Tell me if this sounds familiar…
It’s Thursday night and you’re at the office working late. This is your third cup of coffee today, your eyes are strained but you’re still glued to the computer. You feel like there is no end in sight.
Sound familiar?
I get it – your business is your baby. You feel 100% responsible for it. You feel guilty when your free time is spent doing other things outside of your business. You’re the boss and sacrifice is what bosses do, right?
Wrong. There is ALWAYS room for balance.
If you’re used to working long past 5pm (or longer than 8 hours, in general). If you have a gym membership that you never use. If this is the third egg McMuffin you’ve had for breakfast this week
… you need to tweak your work-life balance.
That’s why you started your own business in the first place, right? To have more time to do the things that bring you joy. The freedom of being a business owner means you must make and honor your own boundaries. Sometimes it is not that simple. It can be overwhelming.
Here’s a good place to start – I have 5 foolproof tips to help you reach that supreme balance. Keep reading.
(P.S. I wrote a two-part series all about entrepreneur burnout. You can find it here. In the series, you’ll find so many actionable gems you can capitalize on starting today!)
1. Set work hours…and stick to them.
Enforce the work hours you set for yourself. If you want to work from 9am to 5pm… DO IT. Get comfortable with closing out your day even if you are overwhelmed. Plan out your days. Dedicate time to specific projects and stick to it.
Of course, there are exceptions to this rule but generally, you should go to work with an idea of how much time you want to spend working that day. Shut down once the clock strikes your end time. If you don’t, you could end up working for far longer than what is healthy. This could progress into bad habits, stress, and body tension (because if you didn’t know, sitting is the new smoking).
2. Know your cash flow
I’ll probably be shouting this from the rooftops until the day I die – it’s vital that you keep track of every dollar coming in and out!
Cash flow is one of the biggest challenges small businesses face. How are you going to know how many hours you can afford a virtual assistant if you’re not aware of your profits? How can you fit in luxury vacations if you’re not tending to how much comes in and how much goes out on a regular basis?
Being aware of your cash flow will help you feel motivated and calm when you close your computer at the end of your work day. Understand that the grind will pay off. The numbers are proof that you are moving in the right direction.
3. Make your workspace your own.
Does one quick glimpse at your desk area make you wanna roll your eyes and sigh? This needs to change. Take the appropriate time to make your space welcoming. Decorate and organize your workspace in a way that feels comfortable. For me, I surround my workspace with plants. It makes me feel relaxed, focused and successful.
Spend the time cultivating your space. Invest in an ergonomic chair. Get all the tech accessories that make your life easier. Maybe, get a mini-fridge so you can sip on rosé while working (trust me, I’ve done it…it’s awesome)
Dropping a few dollars to upgrade your workspace will increase your productivity. The pay off will be well worth it.
4. Don’t flake on working out
Taking care of your body is JUST AS IMPORTANT as taking care of your business. Your health contributes to your success so don’t slack on it.
It’s easy to cancel the gym or your workout when you’re overwhelmed with work. DON’T. This can create a vicious cycle and before you know it you haven’t been to the gym for a whole month.
Think of going to the gym as a client meeting – would you cancel at the last minute just to catch up on work? No! Your physical and mental health are PRIORITIES.
5. Develop hobbies or spend time doing things you love
Life is not all about work. Invest in hobbies so you have other things you do with your time. Don’t have a hobby? Try some things out! Join your friend on that hike she loves to take. Pick up that canvas you haven’t painted in years. Join a new yoga studio.
You might be wondering, how the hell would adding more things to my schedule help my work life? Spending time doing things you love will naturally recharge you. When it’s time to go back to work you will be energized, focused, and in a positive headspace.
I promise you, if you do all these things, you will become a much happier person. And when you’re happier, everybody wins – you, your loved ones and your business.
