FIVE WAYS TO BETTER MANAGE YOUR WORK-LIFE BALANCE
Posted on March 06, 2011 by Nathan R Mitchell, One of Thousands of Business Coaches on Noomii.
Nathan R Mitchell, Small Business Coach, Author, & Motivational Speaker of Tulsa OK, addresses five tips for having a healthier work-life balance.
Let’s face it, life places more demands on us now than it ever has before. Couple that with the demands of your business, and you have a recipe for burnout. Think about the way technology has impacted your life. Did you ever think that your iPhone could place as many demands on you as it does? From all of the text messages, phone calls, and emails you receive, to the updates that you now follow on Twitter and Facebook, your “Smart Phone” that you thought would make you more efficient, has really further crippled your ability to separate work from your personal life.
To be effective, you have to operate at your full-potential the majority of the time. It’s hard to do that when you are working twelve to fourteen hour days consistently for months on end. Many new small business owners hold down a full-time job while they are launching their new venture. Although this is a very smart thing to do, and I highly recommend that aspiring entrepreneurs try to replace a significant portion of their income before jumping ship to play the game full-time, you can reach maximum burnout relatively quickly. Whether you decide to take a whole week off every three months, or you can unwind by engaging in activities that help you reduce your stress levels, mark it on your calendar!
So, how do you better manage your own work-life balance? Here are five ways you can start doing it today!
1. Learn to slow down–One thing I have learned is that life is just too short! None of us know for sure whether we will be here tomorrow. Entrepreneurship is a lifelong endeavor. Let me repeat that. Entrepreneurship is a lifelong endeavor! Don’t let the things that are really important in your life get away. Make it a priority to spend time with the people who are important in your life, and make it a priority to do the things you enjoy. Mark your calendar, and schedule these things. It will help you distance yourself from the things that cause you the most stress, and will allow you to return to your work with a renewed sense of focus and purpose.
2. Procrastination is your enemy–If you are disorganized, you are most likely much more stressed than those that are good at managing their time effectively. Procrastination is your enemy. In business and life, you simply can’t afford to not act with a sense of urgency. You have to set reasonable goals with definite deadlines. And don’t forget to take action on them! That’s the most important part. You will find that over time you are much more effective and efficient. And because of this, you will have more time for the things you enjoy.
3. Don’t let little things take over–Remember the book Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson? Although it’s easier said than it is done, learn to let things go, and definitely don’t allow them to take you over. Start a list of things that really don’t have much of an impact on your life, and a list of things that are completely out of your control. This will help you recognize them when they do surface in your life, and help you look at them objectively rather than reactively.
4. Prioritize–Sometimes it’s easier to just throw our hands up in the air and say “I give up,” than it is to take control of the situation and prioritize what needs to get done. Make it a habit every night to make a list of things you would like to see happen the following day in your business and your personal life, and then make sure you follow through. You will not get all of them done every day, but shoot for 80-90% completion.
5. Simplify your life–By their very nature, entrepreneurs are “go-getters.” It’s easy to take on additional roles and responsibilities, especially when we believe in something and desire to get involved. It’s human nature! But with that being said, you must find a way to simplify your life. Don’t take on too much. One of the things you will have to do as you become more successful in your business is learn to say no, and not feel guilty about it.
Keep Winning!
Nathan R Mitchell
Small Business Coach, Author, & Speaker
Twitter: @c_consultingllc
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Clutch-Consulting-LLC/160830980604576
