Month: May 2021

Since the COVID-19 lockdowns went into effect, you may feel like you’re working more hours — and you’re probably right. Consider your workday before lockdowns. You likely worked pretty long hours, but were able to leave your office or store at a reasonable hour, go home and spend time with friends or family.

Once COVID hit, though, your life probably changed quite a bit. You may have had to work remotely or manage your staff from afar. On the other hand, if you weren’t working remotely, you had to make changes to your office or store staying in line with COVID protocols — cleaning, contactless ordering options and more. During this time, you may have worked long hours to help your business run smoothly while continuing to give customers a high level of service. In fact, some studies show many people added one to three hours to the workday.

Since things are opening back up, will this habit of working longer hours continue? Will your workday return to pre-COVID hours, or will you do more remotely? Will that save time in your day or add work hours to it? If you’re working too many hours now, what can you do to create more work-life balance?

Here are some things indicating you’re working too many hours — and how to correct them:

• • You’re gaining weight. When you work too much, you tend to forget about exercising or watching what you eat. Take time out of your day (even if only 30 minutes) to do something to better your health, such as walking around your neighborhood, doing an at-home workout program, or eating healthy snacks.
  • You’re missing important events because you’re overbooked. If you always feel like you have something going on or have to cancel activities too often with friends or family, you’re overbooked. To help eliminate this problem, you must learn to say “no” to the right people. Everyone has limits, and you need to enjoy life, not just work in it. You may also consider how you can streamline the chores you have to do regularly, like grocery shopping or cleaning the house.
  • You’re filling your free time with work. It’s essential to keep your work-life balance in check. Fill your downtime with things you enjoy outside of work. Take up a hobby or activity you enjoy. Contrary to some work cultures in our country, you don’t have to work 24/7 to get ahead.
  • You’re unable to keep your workplace organized. A little bit of clutter in your workspace is normal, but too much clutter can be a sign something’s wrong. And when you combine that with long hours and stressful workloads, you can burn out quickly. The best way to combat this issue? Throw things away, and consider hiring a professional organizer to help you set up a filing system you’ll actually use.
  • You’re angry more often. When your life is out of balance and you’re working too many hours, you may feel more emotional and lose your temper more often. Consider having an occasional “venting” session with a friend, family member, or therapist to help relieve your stress.
  • You’re not sleeping well. If you have trouble falling asleep (or you don’t sleep at all), you need to make some changes quickly. Lack of sleep can cause severe issues with your physical and mental health. Develop and stick to a sleep routine. If you need to calm your mind, consider yoga, meditation, or stretching before going to bed. Consider seeking help by speaking with a professional.

As a small business owner, you put in many hours to keep your company running smoothly. And as COVID restrictions are beginning to lift, be sure to stay in tune with the hours you work. Now’s a great time to make changes and stick to them for a better work-life balance.

As a business owner, you’ve likely experienced some level of financial stress — especially over the past year. And because financial performance is most often the primary source of your livelihood, any time internal or external factors threaten your monetary security it can become overwhelming. But there are many ways you can control your financial stress. Consider the following factors to get started:

1. Educate yourself. Learn as much as you can about the various factors playing a role in your fiscal success. Fortunately, you can find many different resources to help. For example, enroll in an introductory financial management course (or advanced if you’re ready) or attend a free webinar about digital marketing. You can read blogs or watch free videos about nearly every topic imaginable, but you have to do the work. As with anything else in life, the more you learn about something, the more prepared you’ll feel.

Solution: Ask a Pinnacle Bank representative any question you may have about your circumstances. We’ll help you find ways to make money and time work in your favor. Contact one of our Business Bankers here.

2. Get organized. You have a lot on your plate, which is likely contributing to some of your financial stress. But organizing your finances will not only reduce the risk of cash flow problems but will also give you a better view of where your company stands at any given time. Find a system to track and pay bills that works for you. Work with your clients or vendors to automate as many things as possible.

Smart idea: Pinnacle Bank offers many resources to help you manage your finances and stay organized. Find out more here or talk to one of our Business Bankers at 877-759-7939.

3. Delegate and outsource tasks. Make a list of all you do on any given day. Identify what responsibilities you don’t enjoy or feel someone else could do better. Then, determine things you think about doing for your business but never have the time to do them. From that list, you can decide whether to delegate tasks to your employees or outsource something to an expert. For example, hire a freelance marketing or HR professional, accountant, or IT guru. Many experienced professionals are looking for work right now, so you may be able to find more talent than ever before to help you.
4. Prioritize your mental health. One of the best ways to ease the burden of running a business is to practice self-care — and everyone is different. For some, taking a 20-minute walk during the day is helpful, and for others, a hardcore workout after a long day relieves stress. You may consider practicing yoga or learning how to meditate. And if you find you’re carrying too much anxiety or stress in your life, it’s wise to talk to a professional to help you manage your day better and create more work-life balance. And while you may be thinking you don’t have time for self-care, it will improve your productivity and give you more clarity for the future. Start by dedicating an hour of your day to self-care, and you’ll see the difference it can make in your life.
5. Hire a financial manager or accountant. Unless you’re an experienced accountant or financial manager, some of the fiscal responsibilities of managing a business can be challenging. Hire a financial manager or accountant to help keep your books in line, create accurate financial statements, and give you general advice about growth strategies. While it may be a little costly at first, it’s an excellent option to help you stay on track and eliminate stress.

Most industries have been affected by the pandemic in one way or another, causing increased financial stress for many business owners. Depending on your situation, one or more of these recommendations might help manage the pressure of your day and create more work-life balance.