How often do you look at the calendar and wonder what your plans are for the weekend? Do you cram your schedule on Saturday and then spend Sunday doing laundry and binge watching Netflix? Or wonder if the forecasted sunshine is going to hold out long enough for you to spend the weekend enjoying the outdoors? For me, managing a work-life balance is important to ensure I continue feeling fulfilled in both my career and my personal life.

One of the ways I try to balance my career with my life outside of the agency is finding ways to weave them together. As many of my colleagues know, I am the proud dogfather of two energetic pups. My schedule is usually created around their needs. Weekend afternoons are spent at the park, unless we plan an outing to Thousand Acres at the Sandy River Delta Park or a hike up the Leif Erikson trail in Forest Park. My dogs are an integral part of my life. And my time and the ability to care for them bleeds into everything I do, including work.

The end of June marks the end of my second year at Coates Kokes. One of my favorite aspects of the agency is the dog-friendly culture. Despite building restrictions, we still dedicate a few days per year to bring our furry friends to work. Our mantra here at the agency is, “Good is Contagious.” Being able to merge the things we love most outside of work, with our life at work, really amplifies everyone’s ability to produce good work.

So – for all you weekend chasers out there, my word of advice would be this: find a job that allows you to chase your passions by allowing you to bring those passions to the office. Whether that be your pets, your side photography gig, or your keen eye for office decorations. Allow your passions to come through not just when you step outside those doors at five, but also when you walk in at eight.