13 May 2022
Hey Luv,
HAPPY FRIDAY!
As an entrepreneur, one of the hardest parts of my job is maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Like most of us have hobbies outside the office and friends and family that you enjoy spending time with. So, why is it so difficult to draw the line between work time and personal time?
One of the traits that sets entrepreneurs apart is the mentality that’s needed to grow a company!
It takes a great deal of motivation, perseverance and commitment to move the needle forward, overcome setbacks and reach success. That often means staying up late or working on weekends when you would rather unplug.
Entrepreneurs thrive on hustle culture — it’s what keeps them going when times are tough. But it can also quickly lead to burnout or mental health issues if the problem isn’t addressed early on.
That’s why work-life balance is so important for entrepreneurs.
You need to find a way to stay driven, while also making time for yourself, the things you enjoy and the people close to you!
Entrepreneurs sometimes tend to get stuck in a place of thinking about work 24/7, and they forget to come up for air. When you’re so immersed in work around the clock, it can be difficult to notice that you’re neglecting your work-life balance.
Most of the time, you don’t notice until it’s too late and you’re already feeling tired, unmotivated and burned out.
Work-life balance is somewhat of a trending topic these days, especially as remote work becomes more widely accepted!
Here are three tips for better work-life balance.
1. Create boundaries
Plain and simple, start by creating work boundaries for yourself. Make a rule that you won’t check your email before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. If you work in an office, try to create a consistent schedule for yourself, whether it be 9 to 5, 10 to 6, or whatever hours work best for you.
If you know you’ll need to work late for an after-hours meeting or phone call, allow yourself to go into the office a little later in the morning that day. Tell your co-workers about the rules you’ve set for yourself so they can help keep you accountable.
2. Schedule personal time
If you’re having trouble tearing yourself away from work, try scheduling personal time on your calendar. If you make plans after work with friends, block the time on your calendar as you would any other meeting. It also helps to get reminders throughout the day so you’re not tempted to work through your plans.
Another idea is to use your lunch break to go to the gym, get coffee with a friend or run errands you’ve been putting off. Getting out of the office midday is a great way to recharge and improve your productivity for the afternoon.
3. Get comfortable saying no
Many entrepreneurs have a hard time saying no to things, whether it’s taking on additional work, traveling to a conference or accepting a last-minute keynote invitation. While capitalizing on new opportunities can do wonders for your business, it’s a one-way ticket to burnout if you’re not careful.
You know how much work is already on your plate, so only take on more if you can make it happen without getting stressed. When someone asks you to do more work and it immediately invokes anxiety, that’s a good sign that you should probably pass.
Being an entrepreneur and getting to work for yourself is an incredible experience, but like any job, it comes with its fair share of challenges. Having the skills to manage those challenges — including establishing your work-life balance — is the key to growing and managing a successful business.
Have a fabulous weekend,
Jeanetta Cardine
