There Is No Work-Life Balance in Hawai‘i

A friend texted me the other day, “I don’t know how you do it, but you’re good at girl bossing, lol.”

I stared at the message for a full minute. Not because it wasn’t nice and flattering, but because it didn’t feel true. Girl bossing sounds shiny, glamorous and put-together. If you only see my “Day in My Life” reels or YouTube vlogs, it might look that way.

But behind the scenes? I’m not effortlessly crushing it. I’m in survival mode.

For context: I’m the Digital Content Manager at Hawaii Business Magazine. On most weekends, I bartend for my friend’s mobile bar (IG: @chars.bar). I also freelance as a data analyst—what I earned my degree in—and try to keep up with my own YouTube channel. Between workouts and bills, a social life is mostly theoretical.

This is the part of “having it all” no one talks about: my routine is exhausting, which feels especially paradoxical in a place we call paradise. And in Hawaiʻi, where the cost of living is relentless, hustling isn’t optional. If you want to stay, you make it work. Multiple income streams aren’t a flex, they’re a requirement.

MULTIPLE INCOME STREAMS – FINANCIAL STRATEGY AND EMOTIONAL SECURITY

Before 2025, I held one job and solely depended on that income. When I unexpectedly got let go from that job 13 days into the new year, I realized the importance of having multiple streams of income.

It’s not about being ambitious; it’s about making sure that if one income source disappears tomorrow, I’m not scrambling to figure out how to pay off my mortgage. It’s about never feeling that vulnerable again.

That realization pushed me to become resourceful. Building a personal brand on social media costs nothing but time and effort, making it one of the few side hustles you can start with zero dollars. My late-night gym sessions? Content. Playing Pokémon for fun? Content. Vlogging my most ordinary days? Content. My YouTube audience isn’t looking for polished perfection. They want the reality of being a thirty-something in Hawaiʻi, juggling three jobs.

If you play your cards right, social media can slowly become another income stream. Brand partnerships and opportunities from showing up consistently add up. And the best part? I’ve built something that’s entirely mine. No one can lay me off from that.

TIME BLOCKING IS YOUR BEST FRIEND (WHEN YOU REMEMBER TO DO IT)

I’m not going to lie and say I have a perfect time management system, but everything needs a designated time slot, or it simply won’t happen.

My gym sessions are non-negotiable evening appointments. If I don’t prioritize my physical and mental health, everything else falls apart.

Content creation happens in pockets: during lunch breaks, after work, or even in the late hours at night. The freelance data work and Char’s Bar shifts work around my 9-to-5, but they’re just as essential to keeping everything afloat.

PHOTO: Marianne Leano

THE “LIFE” PART OF WORK-LIFE BALANCE

When you have three jobs, the “life” part requires intention. My relationship with my fiancée, Melissa, is protected time. My gym routine isn’t optional, it’s where I process stress. And it means saying no to opportunities that don’t align with my goals, even when the extra money would be nice.

Some weeks, I feel like I’m winning. Other weeks, I’m drained and questioning every life choice I’ve ever made. I’m learning to give myself grace in both.

WHERE I’M STANDING NOW

All told, my friend was right. I am good at this, not because I’m superhuman but because survival mode has a way of showing you what you’re capable of. Getting laid off could have broken me. Instead, it taught me resilience, adaptability and the importance of betting on myself.

So yeah, I’m “girl bossing”—just not in the Instagram-worthy way. I’m girl bossing by protecting my peace and my paycheck. And honestly? That feels far more powerful.

If you would like more of this type of content, follow me on all my socials!

Instagram: @mahrizzleano

YouTube: @mahrizzleano995

TikTok: @mahrizzleano