What Strategies Help You Manage Your Work-Life Balance?
Small Biz Leader
What Strategies Help You Manage Your Work-Life Balance?
Striking the perfect work-life balance is a critical challenge for small business owners, so we've gathered insights from founders and management experts. From implementing an 'Ideal Week' schedule to planning vacations for stress relief, explore the diverse strategies in these eight responses that have led to successful work-life balance.
- Implement an 'Ideal Week' Schedule
- Commit to Tech-Free Saturdays
- Maintain Strict Work Hours
- Use Time-Tracking for Clear Boundaries
- Build a Reliable, Autonomous Team
- Guard Your Lunch Breaks
- Utilize Website Blocking Tools
- Plan Vacations for Stress Relief
Implement an 'Ideal Week' Schedule
When you are a small-business owner, the line between work life and home life gets blurred, particularly if you are running your business from your home.
I have created an "Ideal Week." This idea was shared with me by a business coach that I have worked with. This is a schedule that helps me to control what I do and when. It includes start and end times for my day; I also include activities such as posting and engaging on social media, going to the gym, lunch, and project work.
What activities happen when is designed around me and my natural rhythms. I'm a night owl, not an early bird, so my "heads-down" project work happens after lunch, the other stuff in the morning.
I also use a scheduling tool for social media, which helps me to switch off when I am on holiday.
Commit to Tech-Free Saturdays
One unique approach that has helped me is my commitment to a weekly "Tech-Free Saturday." Early on, even during family time, I was frequently distracted by emails and business notifications. To counter this, I decided to dedicate every Saturday to my family and personal hobbies, completely disconnecting from all work-related technology. Initially, it was challenging to step away from constant connectivity, but over time, this practice became a cherished routine.
The mental clarity and relaxation I gain from these Saturdays have made me more focused and efficient during the workweek. Moreover, it has inspired my team to prioritize their well-being, knowing that a balanced life fosters sustained productivity and creativity.
Maintain Strict Work Hours
After being diagnosed with chronic gastritis and stomach ulcer disease, I realized that money and a successful business were not worth sacrificing my health for. The only way I can manage a balanced work-life is to work my 8 hours, come home, not log in to a computer, turn my phone off, and be mindful and present in the 'here and now.' It may sound unachievable for some, but I realized that when I got so sick, anything that was too pressing did not need to be a part of my life.
Use Time-Tracking for Clear Boundaries
As a mother of two running a small business from home, I've found success in managing work-life balance by using time-tracking software. This helps me avoid scope creep, stay focused, and maintain clear boundaries between work and personal time. I set structured work hours and communicate these to both clients and family. Having a home office creates a physical separation that aids in mental transitions between work and family life. At the end of my day, tracking my time makes it easier to see what I've achieved so I can confidently walk out of my office, close the door, and not be tempted to prioritize work over my family or personal time.
Build a Reliable, Autonomous Team
As a business owner, it's essential to carve out time for yourself to avoid burnout. Many of my colleagues in cybersecurity and IT have neglected their well-being in favor of working long hours, ultimately to their detriment.
To prevent this, I have built a reliable team that can operate autonomously. Their ability to manage tasks independently means I can take necessary breaks, confident that my business is in safe hands when I'm not there.
This approach requires you to be comfortable delegating and trusting your team to make necessary business decisions. By empowering those around you and trusting in their capabilities, you're free to take as many breaks as you need.
Guard Your Lunch Breaks
I've drastically improved my work-life balance by putting guardrails around small and certain times of day. For example, lunch. Previously, I would prepare something to eat, then sit right back down at my computer and work through my 'lunch hour.' Now, I protect at least 15-20 minutes of non-computer/non-phone time, typically outside on my patio, to eat lunch and rejuvenate. Small pockets of preserved quiet time work wonders on overall balance and well-being.
Utilize Website Blocking Tools
I have many blocking tools that I use to help me master work-life balance. One of the tools I use is Freedom Blocker. At different times of day, I allow access to certain websites and block others. For example, on the weekend, I only allow 12 websites that I use daily for my business.
Once it reaches 12:30 p.m. on the weekend, all of the websites that were allowed are blocked for the rest of the day. During the week, I have access to 50+ websites I use for my business, but by 5 p.m., everything gets blocked. I do not have access to social media until 12:30 p.m. daily because I know sometimes I can procrastinate in the morning. The morning is my most productive time, more so than the afternoon.
So, I have set up to do my marketing tasks during the afternoon because creating content in the afternoon for me is just a nightmare. My brain is already on to everything else during the day rather than focusing on creating content.
Plan Vacations for Stress Relief
Take a vacation whenever you feel stressed out over work. Planning a vacation gives you something to look forward to, and a one- or two-week break can provide the reset you need to return fully motivated. Overworking without rest decreases performance. Rest is an essential part of increasing productivity.
