family business taught me that work was part of life, and that it could be a source of energy, not a draining bore. Those borders were always blurred. Today, I work with several of my dearest friends, as well as my husband, and having a familial feel in the office is something that I love, and part of what makes R29 such a joyful place to work for me. To me, it’s important to have gratitude and recognize the many amazing opportunities and people that surround me. I also really believe in carving out space for myself daily, whether that’s listening to an inspiring podcast on my commute, taking small vacations tacked on to work trips, or simply taking the time to make breakfast in the morning. If you’re go go go all the time, it’s hard to have perspective.
Piera Gelardi, executive creative director and co-founder at Refinery29
When I get home after a day in the studio, I leave my phone downstairs and give my son a bath and put him to bed without interruption. When he was first born I was trying to do emails while taking care of him, and I wasn’t doing well at either job. The same goes for holidays – I’ve stopped taking my laptop so I don’t feel tempted to open it up and play with work files. Being a freelance creative, it’s easy to allow whatever your current project is to take over all aspects of your life – but actually when you look back on the important moments of the last five years, you won’t remember that online film or whatever it was that seemed so important to you at the time.
Quentin Jones, illustrator and filmmaker
I work out three or four times a week, and it makes me feel so much better. You need to do something that makes you not think about work for a bit, and exercise really helps. If you don’t spend time away from work you’ll never get the perspective you need to make really good decisions.
Serena Guen, founder and CEO of SUITCASE Magazine
I try to have one day at the weekend that’s a phone-free zone. It’s important to be connected but it’s equally important to be present in the moment, and remember that you’re no good to anyone if you’re spread too thin and trying to do a zillion things at once.
Victoria Spratt, journalist
A constant battle for us all, I’ve learned to manage myself not as an inexhaustible resource but as a finely tuned being, and to say ‘I’m sorry but I can’t fit that in this week’. There is the temptation to think that because we have been asked, that we are therefore the only person who can do something. Not true. I let some projects or opportunities go in the knowledge that I am not a cog in a wheel, but a creative who needs space. Relationships with loved ones have also helped enormously to remind me of the importance of being, rather than doing.
Caryn Franklin MBE, fashion commentator and agent of change
Evenings and weekends are sacrosanct – I keep them completely work-free. I could – and have – worked every hour available, and it’s possible to do that and still produce great work, but it’s at the cost of the rest of your life. Having my little boy has been the best perspective check I’ve had.
Anna Jones, cook, stylist and writer
Time blocking helps me differentiate when I’m on the clock, and when I’m ‘off’ – I only just learned how to do that. Also, there is no such thing as ‘no time’ when it comes to self-care. You have to make the time, because your happiness radiates from you, to clients and employees alike. Finally: defer replying to one email a day and, instead, use that time to write a few lines to a friend. Friendships are something that can really take a hit when work becomes your number one, but business is lonely, and even more so when you let the people who really know and love you slip away.
Missy Flynn, restaurateur
I’ve always made sure I have friends who do things outside of fashion. They don’t care about the new collections or about a designer leaving a house and I need that! I couldn’t and wouldn’t be well rounded without having all the wine-filled dinners about politics, culture and our personal lives that we do. As much as working and achieving your goals is an amazing and gratifying feeling, work is just one facet of this big bowl of confusion we call life, and you need to have joys and pleasures outside of it. Cultivate a hobby to occupy your mind when you’re not at work, and remember to enjoy life in and out of the office.
Lynette Nylander, writer, editor and creative consultant
I focus quite narrowly on what really matters to me and how I want to spend my time.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, writer
My new thing since going freelance, is to take a walk each day and call a friend.
Pandora Sykes, journalist and stylist
By sticking to social plans made in advance, so I have to leave the office at a reasonable hour.
Alicia Lawson, director of Rubies in the Rubble
Nothing is ever that deep that you can’t turn your phone off for a couple of hours. The end.
Jo Fuertes-Knight, journalist
WHAT DAY-TO-DAY ESSENTIALS DO YOU RELY ON?
Yoga and breathing to a musical soundtrack of birds and waterfalls first thing; clothes that make me feel great because I’m comfortable and I look the part; a power perfume (currently Portrait of a Lady by Frédéric Malle); and a hard-copy diary and notebook because I love writing things down, making lists and crossing things off – not to mention doodling when I’m on the phone. I stretch my body or move it when I can. I play music – fast for a deadline and slow for creativity. Oh, and when I’m working from home I talk to myself … a lot.
Caryn Franklin MBE, fashion commentator and agent of change
Yoga, or some form of exercise. An alarm clock radio, not the alarm on my phone. Mascara. An actual calculator. Kiehl’s Cactus Flower Hydrating Mist, for when I’m stuck inside but want to freshen up and feel close to nature.
