How to Balance Your Business Commitments...
One of the most challenging things for a small-business owner to deal with is making time for a personal life. On average business owners work 52 hours a week according to a 2000 survey by the New York marketing firm Willard & Shullman, and some work many more hours. It’s easy to get drawn into spending more and more time at work – there are always new things to be done. But it is essential that you take the initiative to limit your work hours, plan vacations and schedule outside activities to keep yourself healthy and maintain a private life.
Avoid burnout
If you overwork yourself, you face the problem of burnout, which is defined as the exhaustion of physical and/or emotional strength or motivation, usually as a result of prolonged periods of stress or frustration. Burnout can have serious physical and psychological effects, including fatigue, irritability, forgetfulness, lack of concentration and low productivity. Left untended, it can even lead to depression, illness and addictions, consequences that can undermine your ability to run your company. Here are some important tips to avoid burnout:
Limit the number of days you work so that you take at least one day off every week without fail.
A balancing act
Balancing your work life with a personal life doesn’t mean giving equal time to each part. It means paying attention to all of your needs and not short-changing yourself. This is a commitment on your part to include the things that matter to you into your schedule.
Scheduling. Making it happen is a matter of scheduling – planning out your time as would any good logistics manager. Use software or hand-held devices (e.g., Blackberrys) to help you set up and keep to a schedule.
Include in your schedule not only things you have to do for work, but also things you want to do for your personal life (e.g., a morning workout or an evening at a charity event).
Set priorities.Sometimes your business comes first; other times you must put family ahead of your company. As long as you know where your priorities lie, you can accommodate the demands that are made on you. Suppose, for instance, that you are currently providing assistance to an elderly parent. You can schedule time to visit regularly, but know that if the parent falls ill, you’ll need to spend more time than you anticipated taking care of him or her.
Include family in your business. If you never see your spouse or children, you may be able to remedy the situation by employing them in your business. This won’t work for all types of businesses, but can work for many. If you can’t employ them, at least talk to them about what’s going on at work. Communication with your family – for good news and bad – can help to win their support for your dedication to your business.
Combine business with pleasure.Some things you do for work may be recreational as well. For example, a golf outing with a prospective customer or client can be a break from office routine. Also, many business associates may be friends as well, and time spent with them to develop relationships can bring balance to your life.
Learn to say no.Balancing is a delicate endeavor that requires you to turn down work or pleasures from time to time.
Maintain flexibility.Expect that despite all your best planning things will occasionally go wrong. An emergency – at work or at home – can easily derail your plans. Try to remain flexible and roll with the punches.
Copyright © 2005 by BWideas.com, Inc.
All rights reserved.
