Let’s talk about work-life balance. Your business is your baby. We understand that. CreditEnable is also a small business building itself up day-by-day, and we understand how much time, effort, and attention you put into each customer transaction. Behind every successful small business is an enthusiastic, always busy, and somewhat always tired entrepreneur who deserves an occasional break.
Here is what we recommend you do to maintain some work-life balance and pay equal attention to your mental and physical wellbeing as you do to the growth of your business.
1. Schedule your breaks
Sprinkle your workday with scheduled breaks. They can be as short as 10 minutes, so you have some time to stretch your legs or grab a snack. Regular breaks between work refresh your mind, allowing you to focus better, be more productive, and deliver better quality work.
Learn more benefits of taking regular breaks between work.
2. Eat right and hydrate
Eat three balanced meals a day at appropriate times, and consume some light, high-protein snacks in the middle to sustain you through the day. And remember to drink water! Your clients and employees are relying on you to stay strong and reliable. You won’t be a helpful pillar of support to them if you’re hangry or dehydrated.
3. Work out regularly
Compliment a good diet with a regular workout. Exercise helps release Endorphins which helps you relieve stress and pain. Physical exercise also stimulates the release of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, which are great for regulating your mood and sleep cycle. Regular physical activity combined with a balanced diet will help you stay healthy and perform better at work.
Learn more about how regular exercise helps manage stress.
4. Set a clear “end of workday” time for yourself and stick to it
Just like a regular employee, set a fixed time when you clock into work and when you clock out. And try to stick to this schedule. This will help you complete your daily tasks more efficiently, knowing there is a definite time before which all tasks for the day need to be complete and will free up time and mental space for you to do other activities not related to work after hours.
5. Take up a new hobby
Give your mind something else to focus on after work hours so that you’re not still thinking about work. Explore a new hobby, read a book, listen to some good music, or take up cooking. All these activities will distract and relax your mind, helping you disconnect from work, and regroup at the end of a long day.
6. Put your phone on silent or DND at night
Once it’s evening and you’re home, put your phone on ‘Silent’, and then on ‘Do Not Disturb’ before going to bed. Having your phone on Silent can be stressful at first because you’ll find yourself constantly checking your phone to see if you’ve missed a work call or message. But eventually, you’ll get used to it and so will your employees. This will encourage them to become more independent in their work and push them to manage their time better to get everything done within the set work hours. And it will help you disconnect from work, even if only for a little bit, every day.
Excessive use of technology right before bedtime also negatively impacts your sleep habits and quality. Learn more about it.
7. Hire the right people and trust them
You’re building your dream company, and you have a great business plan. So, make sure you hire the right people with the right skills who understand and share your vision and commitment to your business goals. Employing the right people, who you trust, will make your work easier. You can comfortably go for a client meeting or take a short break knowing the people in charge in your absence are competent and able to handle the business while you’re away.
8. Take a day off once every two weeks and at least a full week off once a year
Entrepreneurs work so hard you deserve a day off once in a while! Take one day every two weeks to unwind and do something you love. Then once a year, take a whole week off and travel. What’s the use of working so hard if you’re not going to enjoy the fruits of your labour! You’ve laid the groundwork for a strong business, and you’ve hired the right people with the right skills to continue working while you’re not around. Now trust them and take an occasional break. You’ll only be a phone or video call away if they need something.
9. Prioritize your loved ones over work
We can’t stress this enough! There are times when you will need to prioritize your friends and family over your work, and that is ok! You’re working so hard to give your loved ones and yourself a better life and a more secure financial future, we understand that. But occasionally, take time away from work to actually spend some time with them. Do something fun, explore a new activity together, and build beautiful memories.
10. Build a strong and reliable support system for yourself
Being an entrepreneur is stressful, and there may not be many people in your immediate social circle who will understand all your worries and concerns. So, we recommend finding yourself a community of entrepreneurs you can connect with who will support you through the good and the tough times. They’ve experienced what you’re going through, and many have overcome it to build big, successful businesses. Rely on them and learn from them so that you can grow as well. Lastly, if needed, seek the help of a mental health professional. They can help you manage any stress and anxiety and share other tools to help overcome personal and business challenges.
Need more tips to maintain a work-life balance? You can also read our other blog posts (here and here) on managing and prioritizing your mental health and wellbeing as an entrepreneur.
Conclusion
Being an entrepreneur is a full-time job that can be stressful but also very rewarding! The best thing you can do for your business is to ensure you prioritize yourself when needed so you don’t burn out too fast. Maintaining a work-life balance is the best way to ensure you won’t lose interest in the business idea or your enthusiasm for self-employment!
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