Careers in acting, stage and screen generally don’t lend themselves to conventional or regular working patterns, so finding balance requires prioritisastion, as described by full-time costume designed Sheara in her story Sheara’s Story – Behind the Movie Scenes: A Tale of Full-Time Working Motherhood. Sarah, a former actor, turned performing arts school owner and teacher, described the priorities that she chose in the Work-Life Balance Profile article: Sarah’s Story – Motherhood and the Mental Load: marriage, self-employment and primary care-giving. Sarah was also a guest of the podcast, which you can listen to here.
Acting, stage and screen (and I’d include podcasting in this list too) is an occupation that many take up as a hobby, and one that provides a sense of balance to those whose day job is a far cry from those creative platforms. Julia touched on this in her Work-Life Balance Profile article, describing the joy that commiting to singing with a choir brings to her life: Finding Balance by Using Time Wisely: Julia’s Story – on Time Management, Choosing Jobs that “Matter” & Advocating for Improved Flexible Working Rights. Soli made a similar point in her story, “Sunny-Side Up, Please”: Self-Care for Caring Professionals, Finding Balance in Mid-Life & Staying Positive When the Course of Motherhood Doesn’t Run Smooth and the related podcast.
The old adage about life imitating art is one that crops up again and again, heeding messages about how people choose to spend their time and how greatness comes to those willing to do what it takes to strive for their ambitions.
You can follow the links below to read more.
- Sheara’s Story – Behind the Movie Scenes: A Tale of Full-Time Working Motherhood
Work-Life Balance Profile #2 – Sheara Abrahams Why is it that when discussing careers with full-time working mothers, invariably the conversation turns to childcare arrangements and relationship dynamics? Is it just me or are these topics slower to come up in similar conversations with full-time working men? My impression is that however much progress hasContinue reading “Sheara’s Story – Behind the Movie Scenes: A Tale of Full-Time Working Motherhood” - Treat ’em Mean, Keep ’em Keen
Any fans of Back to the Future will be familiar with Michael J Fox’s character Marty McFly’s reaction when asked, “Are you chicken?”. For those who have not experienced the cinematic genius of Robert Zemeckis’ epic trilogy, think red rag to a bull. Throughout the various timelines of Marty’s life, upon hearing those words, hisContinue reading “Treat ’em Mean, Keep ’em Keen” - Sarah’s Story – Motherhood and the Mental Load: marriage, self-employment and primary care-givingWork-Life Balance Profile #5 – Sarah Macmull Caitlin Moran paints a brilliant portrait of the “many lives” of the working mother, where “the wife, the employee, the mother and the housekeeper all take it in shifts”. The “niggle”, she points out, “is that they all happen at once”. This came to mind when I wasContinue reading “Sarah’s Story – Motherhood and the Mental Load: marriage, self-employment and primary care-giving”
- Soli’s Story – “Sunny-Side Up, Please”: Self-Care for Caring Professionals, Finding Balance in Mid-Life & Staying Positive When the Course of Motherhood Doesn’t Run Smooth
Work-Life Balance Profile #7 – Soli Lazarus I grew up in a family of teachers; my late grandfather was a retired Headmaster, my mum was a primary school teacher, and my brother undertook his teacher training qualification while we were both still living at home. So I know first hand how much work, and role modelling, takes placeContinue reading “Soli’s Story – “Sunny-Side Up, Please”: Self-Care for Caring Professionals, Finding Balance in Mid-Life & Staying Positive When the Course of Motherhood Doesn’t Run Smooth” - What have I done to deserve this?As the end of 2020 closes in, I’ve been reflecting on the writing I’ve done over the course of the year. A year that has taken twists and turns I never could have predicted, not least with the creation of my blog and my apprehensive foray into the world of Instagram. When asked whether anyContinue reading “What have I done to deserve this?”
- Happy 1st Birthday, ‘A Fine Balance’!
Today marks a milestone moment in the life of my blog: a full year since the publication of my first post! And what better way to celebrate than to launch my brand new podcast…? My very first guest is teacher and ADHD expert, Soli Lazarus, who featured on my blog late last year. Unapologetic aboutContinue reading “Happy 1st Birthday, ‘A Fine Balance’!” - A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 5 Out Now
Episode 5 of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ is out now: CLICK HERE TO LISTEN. This episode is a follow-up interview with Sarah Macmull, who was first featured on ‘A Fine Balance – The Blog’ in October 2020. It’s rare to hear a feminist extolling the virtues of home-keeping alongside career drive. And it’sContinue reading “A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 5 Out Now” - Employed or Self-Employed: That is the (Fine Balance) Question
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been approached separately via social media by two women who have visited my website and are interested in featuring on my ‘Work-Life Balance Profiles‘ series. Both women have something in common: they returned to work after maternity leave and found that the rigidity of being an employee constrainedContinue reading “Employed or Self-Employed: That is the (Fine Balance) Question” - Hamilton: “I have so much work to do”
Alexander Hamilton, as portrayed in Lin Manuel Miranda’s musical masterpiece, was a classic workaholic. Ambitious and driven to rise above his station at all costs. He worked hard, was focussed on his goals, and accomplished so much. Against the odds. The man is non-stop Hamilton the musical was pretty much the soundtrack to my family’sContinue reading “Hamilton: “I have so much work to do”” - Becoming a Podcaster in Four (Plus One) Basic Steps
I was recently invited to give a talk to a youth group in my community about my experience of becoming a podcaster. To begin with, I really wasn’t sure about how well-placed I was to lead a session on this. As a hobby blogger/podcaster, I’m still such a novice, and with only six podcast episodesContinue reading “Becoming a Podcaster in Four (Plus One) Basic Steps” - Finding Balance by Using Time Wisely: Julia’s Story – on Time Management, Choosing Jobs that “Matter” & Advocating for Improved Flexible Working Rights
Work-Life Balance Profile #19: Julia Elmer (TL;DR heads-up that this is a long blog post! The following introduction is a brief summary) Introduction to Julia’s Profile Julia’s story is one of a full-time working mum of two, who considers herself to have an optimum work-life balance of 50:50. This hasn’t always been the case forContinue reading “Finding Balance by Using Time Wisely: Julia’s Story – on Time Management, Choosing Jobs that “Matter” & Advocating for Improved Flexible Working Rights” - Finding Balance When You Work “Unsociable Hours”
Did you know that the dance studio where the Royal Opera House ballet dancers rehearse is the same size as the stage in the main auditorium? That was just one fact I learned on a behind-the-scenes tour I recently took of this iconic theatre. The tour, which was brilliantly delivered, provided insight into the complexContinue reading “Finding Balance When You Work “Unsociable Hours”” - Routh’s Story – On Panic Attacks, Career Changes, and Regaining Balance After Hitting Rock Bottom: NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW
9/11 marked a dramatic turning point in the working life of the latest A Fine Balance © podcast guest, Routh Chadwick, a New York resident who at the time was an aspiring actress. The career changes that evolved from thereon maintained a degree of drama, as Routh went on to train as a clinical socialContinue reading “Routh’s Story – On Panic Attacks, Career Changes, and Regaining Balance After Hitting Rock Bottom: NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW” - No Message Could’ve Been Any Clearer
What work:life ratio would Michael Jackson have given, I wonder. From the way he was portrayed in the sensational London West End production of MJ The Musical, which I saw last night – tortured, sensitive, and both pushed and driven to succeed – he was a perfectionist with a work ethic to be reckoned with.Continue reading “No Message Could’ve Been Any Clearer”