Work Life Balance for Entrepreneurs

According to recent research from the Alternative Board, 30% of small business owners report working more than 50 hours per week, nearly 20% report working 60 hours or more and almost 80% report feeling like they work too much.

We live in a world today with the potential to all be connected to work 24/7.

As a result, the distinction between work time and non-work time has become blurred.

Entrepreneurs need to pay more attention to work-life balance — here’s how;

Find your Own Rhythm

The best way to be productive and efficient is to develop work habits that align with your natural rhythms and temperament. Some people work best in crunch mode and flourish under deadline pressure. Others crumble under such conditions and need to chip away at projects diligently over time. Develop an awareness and sensitivity to what works for you, and develop habits accordingly.

Prioritize

You’ve heard the adage, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” Believe it. Take care of your bigger tasks before you move on to worrying about the less important stuff. Decide which projects you need to handle personally and which ones can be taken care of by an employee or assistant, and delegate accordingly.

Take Care of Your Body

Your health should always be your No. 1 priority. If you are not in good shape physically, mentally, and emotionally, both your work life and your personal life will suffer. Committing to self-care can be overwhelming at first, so start with baby steps. For example, start by drinking more water, then carve out time to start meditating or exercise. Eventually, you can address other issues like diet or sleep schedule. Don’t try to do it all at once. Eventually, you will turn these healthy behaviors into habits.

Know When to Say NO!

Learning how to say no is one of the most important workplace (and life) skills you can develop. Sometimes, a better meeting is no meeting at all. Constantly jumping from one task to another with no breathing room makes it harder to think clearly, find flow, and do good work. Instead, it stresses us out, slows us down, and can make us less productive.

Become a Great Delegator

Good entrepreneurs stay focused on their “zone of genius,” a term Gay Hendricks uses in his book The Big Leap to describe the things that capitalize on your natural talents as no one else can do. This means delegating tasks that aren’t high on your list of priorities or that don’t fit your natural abilities. For startup entrepreneurs, this can sometimes feel like an indulgence, but it’s money well spent when it frees up your time to focus on your strengths and your life.

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