When you’re an employee, you get to clock out when the day is over. But when you’re a small business owner, it’s easy to just keep working all day, at all hours. The downside of flexible work hours is that every day is Monday. But downtime is key for performance as well as work-life balance. Here are some tips for a better work-life balance as an entrepreneur.
Let go of Perfectionism
In Silicon Valley, entrepreneurs say that the death of good is great. That means the search for perfectionism, and constant tinkering will keep you from releasing your work because you don’t think it’s ready. Accept that it will never be ready and that it will never be perfect. Go with “good” and release your work into the world.
Take time to Unplug
One of the keys to a good work-life balance is to set clear boundaries for unplugging. There will always be a new email message, especially if you are dealing with people in other time zones. Don’t be the kind of boss that sends emails at 9 p.m. and expects a response. Be the kind of small business owner that takes time off to have dinner, have a social life, spend time with family, and engage in non-work activities
“Like the temptation for perfectionism, the urge to do it all hampers many small business owners.”
Exercise and Meditate
Ideas are a business owner’s currency. But you may not get ideas if you’re always on the run. Make exercise and meditation a core part of your routine. It will make you centered and coming back to the office fresh may trigger new ideas and solutions.
Limit Time-Wasting Activities
Be aware of how much time you actually waste. Being productive means knowing when to cut out routines that add time but not value, such as long meetings or phone calls. What can be moved online? What can be streamlined? By limiting the activities that waste time, you save your time and energy for more important activities throughout the day.
Learn to Delegate
You can’t do it all yourself. Like the temptation for perfectionism, the urge to do it all hampers many small business owners. Delegating both large and small tasks is the sign of a business leader who can manage time as well as build a strong team.
Start with Small Changes
As you take stock of things that do and don’t work in your business, keep in mind that you shouldn’t make drastic changes to your routines. Whether it’s a new exercise routine or a new workflow, drastic moves can work against you. Start small to work out kinks, then implement changes for the better.
As a small business owner, nothing will be more beneficial for your business than a strong work-life balance and good boundaries.