Chelsea Aiello

As a mother to 3 school age boys and the digital marketing/business development coordinator for Gachina Landscape Management, a regenerative & commercial landscape company located in the San Francisco Bay Area, I understand firsthand the challenges of balancing work and home life. It can be difficult finding time for everything and knowing where to put your energy for work, family and personal commitments. I have found it is necessary to find a way to create a healthy work/life balance, for both your own well-being and the success of your career.

Find a company that supports work/life balance: I have been extremely lucky to find a company that is supportive of work/life balance. A company that sees your wins as their wins. A President/CEO (Jackie, NALP’s 2019 Women Entrepreneur of the Year) who listens, respects your time, chats on the phone with you and asks about your family life. When I first met Jackie, I was honest and open about my commitment to my family. Having raised two boys who now work at Gachina, Jackie understood family dedication. It was reassuring to know when I accepted the position, I would not have to compromise my priorities. This year, Jackie took things one step further by working with her team to rewrite the core values, one of them now being: Balance: create harmony between your career and personal life. This was a quality choice to put this in writing as a promise to the employees to respect their time and acknowledge their work and personal lives.

Create a “work” support network: One thing that sets Gachina apart is the fact that it’s a woman-owned and WBENC certified company, employing women from the crews through upper management roles. The green industry has typically been a male-dominated business, 90% men to 10% women, according to an article from 2022, so I am grateful to work at a company that is run by women and supports/encourages women and mothers to grow with them. It has helped me create a strong network of support — we can share tips, advice, and empathize with the challenges of trying to find this balance. Might I also mention that all these women are amazing to work with (not just the moms). When I am looking to organize a photo shoot, or reach out for the latest social media content or videos, they are organized, creative, great communicators and are excited to help get the job done. I am so appreciative of their support and enthusiasm.

Last year, I had to have two open heart surgeries, which really forced me to take a step back and re-evaluate what was/is important to me. Even though I have the support of an accommodating company, occasionally I still find myself getting swept up in trying to do it all and forget to create boundaries between my work life and personal life. It can be a challenge to learn how to set limits on my time, energy and attention, while also practicing saying “no” when things become overwhelming. Taking time for yourself, using your PTO, relaxing, and recharging can all help to create a healthier and more balanced work/life. If you’re feeling the stress of your job or dealing with overwhelming things at home, I encourage you to take a step back, and make sure you are getting the support and respect that you need to be successful.