Ask any business owner, and they’ll tell you that at times, it can feel incredibly hard to strike a balance between work and life. But don’t let that deter you from starting a business venture! There are ways to get the work-life balance that you desire as an entrepreneur. Here are just a few tips for setting you on the right path.
Identify Priorities
What does a balanced life look like to you? Is it having dinner with the family every night, practicing your backswing on the golf course or enjoying your weekends doing what you love most? It’s hard to achieve work/life balance if you don’t have it clearly defined. So take some time to reflect on your core values and then create a realistic work/life balance schedule based on how you define it.
Get Into The Right Mindset
Are you passionate about your business, or is it just a “get-rich” plan? If you’re not motivated and excited about what you do every day, then it will likely always feel like a chore, which can add to the challenge of inserting more enjoyment into your day-to-day life. As an entrepreneur, those first few years are spent working hard on your business. But if you love and feel passionate about what you do and the people you’ve hired, it won’t really feel like work at all.
Create A Schedule That Works For You
Society tells us that to be successful, you either have to work around-the-clock or follow a 9/5 schedule. However, neither are true. It’s all about finding what works best for you. For instance, if you’re a results-orientated person, you might work most productively in spurts during the day or evening at night. Some CEOs even swear by allocating three days a week to “head down” time, two days to “networking,” and two days to being completely unplugged from work. What’s important is that you find a schedule that works for you – one that allows you to work at your best, gain the most results, and have the lifestyle you want.
Do Two Things You Enjoy Every Day
As a business owner, it’s hard to unplug and unwind when you’re always thinking about work. However, it’s important to make time for your personal life by switching off once and a while. One way to achieve this is by setting aside time to do two things you enjoy every single day. Whether that’s reading a book before bed, running before work, playing sports at night, or taking the family to the park, you need to make a constant effort to carve out time to do what you love to recharge and refuel your soul.
Make Time For What Matters Most
Too many business owners get caught up in their work environment that they often forget why they’re building the business in the first place. If you keep your head down through the whole journey, you’ll miss out on some of the most important things in life – like your moms 70th birthday, seeing your kid’s first step, or watching your best friend walk down the aisle. Be sure to remember why you started a business in the first place – to improve your life and your family’s. So make time for those who matter most – it will keep you grounded and focused.
While some entrepreneurs believe that work/life balance is an elusive myth, President and CEO of Envolta, David DiNardo, believes that a balance can certainly be achieved. Even as his company started from one person with a simple vision to landing on Ottawa’s Business Journals Fastest Growing Company’s list in 2018, he has found ways to make time for what matters most in the thick of things. See what he has to say here about how he makes time for himself and his family, while still running a fast-growing operation.