Missy Flynn, restaurateur
A creative sounding board. I have a handful of people I use as a sounding board for big decisions. They include a film producer (who happens to be my sister), another cook, a writer and my husband. They are people who know me inside out, and have no interests in my business – but they love and know me well enough to tell me the (sometimes ugly) truth.
Anna Jones, cook, stylist and writer
Coffee and a tight deadline.
Francesca Allen, photographer
My day-to-day essentials are a morning cup of coffee, making breakfast at home, and getting in a good workout at least 3 days a week. I also rely on laughter and the power of bringing play into my every day – the best brainstorms are accompanied by fits of hysterical giggles. I really believe in the magic of humour and openness in the creative process.
Piera Gelardi, executive creative director and co-founder at Refinery29
Lip balm. The voices and wisdom and love of my family and friends.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, writer
A huge Mac desktop (my luxury), chewing gum, my Bailey and Nelson glasses and, if possible, an oily bath every single day – if only for 5 minutes.
Pandora Sykes, journalist and stylist
Reading and radio for mental rest; postcard writing to inject a bit of random altruism into a work-oriented day; taxi travel when my schedule gets a bit overloaded and I need a break; television for escapism; diary writing to stay in touch with my inner dialogue.
Penny Martin, editor-in-chief of The Gentlewoman
Sleep. Seriously. I want to say something romantic and tangible like a noteboo
k containing my thoughts and feelings, but I’d be lying. There is nothing heroic or productive about depriving yourself of valuable bedtime.
Jo Fuertes-Knight, journalist
A clean and tidy wardrobe, so it’s easy for me to choose what to wear in the morning. A nice fragrance, because smelling good puts me in a good mood. My glasses, because I can’t really see shit without them, especially when I’m working. And a good candle for when I get back home in the evening – Cire Trudon make my favourites.
Lynette Nylander, writer, editor and creative consultant
Fast broadband and a good ol’-fashioned notepad.
Alicia Lawson, director of Rubies in the Rubble
My phone, Google Calendar and the Adobe Creative programs. I also need a cup of coffee each morning (followed by every type of tea throughout the day), a scalpel, black ink pens, my bike to get around and yoga classes a few times a week to balance things out.
Quentin Jones, illustrator and filmmaker
Elizabeth Arden. Good books. A Muji 0.38 navy pen. A Moleskine. Coffee. Coconut oil.
Nellie Eden, co-founder of Babyface
WHAT MAXIMS DO YOU LIVE OR WORK BY?
Don’t drink the pickle juice. There’s an interview with Nicki Minaj where she talks about being ‘bossed up’ and standing up for herself, saying: ‘If I had accepted the pickle juice, I would be drinking pickle juice right now.’ An old colleague and I turned that into our mantra. Every time we went into a meeting where we knew people were going to try to walk all over us, we’d whisper, ‘don’t drink the pickle juice’ to each other. Personally, I found it very helpful.
Zing Tsjeng, journalist and Broadly editor
Nobody died. My mum’s an NHS nurse so any time I call her with work-related histrionics she’s like, ‘Okay, but did anyone die?’ That looks awful written down, but it’s been a surprisingly effective mantra for forcing me to be pragmatic and solution-driven with my work.
Jo Fuertes-Knight, journalist
Go big or go home! Only in terms of work, though – I’m in bed by ten every night.
Linsey Young, curator at Tate Britain
Don’t work for free, and don’t sell out without getting paid. Don’t take crap from anyone, and don’t let people make you feel bad or awkward.
Francesca Allen, photographer
If you don’t ask you don’t get. Most of the breaks I’ve had in my career have come from contacting people I respect to tell them how much I rate them, and asking if there are any opportunities to learn from them.
Anna Jones, cook, stylist and writer
Question everything.
Serena Guen, founder and CEO of SUITCASE Magazine
Work hard, play hard. My dad told me that was how he lived when I was a teenager, and from then on I’ve tried to follow in his path.
Quentin Jones, illustrator and filmmaker
You’re only as good as your team.
Missy Flynn, restaurateur
I really like the idea of being the one to make the change. So, if it’s not the normal way to do things, then be the one to change it up. Anything done well is legitimised by its success.
Pandora Sykes, journalist and stylist
What is for you, won’t go by you.
Lynette Nylander, writer, editor and creative consultant
Spread the joy and be open to joy. I like people, and I try to get the best out of them by being as warm and supportive as I can – but I’ve learned the hard way that I’m not superwoman, and that I can’t be all things to all people or save a situation when it’s broken. I’ve stopped suppressing my inner voice, which for the most part is trying to help me by saying what needs to be said. I’m still learning to say what needs to be said with grace and humility, which is really hard when I feel very challenged, but I feel there is better progress when there is a higher level of emotional exchange.
Caryn Franklin MBE, fashion commentator and agent of change
Ask, ask, and ask again.
