How you can create a Work-life balance for yourself as an SME Owner

Entrepreneurs always want to do everything and as an SME owner that is expected. This highly comes with the pressure to have everything seamless since the success or the failure of your business lies within your hands. But how bad can trying to have everything seamless negatively affect your work-life balance? 

Work-life balance is something of a “unicorn” in an entrepreneur’s world: Most small business owners are unaware of this elusive concept. Entrepreneurs are always on high alert, and because work is so personal, separating (and then balancing) these priorities can be difficult. 

Work-life balance, on the other hand, is a personal outlook that can be controlled with the correct mindset and a little effort. 

Balance does not mean 50/50

Work-life balance isn’t always a simple balanced math equation. It’s a more give-and-take situation.

Your work will require more of you on some days, while your personal life will be more demanding on others. If you think of this gap as ‘see and saw’, you’ll feel less pressure to perform equally well on both sides.

Boundaries! Boundaries! Boundaries!

You need to set clear boundaries. When you’re in the early stages of a startup, it’s understandable that you’ll be expected to do more. However, it is critical that you do not eat, sleep, or breathe the business under regular circumstances. 

The most important thing to do here is set clear boundaries, such as establishing knock-off times, smart-phone limits after dinner, and non-negotiables such as missing family activities or school commitments.

When you know what your priorities are ahead of time, it will be much tougher to ignore them when the business calls.

Prioritize TIME OFF

The ability to connect 24 hours a day, seven days a week is both a curse and a blessing. It’s all too simple to “quickly” send an email or make a phone call to get your mind off of something. 

However, if you are taking time off (for example, for a holiday or weekend), it is critical that you respect yourself and the people you are with. No one expects you to turn your brain off all the time, so keep a To-Do list with you so you can scribble down ideas that spring to mind during your downtime and remember to return to them when you’re back on the clock.

Knowing you won’t forget to do these things can put your mind at peace for a while, allowing you to unwind a little.

You need a team, you can’t do it all alone

Entrepreneurs want to be in every place at the same time. And, while this is what got your business started in the first place, it’s rarely sustainable and may not be what keeps your business running. 

Consider whether you’re better suited to focus on certain areas over others now that your small business is up and running. Then delegate to your employees the tasks that they excel at. 

You can now relax and go to the gym or meet up with friends for an after-work drink without having to micro-manage every part of your business. This will also empower your team since they will feel relevant and valuable, which will help your company grow in numerous ways.

Say the NO! As often as possible 

It’s so easy to say “yes” to any opportunity that comes your way. That, though, is fear speaking. You’ll naturally be alright with passing up lukewarm prospects if you trust that the ideal opportunity is in the pipeline. This is a basic small business management technique that will give you more time to focus on the things you’re already doing well.

As much as you support your business, you should also support your relationships.

You need to remember that you and your business would not be where they are now if it weren’t for the individuals in your life. You may still have to work long hours and miss out on social events, but this may frequently be mitigated by open communication and acknowledgment of their feelings.

This also applies to working with your coworkers and improving your professional relationships. Ascertain that your employees have a clear line of contact with you and that they understand exactly what is required of them. This will ensure that they fight for you and support you when you need time away from the office when the time comes.

Final Thoughts…

Work-life balance is seen as close to ‘impossible’ for most small business entrepreneurs. However, with these strategies, you will be in a better position to get the most out of your business and your personal life which are both equally vital areas.