Find Your Perfect Life-Work Balance

As a business owner, finding the balance between your work life and personal life can be challenging. And if you work from home, you may find the line between work and home gets blurry way more often. Believe it or not, though, you can find a balance in your life, but it may take some work.

Define what your “balanced life” looks like. To find your perfect work-life balance, start by answering these questions: What must come first every day no matter what? What barriers may keep you from having balance? Do you have established work hours? What can you do regularly to keep focused on your goal of having balance? Once you’ve mapped out what your balanced life looks like, share your vision with those you live and work with so they can hold you accountable and keep you on track.

Learn to delegate. One of the most challenging things for a business owner to do is delegate – especially if you are the only employee. The fact is that many of your customers buy your products and services because of you. But, to find the balance you desire, it may be time to hire an employee or an independent contractor who is trustworthy, has a good work ethic and sees your business as you do. That way, you can delegate your work and feel confident it will get done when needed. Just know that things may not get done exactly as you would do it – you’ll have to learn to be okay with that.

Limit your distractions. When you’re at work, be engaged in your work. But, when you’re at home, be present there as well. Turn off your devices when you need to be more focused. If you have employees, let them know appropriate times to contact you when you’re not at work.

Plan each day. If you know what to anticipate throughout the day, you’ll lessen your stress, be able to schedule breaks and find time to do the things you need to do. Whether you create your plan first thing in the morning and the night before is up to you. There are many organizational tools to help you plan your daily tasks and keep you on schedule. Yes, there will be disruptions in your day; however, when you have a plan, you can adjust easier.

Take personal breaks. No one’s a superhero. We all need time away from work – whether you take 10 minutes outside for lunch or 30 minutes to exercise in the morning. Whatever the case may be, taking a break is vital to help you stay sharp and energized throughout the day.

Take care of yourself. Do you get enough sleep every night? Do you make time to exercise at least 3-4 times a week? Is your diet filled with fast food or healthier options? The better you take care of yourself, the more energy you’ll have at work and at home.

Use digital tools. Take advantage of the digital tools you can use to manage your business. As an example, use Pinnacle Bank’s mobile banking to conduct nearly every transaction you need, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can even make deposits quickly and easily using your computer with our merchant capture service. You should also use the digital tools available to manage your day-to-day operations, such as Quick Books or Quicken, among others. You’ll spend less time doing paperwork and more time focused on the things that matter most.

Choosing to live a balanced life can be tough, but with the right steps in place, you can do it. And as you begin to create more balance in your life, you’ll be happier and have more peace no matter what challenges come your way.