Lana Elie, founder and CEO of Floom
My motto is ‘forever forward’ which is all about always moving forward, forgiving yourself for mistakes, and being a proud work in progress … recognising that you have to put in the work in order to progress.
Piera Gelardi, executive creative director and co-founder at Refinery29
If you talk about doing something three times – do it.
Nellie Eden, co-founder of Babyface
Never admire quietly. Never disapprove quietly. Above all else, be true.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, writer
Appendix
EVERYDAY RESOURCES
THINGS TO READ
The Artist’s Way | Julia Cameron
Originator of the morning pages ritual, this long-time classic on unlocking your creativity at times comes across as a little ‘out there’, but put your cynicism aside because, to be blunt, it works.
Fail Better | Zadie Smith
What makes a good writer? Words from one of the best.
Getting to Yes | Roger Fisher
A guide to negotiating, this best-selling classic offers simple but effective advice that can be applied to every aspect of your working life.
How to Find Fulfilling Work | Roman Krznaric
The School of Life book series is packed with good ideas for everyday living, and this is a particular highlight, full of practical thought exercises to help you get closer to a career you enjoy. You’ll return to it time and time again.
Proposals for the Feminine Economy | Jennifer Armbrust
Business adviser Armbrust’s thought-provoking model of how we can build alternative systems of working is something that all aspiring entrepreneurs should familiarize themselves with.
Quit Early and Quit Often | Prof. Deepak Malhotra
Unconventional career advice from a speech to graduating Harvard MBA students.
Shine Theory: Why Powerful Women Make the Greatest Friends | Ann Friedman
This powerful essay is something of a feminist rallying cry, and a reminder that (despite what society would have us think) other women are not your competition. Don’t be duped – a rising tide lifts all boats.
The War of Art | Steven Pressfield
In a nutshell: how to push past creative block and get shit done.
WEBSITES TO BROWSE
Ask Polly | nymag.com
Heather Havrilesky’s weekly agony aunt column for The Cut contains some of the most breathtakingly perceptive advice you’ll ever read, for life inside and outside the office. Once you’ve worked your way through the online archives, check out her book How to Be a Person in the World for more.
Brain Pickings | brainpickings.org
An inventory of intellectual musings that draws inspiration from every corner of literature, this website is perfect for when you need new ways of looking at things.
The Dots | the-dots.com
A UK-based creative jobs board full of the kind of jobs you actually want! If you’re on the hunt for a new job, don’t sleep on this.
Fast Company | fastcompany.com
Stay up to date with the latest developments in business, creativity and tech – if startups are your thing, this is the place to be.
The Financial Diet | thefinancialdiet.com
A treasure trove of money advice that covers the personal finance side of things brilliantly. Warning: contains some serious real talk.
Harvard Business Review | hbr.org
Who says you need a fancy degree to start a business? Head to the HBR to pick up all the management, leadership, and, of course, business guidance you need, and get yourself an MBA on the cheap.
Women Who | womenwho.co
A platform for creative working women, consider this your go-to for career advice, fresh ideas and practical insights from cool, creative women who’ve ‘been there’.
USEFUL TOOLS
Arena | Are.na
This beautifully designed website is great for collaborative projects where you’re
working in a team and want to share all of your references – be they images, files or links – in one place.
Evernote | evernote.com
This app allows you to collect and store all your ideas in one place, and sync them across your phone and computer. Less time getting organized = more time getting shit done.
Hunter | hunter.io
Need to get in touch with someone very busy and important but don’t have their email address? Try this ingenious website for all your cold-emailing needs.
Moo | moo.com
Every mogul-in-the-making needs some professional-looking business cards. Get yours (and much more) at reasonable prices from this online stationery emporium.
Squarespace | squarespace.com
Probably the best website-building tool out there if you’re in the market to launch a new business – not only does it look the part, it also makes setting up an online shop a breeze.
PLACES TO WORK: UK
Ace Hotel | London
The dedicated workspace in the London outpost’s lobby is hugely popular with the freelance crowd, so get there early to bag yourself a seat at the communal long table – otherwise you’ll have to settle for one of the (admittedly, very comfortable) sofas.
Barbican Centre | London
Dotted with comfy sofas, many of which are tucked away off the beaten track. Comes with free Wi-Fi and an in-house café serving drinks and snacks – what’s not to love?
British Library Business and IP Centre National Network | UK-wide
Besides the ample study space available at its King’s Cross location in London, the British Library also operates centres in Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham, Newcastle and Manchester, providing free resources and advice for budding entrepreneurs.
Central Library | Manchester
Whether you opt for the ground-floor seating area or settle down in the gorgeous domed Reading Room, you’ll find peace and quiet aplenty in this recently refurbished Manchester icon. It also comes equipped with an on-site café for your caffeine needs.
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