EMMA MITCHELL: Your guide to a better life balance
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Starting and operating a business for many can be a dream come true, being your own boss, no one to answer to, working when you want and spending more time with the family but reality can be quite different.
As a solopreneur and especially so for start-ups if you don’t do any paid work, or sell your products you don’t earn anything, you probably can’t afford holidays or the time off and every waking hour is spent “working” in the business. But it doesn’t have to be like that. You need to work smarter, not harder and you need to grow your business so it can run without you!
Sort out a Routine and stick to it
Decide what hours you’re going to work and stick to them. For example Monday – Friday, 8am-6pm. Make sure you take regular breaks during the day – you need to refuel, get some fresh air which will help you be more productive.
When you’re at home and finished work (even if you work from home) turn your work devices off so you’re not always on call or have set times when you are going to check emails, messages etc.
Get into the habit of taking at least 1 hour before you plan to go to bed, to switch off your devices and get some “me” time. Go for a walk, do some mind exercises, try some relaxation techniques, have a bath, watch TV or read a book that’s not work related. You need to switch off and get a good night’s rest.
Taking time out of the business can be valuable to your mental health, especially if you work alone, if you’re new to business or have a very small team. Time out doesn’t have to be non-work related, consider networking, a training course or do some physical activity during the day that will help you re-focus and break the day up.
I really enjoy Netwalking, which is a combination of networking and walking, I find it relaxing and I am less nervous about meeting new people because it’s informal and outdoors. It offers you time away from your desk, some fresh air and exercise whilst meeting other people in business. I have made some great business contacts this way, found the odd client and referred those I have met to others who have since done business together. Give it a try!
Grow your business
Business owners often struggle to get quality time off. If your work and life are not in balance you’re going to burnout. If you employ people make sure they are the right people – they have to be efficient and productive. You need your business to run like a well-oiled machine and you need people who can run your business without you being there. You may be quite happy ticking along, but ask yourself; “am I earning enough to retire on comfortably, do I get enough time away from work, am I making a decent profit, am I as successful as I intended, have I fulfilled my business goals?”
Not many can achieve all these things but you can change this by creating a strategic plan that allows you to work to achieve the right work/life balance. Working with a business consultant/mentor can help you resolve your problems and grow your business so it’s less reliant on you working in it. Consultants help you to analyse your business efficiency, seek out opportunities and take bold steps that grows your business beyond what you thought was possible. They are your business buddy, your mentor and support you to be a better version of yourself and for your business to be in a better financial position.
Can you imagine what it would be like to work only a few days a week in return for a full time income, imagine what you could do with all that spare time; head into the mountains, go for a cycle/run, spend more time with the family, go for lunch with your friends and generally begin to feel happier and healthier about your work and life as they start to be in better balance. This is possible but only you can change how much you are working in your business. So with Spring fast approaching now is the time to rebalance your work and life ratios.
Contact details:
T: 07764 192503
E: emma@erisbusiness.co.uk
