So we’ve all started the year with a fresh new perspective and sworn to spend more time with the family and less time running the business to get a better work life balance. Now it’s a couple of weeks into work and you’ve started doing long hours again and missing that gym class. Agghhh! we all have the best intentions of implementing changes after a break but in reality, how do we follow through with our actions?
There is always the present threat of loss in revenue due to unforeseen circumstances often looming over the heads of many business owners. It can be quite daunting to change habits and take time for your health and wellbeing when a deadline or task needs urgent attention.
Achieving a work-life balance is extremely important to your health, relationships, and sense of wellbeing. We’ve put together a list of 5 way to help you put into action a better work-life balance that is realistic and achievable:
1. Establish goals in line with your values
It’s crucial to make sure you are doing something that you enjoy doing, that makes you happy and is in line with your values. So many times we’ve seen people who are in a business they are not passionate about, work long hours and miss out on family time. Setting goals is almost impossible if you don’t have these three factors in alignment. Once you do, you will be able to outline what you want to achieve for the year, 6 months, 3 months, or even for the day.
It doesn’t have to be a long list, just enough that you will be able to implement workable and achieve strategies and be able to ‘tick’ off your goals when you have reached them. Make sure you create a list for your personal life using the same principle. Maybe you want to compete in a half marathon or read a novel, whatever your work and home life goals are, be clear on them so you know what you are working towards.
2. Set your boundaries
Take a look at when you are most productive for example, is it in the morning? Then focus on getting the bulk of your work done then. Don’t be afraid to delegate to employees to take the pressure off yourself. If you are in business alone, prioritise your daily tasks and do what is achievable, the rest can be left for another day.
In regards to your personal life, make sure you only answer work-related emails and phone calls during work time. Once you set a time to finish work and step outside the office (even your home office) make a rule that you are then on ‘personal time’ and think about what you want to be doing during that time. Is it spending an hour at the gym? Or taking the kids to the park? However, you choose to spend your downtime requires as much commitment to put into action as you would if you were at your workplace.
3. Make Your Health a Priority
If you are not functioning properly mentally or physically then how can you run a business or maintain a homelife? Too often we take our health for granted and it’s not until there is an issue that we step back and reassess our lifestyle. Schedule in time to exercise as you would an hour meeting with a client or staff member.
Plan your day with time for lunch and a walk around the block when you are planning what work tasks you will complete and at what time. Make exercise, meditation, and healthy eating a non-negotiable task just as you would commit to quote on a job or complete a client’s tax return. When you make a regular commitment to improving your overall health and wellbeing you are in effect reducing stress levels, increasing energy and your mind is sharper making work life easier and more manageable.
4. Take Time Off and Unwind
Some of us are workaholics and love what we do. There is so much to be said for taking time off to reset and charge your batteries. If massages or couch time is not your thing, do something as simple as not checking your phone or emails on weekends. Give your mind a chance to rest and recuperate from the millions of thoughts that go through it each day.
Spend time with family and friends or spend time by yourself. Any downtime that doesn’t require you to work is a chance to unwind and clear your mind is a positive thing. Not only does it benefit our health and wellbeing but you will find that you will have better relationships with your family and co-workers if you are in a positive frame of mind.
5. Start Small
It’s common to make a huge list of all the things you want to change and on the flip side you might also be thinking ‘it’s all too hard’. Whichever way you are thinking it’s important to start small and get into the habit of creating change, actioning it, and repeating until it becomes a habit that’s easy to do.
Start small, like committing to taking half an hour away from the desk each day to eat your lunch. See how that feels and scale it up or back depending on the degree of ease or difficulty it was for you. If you make too big of a leap into change, you are likely to fail and lose motivation to want to pursue a real work-life balance and regress to old habits.
Are You Ready for a Better Work Life Balance in Business?
Like anything in life, if you want to implement change it requires discipline, motivation, and action. You won’t lose weight, learn a new skill, or overcome fear for example if you are not prepared to make the effort. The same goes for achieving a better work-life balance in business. Distractions and unexpected occurrences will happen, life happens but as long as you regain your focus and get on the path the next day, what seems like a task now will soon become a habit that requires little effort.
Are you struggling with the concept of how to create a better work-life balance and put it into action? Maybe you need a business coach who can guide you to create a realistic balance between your work and personal life. UpCoach can help. If you’d like a quick chat call us today on 1300 459 302 to see what we can do for you.
