My 8 Tips and Regimen for Life Balance and Finding Creative Inspiration

A lot of people ask me frequently how I continue to produce content in the midst of the trials and tribulations of normal every day life: balancing 2 around the clock freelance gigs + 1 around the clock my personal business (aka The Gilded Bellini) + somehow fitting in a sliver of a social life and most importantly, self-care. One of both the pros and cons of being a freelancer is that there is never really any down time. There's always work to be done, new content to be created, tight deadlines and a whole lot more. 

I have always been the kind of person to struggle with being bogged down, almost making myself sick with stress ever since I was very little. As I have gotten older I have learned to manage it a lot better as life has taken its course and I've developed more as an adult and grown into my career. 

Don't get me wrong; I am constantly tired and frequently find myself running on fumes - I am lucky if I get a good night's sleep because there's that much work to be done and that simply runs overtime. However, I've learned to embrace it and have found ways around looking at the hardships of the situation and just really acknowledge that it is a part of my lifestyle. I've learned ways for myself to work around the craziness and build time in my schedule and in my mind to not make excuses and dig deep for inspiration to be successful in my 3 jobs and in my personal life. 

I know there are a lot of people who juggle a bunch of different things at once and often struggle with finding a balance with it all. Here are some things that I incorporate into my daily life to make things easier and that always gives me the drive, inspiration and ideas to create!

1. READ BOOKS AND MAGAZINES

I read things that not only interest me, but that may help me to develop potential ideas for stories on my site. For me, it's super important to be in the know about different food, fashion, beauty and lifestyle trends not only just in Southern California, but around the US because there is always something new I can look into and bring to the table here on TGB. I also love to read books that are based on true stories about entrepreneurs. I'll never forget - when I was interning back in 2013 for a big PR firm, my boss said the number one thing to do was READ, especially the newspaper. It 100% sets you up for success if you are aware. Aside from reading just to stay informed, it can really get your mind off of something that is stressing you out or bothering you.

2. YOUR PICK: WAKE UP EARLY OR STAY UP LATE

If you're like me, you may do both. But I would think the healthier option is to pick one or the other. That way, if you wake up early you may be able to get what you need to do in the morning before work (like writing, even drinking your coffee extremely leisurely, work out...). If you sleep in a bit, make it a point to stay up a little later to get your other stuff done that you weren't able to do all day. I find that my most inspirational times of the day are very early or very late. Embrace the free time you have in either of those timeframes.

3. MAKE TIME TO WORK OUT

Literally, if I do not work out I am not only sluggish but very irritable. ALL DAY. It's so important to just take an hour for yourself to focus on your health. Sweat. Don't think about all you have to do. Because if your body isn't feeling good, it is guaranteed you will definitely not do your best all day. 

4. SWITCH LOCATIONS

I start feeling really uninspired if I continue to work from the same place over and over again. If you have the ability to work from a coffee shop or a library or on your patio or even in a park, do it! Even if it's only on the weekends. Something about being in a different space sparks the creative juices.

5. PEOPLE WATCH

People watching is especially fun and interesting to do when you're in a big city. Just by doing so you can pick up on what people are interested in, how their day is going, what kind of coffee they're drinking, what they're currently reading. It's free inspiration. People are the source for my inspiration here on TGB constantly. I want to know what people are interested in and create content in my own way to share with those people. I want to start a conversation with them and bring people together. People watching is one of the simplest ways to find creative inspiration - you just have to dig a little past the surface level. This is another great way to just escape for a few minutes and drift off mentally!

6. BUY A NEW OUTFIT

It's no question that buying a new outfit makes you feel good. It makes you feel fresh, new and polished. That feeling completely translates over into finding creative inspiration. My favorite color to wear for some fresh inspo? White! I particularly love this pretty lace "Call Me Maybe" two-piece set from Ali & Jay. The design is super feminine and really helps to exude confidence.

7. TAKE A WALK RIGHT BEFORE SUNDOWN WITHOUT ANY TECHNOLOGY

This has become one of my all time favorite things to do. It is so relaxing. Something about it is even more relaxing that taking a walk early in the morning. Everything is a bit cooler and relaxed. I always use that time to disconnect from the day, after going non-stop for so many hours. Even if this isn't the complete end of your day, it is a really nice break. I try to either not take my phone with me or just tuck my phone in my pocket for the duration of my walk. Not only does it give your brain a break, but also your eyes and your neck too.   

8. MAKE TIME TO GET COFFEE WITH A FRIEND

Or tea or whatever you prefer! There is nothing like taking an hour and just talking about anything and everything, and if you're really good friends, you don't even have to talk at all! You know what I mean - you can sit quietly and just enjoy the moment and it's still fun. It's hard to make time for even your family when you are so busy with work but it's important to do so every so often. Friends even can help you come up with ideas! Collaboration is key.

All of these things at the end of day create a portion of a life balance because even though they can certainly be connected to what you do, each of these tips can be a pleasant escape!

Photography by: Rebecca Gnasso