Managing your workflow is one thing, but managing your time away from the office is just as important. This week we asked eight designers—Kylie K. Bass, Jamie Ivey, Jonah Kilday, Anna Kroesser, Petra McKenzie, Diane Rath, Byron Risdon and Amelia Strat—how they make time for themselves amid a busy work schedule.
Life’s a Playground
“What work-life balance? Just kidding! It’s not easy, and it was actually more of an issue before we had kids, because we really didn’t set boundaries with our clients or ourselves. We’d work until the work was done, even if that meant we logged out at midnight. However, these days our kids are number one, and being present for them—especially in the mornings and evenings—is very important to us. There was a period during Covid when the kids were remote-learning, and we were very busy. Burnout is real and was a huge wake-up call to make a change. Now our “do not disturb” [phone mode] goes on at 7 p.m. and we aren’t turning it off until after 9 a.m. because otherwise we wouldn’t get a break from it all. There are, of course, exceptions to every rule. Yes, we are often texting with contractors at 7 a.m. because that’s when they’re starting their workday, but we try very hard to work more typical hours. A while back [we read] an article about moms who work outside of the home, and the biggest takeaway was that it’s not a balance—it’s a seesaw. Some days you’ll be a rock star at work but stink as a mom, and other days you’ll get close to nothing done at work but give your kids an incredible day. We do what we can do and try to leave the mom guilt at the door!” —Anna Kroesser and Amelia Strat, Kroesser + Strat Design, New York
Out-of-Office Message
“This seems to be the oldest question in the book, and honestly most days I wonder if there even is such a thing [as work-life balance]! We’ve managed to have more balance by being strict about our ‘in office’ hours. Most of our clients have young families, so they understand how important time with them is, and though we don’t discourage texts and emails on the weekends or late at night, we do not answer them until we are back in our office hours unless it’s a real emergency (for example, a pipe has burst). I have also accepted help and hired new team members to fill particular roles when I’m spread too thin. And of course, [we uphold] the same level of respect for those office hours [with our] teammates!” —Diane Rath, The Rath Project, Fairfield, Connecticut
Customized Schedule
“One of the big drivers for starting my business was finding a better work schedule while parenting my young son. Working for larger design firms meant long uninterrupted hours on projects that weren’t very exciting, and deliverable deadlines that were unrealistic and determined by someone else. Having my own business means I can choose my clients and projects (to an extent), and I get to determine my schedule much better. … Concentrating on residential design as opposed to commercial and hospitality design has also helped with achieving a better work-life balance. In residential design, the deadlines aren’t as concrete, the turnaround time isn’t nearly as quick, and clients are much more understanding of our personal schedules.” —Jamie Ivey, Ivey Design Group, Richmond, Virginia
De-stress and Decompress
“Taking regular breaks and keeping work and home separate is key to staying refreshed and focused. Managing stress is big too—whether [that’s by] taking our dogs for a walk, hitting the gym, hot yoga, doing something creative, or reading a neglected book. Saying no sometimes, carving out time for personal stuff, checking in on your workload, and leaning on your professional network for support all help keep things in check.” —Petra McKenzie and Jonah Kilday, MK Workshop, Brooklyn and Austin
Family First
“Finding a work-life balance as an interior designer and mom can be challenging, but for me, it’s all about prioritizing my family. I do my best to never miss school events, doctor’s appointments or other important activities for my kids. This often means my work hours are a bit unconventional. On days when I’m busy with family activities, I’ll often hop back on my computer in the evening after the kids are in bed or in the morning before they wake up. I’m always honest with my clients about this—I want them to know they’re definitely a priority, and since most of my clients are moms too, they understand the struggle of finding balance within a 9-to-5 time frame. Balancing these priorities takes some flexibility, but it allows me to be fully present both at home and at work.” —Kylie K. Bass, KKB Interiors, New York
Dual Role
“I like to draw a clear line in the sand when it comes to professional and personal time. As much as the project will allow, I leave my work in the office and don’t pick it up until I return. Additionally, I attend my fair share of professional and networking events, but I also carve out time to spend with family and friends that’s totally unrelated to my work. This could be a weekend getaway, dinner at a new local restaurant, or just relaxing on the sofa of a friend’s place. This allows me to just express myself as an individual without any formality or professional etiquette.” —Byron Risdon, Byron Risdon Interior Design Studio, Washington, D.C.
