6 Ways to Achieve a Work-Life Balance
Make this elusive concept an everyday reality by following these six handy tips
As a business owner, it’s all too easy to let your drive and passion for success overtake every area of your life, letting family commitments slide away or relationships with friends slip by. Vickie Nickolls of Interior Therapy knows this scenario all too well. “I started my business in order to spend more time with my daughter, but I found I was spending less precious time with her while I caught up with emails,” says Nickolls. “I knew something had to change.” So how do you find that balance of freedom and fulfilment while ensuring your business continues to prosper?
Everyone’s idea of a work-life balance will be different. You might crave more time to spend with family and friends, or maybe time to pursue a hobby or activity. Whatever your ideal goal may be, the process of achieving it is the same. Follow these handy hints and we guarantee you’ll find time to enjoy life outside work in meaningful ways.
1. Set yourself a daily schedule and stick to it
To keep your work separate from your personal life, it’s important to set out a work schedule so you and your family are clear about the days and times you are working. If you stick to this schedule, you’ll have a better sense of balance between your work and your personal life. Working all day and night to make your business a success will only lead to burnout, so it pays to take set breaks that will help you refuel and recharge.
You should also schedule longer breaks, such as holidays with family and friends (and preferably off the grid), so you can properly relax without work distractions. Get used to booking holidays a long way in advance so you can cover these periods or make up the time beforehand.
To keep your work separate from your personal life, it’s important to set out a work schedule so you and your family are clear about the days and times you are working. If you stick to this schedule, you’ll have a better sense of balance between your work and your personal life. Working all day and night to make your business a success will only lead to burnout, so it pays to take set breaks that will help you refuel and recharge.
You should also schedule longer breaks, such as holidays with family and friends (and preferably off the grid), so you can properly relax without work distractions. Get used to booking holidays a long way in advance so you can cover these periods or make up the time beforehand.
2. Forget multitasking
Get into the habit of putting your phone away or closing the laptop once your work hours are complete. This way you can spend non-work hours doing the things you enjoy. Try focusing on one thing at a time, whether that’s work, having a chat with a friend, or enjoying family meal time – don’t try to multitask by checking emails or making calls at the same time. Your family and friends won’t appreciate your head in your smartphone when you’re meant to be spending time with them. Ensure you are fully present in the one thing you are doing and you’ll reap the benefits.
Get into the habit of putting your phone away or closing the laptop once your work hours are complete. This way you can spend non-work hours doing the things you enjoy. Try focusing on one thing at a time, whether that’s work, having a chat with a friend, or enjoying family meal time – don’t try to multitask by checking emails or making calls at the same time. Your family and friends won’t appreciate your head in your smartphone when you’re meant to be spending time with them. Ensure you are fully present in the one thing you are doing and you’ll reap the benefits.
3. Become an expert at time management
For the ideal work-life balance, you’ll spend half the day working and the rest in leisure time, so becoming super-productive during your scheduled hours of work is crucial. Business coach Gillian Kerr says being precious with your time will make you more efficient. “Divide you day into time blocks for different activities, so your calendar doesn’t get filled with conference calls or meetings. Always time-block the start of the day to work on your daily plan and then the end of the day to check you have achieved it.”
Compile a to-do list in order of importance so you have a target for each day, though be realistic with your goals. An unfulfilled list every day could frustrate you and knock your confidence, while a completed to-do list will encourage you to sign off for the day and enjoy some down time.
Time Management Tips for Small-Business Owners That Actually Work
For the ideal work-life balance, you’ll spend half the day working and the rest in leisure time, so becoming super-productive during your scheduled hours of work is crucial. Business coach Gillian Kerr says being precious with your time will make you more efficient. “Divide you day into time blocks for different activities, so your calendar doesn’t get filled with conference calls or meetings. Always time-block the start of the day to work on your daily plan and then the end of the day to check you have achieved it.”
Compile a to-do list in order of importance so you have a target for each day, though be realistic with your goals. An unfulfilled list every day could frustrate you and knock your confidence, while a completed to-do list will encourage you to sign off for the day and enjoy some down time.
Time Management Tips for Small-Business Owners That Actually Work
4. Minimise distractions so you can get the work done
Minimise distractions as much as possible so you maximise your productivity. If you work from home, create a sensible home office away from family chaos and piles of washing. Ban visits to social media sites unless it’s part of your work, as we all know how time-stealing they can be. It’s also an idea to only check personal emails and text messages during breaks so you don’t stray from your task list.
“Working from home is a lovely thing to do but if you set too many parameters and rules then you can negate the whole point of working from home in the first place,” says lifestyle blogger Maxine Briggs. “If you have lots of non-work chores piling up, set aside proper time to do these in one go – that way you can feel focused on your work.”
How to Stay Focused While Working From Home
Minimise distractions as much as possible so you maximise your productivity. If you work from home, create a sensible home office away from family chaos and piles of washing. Ban visits to social media sites unless it’s part of your work, as we all know how time-stealing they can be. It’s also an idea to only check personal emails and text messages during breaks so you don’t stray from your task list.
“Working from home is a lovely thing to do but if you set too many parameters and rules then you can negate the whole point of working from home in the first place,” says lifestyle blogger Maxine Briggs. “If you have lots of non-work chores piling up, set aside proper time to do these in one go – that way you can feel focused on your work.”
How to Stay Focused While Working From Home
5. Learn when it’s right to say ‘no’
Take measures to protect your time and energy so you can focus it on specific tasks. If you work outside the traditional office setting, your availability can be a little vague, and therefore demands on your time may be unreasonable. “When an unexpected deadline arrives, I would consider who it has come from and whether it’s possible to discuss any flexibility,” says Kerr. “Discuss when you could complete the task and if there’s anyone who could help in the meantime.”
On the other hand, says Briggs, “It’s perfectly fine to ask yourself if this extra work or attending an event will be beneficial. Imagine you have to justify extra commitments to a boss – if you can’t, then don’t do it.”
Take measures to protect your time and energy so you can focus it on specific tasks. If you work outside the traditional office setting, your availability can be a little vague, and therefore demands on your time may be unreasonable. “When an unexpected deadline arrives, I would consider who it has come from and whether it’s possible to discuss any flexibility,” says Kerr. “Discuss when you could complete the task and if there’s anyone who could help in the meantime.”
On the other hand, says Briggs, “It’s perfectly fine to ask yourself if this extra work or attending an event will be beneficial. Imagine you have to justify extra commitments to a boss – if you can’t, then don’t do it.”
6. Free up more time by delegating tasks
Whether it’s your accounts, admin or marketing, there’s always a task that’s way down on your list of favourites, though it still needs to be done. Delegating the tasks that take up precious time will be a weight off your shoulders and you’ll be able to focus on the things you’re good at. It’s all about getting the best from your working hours so you have more time for personal pursuits. A healthy balance of both will ultimately make your business more successful and your lifestyle a fulfilled one.
Tell us
Have you managed to achieve your ideal work-life balance? Share your tips and insights in the Comments below, save this story, and the images, and join the conversation.
Whether it’s your accounts, admin or marketing, there’s always a task that’s way down on your list of favourites, though it still needs to be done. Delegating the tasks that take up precious time will be a weight off your shoulders and you’ll be able to focus on the things you’re good at. It’s all about getting the best from your working hours so you have more time for personal pursuits. A healthy balance of both will ultimately make your business more successful and your lifestyle a fulfilled one.
Tell us
Have you managed to achieve your ideal work-life balance? Share your tips and insights in the Comments below, save this story, and the images, and join the conversation.