For many entrepreneurs, a healthy work-life balance may seem to be something lifted out of the pages of a fantasy novel as opposed to something that is actually achievable. After all, 86% of business owners admit to working more than 40 hours a week on a regular basis.
Despite this, developing a healthy work-life balance is not only possible but crucial. After all, failing to do so will only lead to burnout and exhaustion, both of which could affect both the longevity of your business and your health and well-being.
With that in mind, here are some useful tips that you can use to improve your work-life balance as an entrepreneur or small business owner!
Stick to traditional working hours. While you may have already curated a list of strategies that help you to work productively when tired, these methodologies can only go so far. After all, when burned out, even the simplest of tasks can take up hours of your time! As such, it’s far better to stick to more traditional working hours when possible, such as by clocking in (and out) at the same time as the rest of your team. Remember, aside from in rare circumstances, nothing is so important that it cannot wait until tomorrow!
Reduce your workload through outsourcing. One of the main reasons why entrepreneurs tend to struggle with their work-life balance is because they tend to play multiple roles within their company. While this may seem useful from a budgeting perspective, it often means that their already limited time is stretched thin. If this is something that you are guilty of, then you’ll benefit quite considerably from outsourcing, as this takes a considerable amount of work off your shoulders while ensuring crucial tasks do not get ignored. For example, you could look into outsourced it management to improve your cybersecurity practices.
Develop your hobbies outside of work. Developing your interests outside of work, such as by pursuing new hobbies, can also go a long way toward improving your work-life balance. After all, this means that you’ll have other obligations to meet, meaning you’ll spend less time stuck behind your desk. They can also provide you with ample opportunity to relax and unwind, something that many entrepreneurs struggle with!
Stop checking your emails on vacation. Many entrepreneurs find it hard to shut off, even when on vacation. As such, you may benefit from logging out of your work email or leaving your company phone behind when on vacation. After all, failing to do so means that you’ll be tempted to check in from time to time despite the fact that this is time you’ve reserved for YOU! You should practice similar habits when you’ve checked out of work each evening.
Trust your employees. As your business grows and you begin to hire new employees, you should notice that your work-life balance improves, too. After all, it means that you can delegate tasks to your team as opposed to doing everything yourself. If this is not the case, it’s a sign that you need to work on developing your trust in your employees to carry out their work!
